NEW TSA Pat Down Procedure, Just in time for your trip to Tulsa Options

[MikeCarruth]

A BMX News tipster sent me this link about a woman who was flying with her baby via a small airport (in this cast, Dayton). This situation has been in the news lately, but this is an especially candid account of what happens, via an independent source (not "corporate media.")

Thus, I thought I should post it as an FYI for those of you hitting the airport security lines next week. if you are squeamish about having your bits fondled, it might be worthwhile to look into what you can and cannot do and say when presented with this. Most large airports have the "naked scanners" which is bad enough, but the lesser of evils, to be sure. But some of you flying from smaller airports should be ready for the feel-up.

http://bmxurl.com/tsapatdown

And the piece on CNN talking about how it is not an option to refuse it:

http://bmxurl.com/tsacnn


Happy trails.

M (driving to Tulsa)

[Elvis]

This has been a big big subject on the robot hear message boards, since we're of the "Hand search required" equipped humans.

The thing is, what this lady went through, I've never had the problem with them grabbing my parts without a heads-up. In fact they have this whole speech ritual they go through which I usually interrupt with a "I'll just assume you're frisking me 'til you say otherwise." Otherwise I'd be standing there an extra couple of minutes. (They use the back of their hands, or did, to do the search.)

Sounds like the lady got a clinker of a TSA employee, which is actually pretty easy to do.

[snickadams]

I fly quite a bit. Wear no belt, usually wear crocs, have nothing in my pockets, and pretty much know the routine. I used to have a Clear card (they went belly up) where I would do a retina scan, place my thumb on a device to verify my fingerprint, and then speed through to the front of the line. Still had to have bags scanned, go through metal detector, etc.

I have no plans on setting off the detector or being singled out. That being said, I know that if I fly I am subject to being searched and know that my bags will be searched. My last trip I struggled to get my bag closed before leaving the hotel and I finally succeeded in getting it zipped. The TSA agent that went through my bag (it was a checked bag) and left me a nice note didn't meet with the same results as me and my bag was half opened when it arrived on the carousel. I knew the bag was subject to search when I checked it.

It is the risk we take when we fly. Shortly after the 9/11 tragedy, I waited in line for 6 hours to get through security and get on a plane. I didn't like it; however, I was forewarned to be at the airport in plenty of time. What happened to the lady Mike posted about is unacceptable and the TSA agent should be suspended or fired if what is described truly happened. The Gangsta video link off of that blog is pretty funny, and sad.

As American we are afforded many freedoms and have the ability to make choices. We can choose to fly or not to fly. I choose to fly. I also choose to have all precautions taken to avoid any terrorist attacks utilizing commercial airliners as weapons. So the next time a TSA Agent says that they are going to fondle me, I will ask if that comes with a happy ending.

[agentheinz]

I'll opt to strip down to nothing but a banana hammock before I get there; no reason for them to touch me then. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[Elvis]

Isreal: EL AL has been dealing with terrorists for years, doesn't have this sort of procedure set in place. Instead they have trained humans, trained in the detection and interdiction of suspected passengers.

Here in the US we're more prone to look for technology to resolve a problem -- or at least that's what the contractor came up with who got the bid for the backscatter machines.

And all any of this has done, all along, is been an act to prevent something from happening again. Shoe bombers, underwear bombers, war on liquids, all were known potentials nothing was done about until a specific act was interrupted.

Intelligence, by humans against humans, is what El Al uses to its success. Human intelligence is what intercepted those cargo-bombs recently, it's arguably what would have prevented 9/11, or Richard Reid from boarding, and so forth. Instead our "trained" TSA agents are trained to operate machines and the battle lines keep getting drawn back. And someone's going to be touching my junk to make sure I'm not packing explosives.

The system is flawed, and appears to be getting more flawed over time.

[lumpy]

But, if we use humans here in the states, someone is bound to cry "Racial profiling" if they get searched. Go to Europe and if for any reason you are considered suspect, you are in the full search line... If a pat down keeps the flight safe, so be it...

Brian

[Afterhours]

Not sure what the problem here is?
The lady in the blog was not sexually assaulted, she was patted down for explosives. What a whiny, sensitive person she is.
This is the price we pay because of terrorism.

[MikeCarruth]

The system is flawed, and appears to be getting more flawed over time.

No doubt. And some of us believe that the system may be flawed deliberately to have political and civil "cover" for ratcheting down certain of our rights.

Project it out 10, 20 years. Generations have grown up being searched in this fashion...they know no different. Kinda like those who can't fathom Dr and patient discussing a procedure over a cigarette in a hospital room--but they used to do it--my birth was one of them (crazy, I know).

Over time, it is brought to trains, then public transport, then just random, as you and your grandkids, are walking down the street with ice cream in your hands. I can hear it now - "it's just like when you go through an airport, no big deal" And the fourth amendment is stricken from the constitution with one of those swoopy proofreader marks.

I think the woman in the article is taking it to the extreme (how many times can she pack the word "assaulted" into her post?), but it demonstrates a point--these screeners are often nothing more than burger flippers with a badge.

Check out the review of the documentary "Please Remove Your Shoes" which was released this summer. Most people in the Security industry agree that the checkpoints are not much more than theater--put there for our benefit.

From the review:

Then, there's the question of why obviously unthreatening grandmothers might be bullied, harassed and stripped of their civil rights before boarding a flight while an avowed jihadist like the Christmas bomber was allowed to pay cash for a one-way ticket even after his own father had notified the authorities of his evil intentions.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko2.gif)

http://newsblaze.com/story/20100702112049k...b/topstory.html

"If a pat-down keeps the flight safe, so be it." I agree. But does it?--is the question.

Or does it just make travelers FEEL safer--a $40 Billion "placebo."

Is terrorism the actual attack, or is it this?

M

[snickadams]

i agree with you about pat downs on the street and illegal searches and hope that it never comes to that. Someone earlier spoke of racial profiling and I will be the first to admit that i look at people differently in airports than I used to. I don't believe that as Americans we would allow for the actions that take part in an airport to take part on the streets.

I remember college dances on the campus where I worked having metal detectors at the doors for fear of gang activity taking place. An institution of higher learning with future leaders of our society in attendance and metal detectors at the entrances, crazy. But there are high schools that do the same thing.

Unfortunately we have crazy people who live in this world that do not have the same moral or ethical standards that most would consider acceptable. Do I truly believe that the person that was flipping burgers two weeks ago can ensure my safety at an airport, not really. Do I think that if a terrorist group wanted to infiltrate the TSA that they could, yes.

We live in a different society than when we were kids. We lived in a different society than when our parents were kids. I think all the time of things I did as a kid that I would never let my kids do. I truly hope that you are wrong about where this might lead but like you, there is cause for concern.

[Cfw]

TSA is a complete charade. As someone stated before, they only react to situations that have gotten through before. We didn't used to have to take our shoes off till the shoe bomber. We didn't have to 'declare' our liquids till the water bomber guy.

Currently, if i travel with RC stuff, I'm required to keep batteries in my carry on. They have NO clue what's in my checked luggage, whether it's on, or has a receiver for the transmitter that I'm also carrying on.

So, TSA requires me to carry NON safe material onto the plane (it's safe really, but is it safer than my water bottle? Anyone have a clue what can be done with several LiPo batteries by someone with bad intentions?)
TSA hardly looks at my electronics, unless it's a laptop or router. An RC car? harmless. nevermind the 4lb batteries...
My first encounters with bringing batteries on (about 30 NimH sub C cells, hand wired together, and I'll admit, they looked very suspect...) I was told I couldn't bring them on the plane, checked or carried on. When I stated the rules, and that I was allowed to bring 'dry cells' in my carry on luggage, they had to verify this. They called a supervisor, at which time he also said I couldn't bring them on. When I stated the rule, in their language, he acknowledged that I was aware of the rules, and that I was in compliance. I was allowed to bring the batteries in my carry on.

Similar situation with hand tools. Knives are not allowed. But hand tools under 7" are. Some of my handtools are equally dangerous, but since they aren't 'knives', I can bring them on the plane. I also had to state my knowledge of the 7" rule to get them through, but again, once I stated the rule, and that I was completely aware that they conformed to the rules, I was allowed to bring them.


But, I have to fly regularly for work, so I have to deal with TSA.

What cracks me up about the lady's blog, and her 'assault', is that the TSA official touched 'both of her labia'... Just how tight were your friggin pants woman? Camel toe city...

I've been given the pat down. I've gone through the back scatter machines doing my Moose Antlers (some of the TSA guys DO have a sense of humor). IF I wear some wicked tight pants, yeah, they're probably gonna graze my nutsack while checking my crotch, but it's nothing more invasive than getting your inseam measured for pants.

It's all BS. It's a sideshow that creates jobs and makes it appear that the government is actually concerned about our safety. Fly or not. Deal with the sideshow or not. But to agree to go to the sideshow, then complain you didn't like it, uh, nope.

Oh, and don't forget to turn OFF your ipod on the plane during takeoff... another BS airline rule...

(all this coming from a kid, who in 1985 went to a high school in IL with metal detectors at every entrance, guards, NO bags allowed in school, NO jackets or shirts with linings allowed once in the building... yup, i grew up with it. I still know it's NOT normal to have to endure this level of scrutiny on a regular basis.)