TSA to phase in new pat-down procedures at airports nationwide

[unhappycamper]

TSA to phase in new pat-down procedures at airports nationwide
By Jim Barnett, CNN Senior Producer
October 29, 2010 1:25 a.m. EDT

Washington (CNN) -- Airline passengers can expect to see as well as feel new pat-down procedures at U.S. airports over the coming weeks in an effort to provide another layer of security for travelers, the Transportation Security Administration said Thursday.

"Pat-downs are one important tool to help TSA detect hidden and dangerous items such as explosives," according to a TSA statement sent to CNN.

The TSA said passengers should continue to expect "an unpredictable mix of security layers that include explosives trace detection, advanced imaging technology, canine teams, among others."

But it's the hands-on procedures that have at least one traveler concerned that the TSA may be going too far.

Rosemary Fitzpatrick, a CNN employee, said she was subjected to a pat-down at the Orlando, Florida, airport on Wednesday night after her underwire bra set off a magnetometer. She said she was taken to a private area and searched, with transportation screening officers telling her the pat-down was a new procedure.

[ixion]

1. The TSA is distinctly un-American

and should be disbanded post-haste.

This is NOT 'change' we can believe in, this is descending deeper into the Police State mentality.

Wanna fly home for a few days? Expect to be treated like a criminal. :grr:

[GoneOffShore]

6. I agree completely.

And yet there are many here at DU who applaud TSA and their invasive procedures - I suspect that they really don't understand what is at stake when we allow these intrusions.


As someone elsewhere has said: I am not a zek being transported to the gulag. I'm an American traveling in my own country.

[FLPanhandle]

8. Are you suggesting no security at all? n/t

[ixion]

9. No, I'm suggesting a return to a real security model

that doesn't entail indoctrinating people into a police state mentality, and doesn't violate their right to privacy, and their right against unreasonable searches.

[FLPanhandle]

14. What's a "real security model"?

Even prior to 9/11 there was a degree of invasion of privacy.

[ixion]

15. I defined the attributes above, and that goes for everything enacted since

the days of Ray-Gun and the so-called 'war' on drugs. These 'wars' of abstraction have been used to erode civil liberties, in particular, as you mention, at the airport.

Here's my point: I want to live in a FREE country, not a National Security Police State.

[FLPanhandle]

19. The problem is any type of security involving metal detectors and examined luggage...

violates your attributes.

Hey, I'm not defending all the new TSA rules here. But whenever these threads come up and people say "do away with TSA", I never see specific details of what they'd replace it with.

Are metal detectors okay?
x-ray of personal carry on luggage?

What if someone fails the metal detector? Can they be patted down? Hand scanner?
If something looks suspicious in scanned luggage, can someone search through it?

[ixion]

21. I understand the need for some type of security

and I wouldn't be opposed to rolling things back to the way they were in the 80's, although I'd prefer earlier.

The problem with government power in general, and fascism in particular, is that it doesn't rollback, it only ratchets forward.

[piratefish08]

13. there is no more security now than before. it's an illusion. fear-mongering.

[FLPanhandle]

20. I agree, there really hasn't been many changes since 9/11

We take our shoes off now.
All security folks where the same uniform now.
We don't get to carry large amounts of liquids anymore.

Personally, I find the shoe thing and liquids thing silly but not really an invasion of privacy.
As for TSA vs. multiple companies, I could care less how they dress.

Now the body scanners, that's going a bit far IMHO.

[GoneOffShore]

27. A bit far?

Too damned far.

Think "Total Recall" and that scanner.

The TSA are LEO wannabees with a bad case of mission creep.

And Department of Homeland Security sounded better in the original German.

[The Straight Story]

2. Screw bush and his fear mongering and BS useless invasive procedures

I am voting dem next month!

[MilesColtrane]

3. Let me guess, "turn your head and cough"?

[Voice for Peace]

4. Do you know if it's possible to opt out of the screening x-rays?

I was travelling recently and had to go through that thing several times. I'm sure it's "low dose" and all that but I don't want to do it, period.

[GoneOffShore]

5. Did you alert the machine by the carry-on x-ray?

If you did, that was NOT an x-ray, or as it should be known, the Nude-O-Scope. You went through the WTMD (walk through metal detector) which does not employ x-rays.

The Nude-O-Scope is where they have you stand still with your arms up.

Yes, you can opt out if you use the phrase "I opt out". However you will then be subjected to the more invasive pat down as described in the article.

Go take a look at this for a full description of the Nude-O-Scope.

Also you might want to read some of the comments on Flyer Talk's Travel Safety and Security forum. There are multiple threads there about TSA abuses and mission creep.

[MilesColtrane]

11. RE: Nude-O-Scope

The official name designated for those types of scanners is GenitaliaMaster 3000™.

[GoneOffShore]

12. And if you opt out

You get your genitalia groped by a TSA goon.

And they don't even have the decency to give you a cigarette afterwards.

[Voice for Peace]

22. thanks so much

these links are very helpful.

[ScreamingMeemie]

25. ...

[FLPanhandle]

7. I'm on between two and four flights each week.

I understand there has to be security. Anyone remember the late 1960's? We had a hijacking about every other week it seemed.

Striking the right balance is key though. One extreme is to disband all security (not really practical). The other extreme is Israeli airline security with individual passenger interviews and hand searching bags.

[GoneOffShore]

10. In the 1960's, if you recall, anyone could walk onto the flight deck.

Since 2001 cockpit doors are reinforced and locked by the pilots.

With the number of flights per day in the US Israeli style security would bring our air transportation system to a grinding halt.

And do we really have 'Airport Security'? With the TSA we have a lot of fast food reject employees and Paul Blart Mall cop wannabees running around thinking that they are doing something other than provide a show to the Kettles and Gomers who travel once a year.

[MilesColtrane]

16. Had to look up the definition of a Kettle.

Thanks for expanding my vocabulary.

:hi:

[MadHound]

17. Until a significant percentage of people stop flying over this travesty of security

The TSA is simply going to continue to pile outrage upon outrage. The only way to put a stop to this is to hit the airlines in the place it hurts, the bottom line. If enough people stopped flying because of TSA madness, I guarantee you that these over the top TSA gropings and probings will stop. Until that happens however, the outrages will just grow worse.

At this pace I predict that all airline passengers will be subjected to prison style screenings within a decade or two.

[The Backlash Cometh]

18. They feel under your boobs.

They will, literally, lift your boobs.

[bullwinkle428]

24. I'm sure every "Squeezy McFeelpants" TSA agent is literally

sporting wood at the thought of this new policy implementation!

[The Backlash Cometh]

28. You know, this system isn't going to work until you have them doing it to Hilary

Clinton and Michelle Obama. This is just going to damn far. Radiation or sexual abuse. What the fuck is happening to this country?

[bullwinkle428]

23. Wow, I'm feeling safer already!

:eyes:

[GoneOffShore]

26. Kicking this - DUers should be bothered about these unconstitutional procedures.