When travelers go to the airport, they know what kind of security to expect: luggage searches, metal detectors and shoe inspections. It’s all part of our post 9-11 reality enforced by the Transportation Security Adminstration. But as CBS 2 Investigator Pam Zekman reports, thousands of travelers have complained that some of these screenings can become abusive and even x-rated. For arguing with a TSA agent, Robin Kassner wound up being slammed to the floor. She’s filed a lawsuit. “I kept begging them over and over again get off of me … and they wouldn’t stop,” Kassner said.
And it wasn’t enough for another woman to show TSA agents nipple rings that set off a metal detector. The agents forced her to take them out. Mandi Hamlin said, “I had to get pliers and pull it apart.” In Chicago, people like Robert Perry are subjected to exhaustive security checks. He was patted down, his wheel chair was examined and his hands were swabbed, all in public view in a see-through room at the security checkpoint. Perry, 71, is not alone. “It’s humiliation,” Perry said.
Perry was also taken to a see-through room by a TSA agent when his artificial knee set off the metal detector. “He yelled at me to get the belt off. ‘I told you to get the belt off.’ So I took the belt off. He ran his hands down over and pulled the pants down, they went down around my ankle,” Perry said. At that point, Perry was standing in his underwear in public view. He asked to see a supervisor. That made things worse. “She was yelling ‘I have power, I have power, I have power,” Perry said. The power to stop him from flying to Florida with his wife that day to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. “It makes you feel like you have no rights,” Perry said. Perry said he always alerts TSA agents about his metal knee and wonders why they can’t just check his leg.
Carlos Villarreal, former director of security for the Sears Tower, said proper training is crucial. “When you’re wanding somebody and you can identify which part of the body set of the alarm, that should be sufficient to clear a person,” Villarreal said. But all too often, it’s not enough for 16-year old Michael Angone. She frequently flies as a member of the Chicago Children’s Choir. “I’ve had to completely take my pants off and show them like my entire leg,” Angone said. As a baby, Angone was diagnosed with cancer. Her parents, both Chicago police officers, had to have her leg amputated. She said she always warns TSA security agents that her prosthetic leg will set off the metal detector, but many insist on doing an embarrassing full body pat-down. “I feel like I’m being felt up in public,” Angone said.
Her father Bob Angone wanted to know, “What’s the reason for all the feeling up, you know the groping at the back of the neck, the chest, underneath the bra, all the groping on her body, her buttocks?”
Because the treatment is fun to give.
Here is a thought. You find someone with a fake leg or metal plate in their head. Have them fly around for a few months then, when the database is checked and everyone knows that it’s just the leg or plate, have them hold a bomb in the small of their back like the other security experts have done to get a liquid bomb on a plane. No wait, that won’t work because this person is searched every time all over their body.
Don’t get me wrong, there is a right way and a wrong way to search someone and a power trip can happen to anyone. But don’t be obtuse about how crafty people meaning you harm can be.
The same thing happened to my husband at our home airport several years ago. They “randomly” screened him, strip searched him, and made comments about his body piercings. When we contacted a local attorney they were unwilling to do anything since it was the TSA.
Here’s a thought that will send the airline industry reeling.
Don’t fly.
If at all possible, Don’t fly!
And each time you take an alternate method, car, bus, train, boat. Send a letter to the media, and airline indicating it was because of the totalitarian tactics taken by the TSA.
If enough people do this, it willg et the attention it deserves. HArm their pocketbook, and they will come up with a better, more dignified method to “protect” passengers.
mikeb, people like you are proof that the terrorists have won….
Our latest round was in Dallas – no better – no worse than anywhere else. There you had to show your drivers license about every 10 feet. Must have poor memories. It seems like everyone at TSA there was rude – very rude.
At one point I commented to my wife that the way TSA treats people is “pure bull shit”. Some rabbit eared TSA agent came over and gave me a rasher of shit for “cursing in line”. Fuck him!!
I’m sick and tired of every rude, stupid person in this country hiding behind “security”. I’d rather take my chances than deal with this constant dehumanization by GFB’s henchmen. Unfortunately they continue to be empowered by weenies like #2.
jasjr
Huh… people starting to get upset that they have traded away their civil liberties to feel more safe… I wonder if it will affect their vote or if they will still vote with their pocketbooks?
Here’s something that will guarantee a unique reaction out any female TSA employee.
“Mam, I’m from Texas and own a large chunk of land just full of Hereford cattle. One thing I like to do is take a stroll out in my pastures. I just love the sound of the wind through the grass and tree and sight of all my stock dotting the landscape. One thing, though, that really lets me know my herds are doing well is the sight of so many cow pies. They are usually a dark shade of brown and when I see lots of pies that shade, I know my herd is doing well. It makes me smile and glad to be an American. And when I look into your brown eyes and see that same color, I just feel so happy.”
The terrorists have already won….
I’ve got a “must be there” in October, and I think I’d drive if I didn’t have to bring my wife and my mom.
It’s just too far for them, and would be a stretch for me….
Meantime, the airline changed my flight…. I booked in February to lock down a non-stop flight at convenient times. If I want to change it, it’ll cost me $100-$200. They changed it to one that stops someplace (lots of fun to get mom across a large terminal in a hurry, not to mention the potential for lost luggage), and the times are inconvenient. Not a show stopper, but the same $100-$200 to change ’em….
I really don’t want to go, now….
Fortunately, I only have to fly every couple years. None of the TSA crap makes me feel safer, though. It’s just silly. Even my old “arm the passengers” won’t help anymore.
Regards,
Stu.
Put GFB, TSA and airline CEOs together and you have a perfect slate for the Board of Directors in Hell.
The TSA agents have to leave the airport sometime…
[Duplicate comment deleted. – ed.]
#8
Did you miss the parts about the pliers. Some piercing are not easy on easy off. Are they going to kill someone with the piercing do you think. Perfect view though lets put down anything we don’t understand.
#13 – Is that an unmarked van I see outside your house with a satellite dish on top?
I’m old enough to remember freedom and liberty. Anyone else?
Seems like it was about 7 years ago before GFB came to deliver us to the Promised Land.
#15 I guess she missed this from the TSA Know Before You Go web site.
“Piercings are not prohibited, but may alarm the metal detectors. Ideally, remove body piercings before security screening.”
Use to be you didn’t need to check the manual before going on a flight.
Anyway, I go for the frisk and stay for the cavity search. Good Times. Good Times.
Clearly this government has lost the meaning of “reasonable risk”
#22 Senor Pedro – What does flying as a passenger on an airplane have to do with a medical procedure that could be affected by metal objects?
Take another run at it.
How many people would spend $100 to avoid a $10 risk? Yet that is what all this airline safety is. A society gone psychotic. And most people, most people here, basically “accept” it.
I don’t know who is more to blame. The sheep, or the sheep herders.
#24. Without the sheep, the point is moot.
#25–McCullough==I take your correction. One of my few stabs at being kind to sheep, and you won’t let me do it! (smile!) I was thinking there were goats, and cows, and horses and other grazers who get lost it the crowd, but I couldn’t make the allusion fit in one sentence.
What if we were more cat like and voted all incumbents out==or could at least avoid electing Bush types twice? Nevermind==I see a nice clump of grass just over there.
Wouldn’t mind so much being a sheep, if I didn’t know the eventual destiny of a sheep. And I don’t mean giving up my coat.
Baaa!
#24, If the budget of the TSA were funded through a direct fee levied on all commercial travel, people might have more reason to take note of whether or not the extra cost is worth the benefits in lower risk gained. As it is (with most government programs), people don’t have to weigh the cost/benefit because they are disconnected from them. And I’m not sure it’s advantageous for those in the business of politics to have that change.
#28–SL==I once again “flashed” on the notion of democracy and majority vote. I wonder what this country would look like with “National Referendums” on almost all issues==with supreme court as a safe guard for minority rights of course.
But, you are right. Why shouldn’t air safety be paid for by those who fly? And why wasn’t a complete and adequate response to 9-11 simply be to enforce passport/entry security and lock the frigging cockpit door?==and maybe FBI computers that connected to one another with some artificial intelligence to supplement those who have none?
And same for all other programs paid for out of general revenues. Its a great wealth transfer from the poor to the rich. Those who can’t afford a bus ticket out of town pay for rich folks airline security (yes==when they pay their first tax dollar.)
Most of our problems really are of our own making, but remain problems as they are seen as solutions.
Abracadabra!!!!!!!!!
Lets see…
Plastic container…NOt seen on Xray, not metal.
Body shaped..not to hard to do, around a Leg muscle.
2 containers, you got 2 legs, and now they match.
ammonia and chlorine..
Either it takes out the AIR system, and no fresh air, or the GAS(Mustard gas) BURNS everyone.
Im sorry.
WHATS THE USE/NEED for all this.
A creative mind is TERRIBLE to fight.
Even SNAP testing has proven that they can get ANYTHING PAST.
Next thing you know they will be BANNING karate and Jujitsu..
#4 – DontLikeToFly
>>If at all possible, Don’t fly!
That’s the only answer. Stay the fuck off of airplanes. I’ve been doing it (with momentary lapses of reason when I’ve had to fall off the wagon), and my quality of life has gone through the roof.
If I never have to visit an airport again, I’ll die a happy man. I’d rather take a fucking freighter to Europe, or a train to the other coast, than subject myself to the pointless idiocy of the new “security” procedures.
#29, eww, don’t know that I’m that much of a fan of referendums. You think it’s bad enough that the handful of people who currently vote on legislation don’t actually read what they are voting for? At least they are involved to a degree in the process. Do you think that 300 million will read what shows up on the ballot, or would even understand most of it if they did?
#32–SL==its not a perfect world. Take your choice==stupid people voting stupidly, or corrupt people voting corruptedly. I want some change I can believe in!!!
#33–Pedro==why are you arguing for the stupid TSA? Obviously people should be allowed to wear piercings wherever they wish and not have to remove it for flights. They just need to accept being wanded and felt up. Having to remove piercings is fashionista!@! Surprised to see you on the wrong side of this.