gurdymonkey: (Default)
[personal profile] gurdymonkey
A year or so ago, likely as a result of my ticket having been switched from one airline to another, I got selected for "special" screening at Baltimore Washington International Airport, where I was sketchily patted down by a grandmotherly woman half a head shorter than I am. When I got home I discovered a form letter inside my checked luggage informing me it had also been searched. 

Some of you may recall that I ran into a friend at the airport a couple weeks ago as he checked my ID at the security gate. Instead of going home at the end of his shift, he bought a tepid pizza chain pizza at airport prices so he could sit with me until my flight boarded.

Let's try to remember that TSA agents are people too. For every one whose bad behavior/inadequate training/lack of clue hits the internet and goes viral, there are a lot more of them who are just trying to do their jobs. Jobs that involve dealing with large numbers of cranky members of the general public, their children, their strollers, their wheelchairs, their personal belongings and frequent procedure changes. Think about how bad your work-day gets when you have to deal with just one difficult person. Then do the math.

By all means, stay informed. Question the infringement of your rights and privacy. Know what you can and should do if you have to fly. (Here's a guide from the ACLU that was posted just this week.) Protect yourself and your kids.

Pester the people who CAN do something about it. Your elected congresspersons and senators and the Department of Homeland Security:
http://www.senate.gov/reference/common/faq/How_to_contact_senators.htm

https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
https://secure.aclu.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2673&s_src=UNW100001ACT&s_subsrc=101117_tsa_ac

Date: 2010-11-22 05:41 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] karisu-sama.livejournal.com
I am well aware that not every TSA agent is a thug. I have a good friend who is a TSA agent, and so is her current boyfriend. She used to work at SJC, now she's located in Tennessee - she and her BF were in town a couple of weeks ago, and we had dinner with them.

I've had my checked luggage searched several times because I carry "suspicious-looking" things like electronic wiring (eg: plug-in transformers to power a laptop, camera battery charger) and umbrellas. At least half the time they cut off my TSA-approved lock instead of using the special key - wasting my money, dammit.

I don't ever give the security people a hard time (I know their job can be tiring), but I also plan to politely request my right to opt out of a full body scanner machine - not because I have any great amount of modesty about nudity (I have attended clothing optional events), but because I am concerned about the as-yet unknown health implications.

Date: 2010-11-22 12:15 pm (UTC)
ext_58493: (device)
From: [identity profile] firehauke.livejournal.com
Thank you for the links, I've been looking for something to get out to others on this.

The head of the TSA says they will not roll back the new pat downs, but I sincerely hope they change them, or increase sensitivity training!
From: [identity profile] hunrvogt.livejournal.com
I deal with different three and four letter government acronyms. My friends that work for those agencies understand that while I like them I get irritated at the bureacracy makes things happen. Truthfully, the generally agree and appreciate my complaints because mine carry more weight then their's.

Date: 2010-11-24 09:59 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] helblonde.livejournal.com
I remember our trip to Kentucky last Thanksgiving. The security folks at SFO actually patted down Baby Bear (at 3 months old!) after I carried him through the metal detector.

I contrast that with the security lady at the Lexington airport who, taking pity on us at O'myGodit'searly in the morning, very kindly and graciously helped us pull out the various baby unguents from his diaper bag so she could run them through the scanner in their own special baggie.

Profile

gurdymonkey: (Default)
gurdymonkey

March 2024

S M T W T F S
     12
3456 789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Aug. 7th, 2025 02:04 pm
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios