Practical Travel Safety Issues - Clearing security easily

Can anyone give me some advice on reducing false positives on the <redacted because facts are apparently inflammatory> scanner? I have yet to walk through one without any indications and the last time I had 7. I'd prefer to avoid any future molestations.

I've never in my life had an issue with a WTMD, if that helps with advice, so I'm guessing the issues are not metal. Never have anything in my pockets.

Can anyone give me some advice on reducing false positives on the REDACTED scanner? I have yet to walk through one without any indications and the last time I had 7. I'd prefer to avoid any future molestations.

I've never in my life had an issue with a WTMD, if that helps with advice, so I'm guessing the issues are not metal. Never have anything in my pockets.
Are the false positives always in the same place? ATD is notorious for alarming to anything. I'd argue the pat-down mode more. If your arm is alarming, why do they want to pat down your buttocks (for example)?

Usually one on my hip and top of my head, which means they have to rub my butt, but curiously don't touch the top of my head.

This last time, there was 4 under my arms, 1 on my butt, and 2 on my knees.

So I'm pretty clueless. I've been wearing the same pair of pants the past four times through, btw, trying to establish some sort of control. Doesn't appear to matter.

I mean, I've resigned myself to having my hip and butt groped. But I'd like to avoid the whole "You have over 4 anomalies, so we have to grope your genitals" deal again.

Can anyone give me some advice on reducing false positives on the porno scanner? I have yet to walk through one without any indications and the last time I had 7. I'd prefer to avoid any future molestations.

I've never in my life had an issue with a WTMD, if that helps with advice, so I'm guessing the issues are not metal. Never have anything in my pockets.

I've had it find my jeans pockets, the belt loops, my watch, whatever. Now I take my watch off an lock it in my carry on, and wear pajamas. Seriously, "loungewear" pants and a t shirt. I may look a mess but don't get touched anymore.

Usually one on my hip and top of my head, which means they have to rub my butt, but curiously don't touch the top of my head.

Have you had any surgeries performed on or near that hip? I heard from a TSO (of all people) that the MMW w/ATD will sometimes false on scar tissue.

No surgeries ever. No implants of anything kind. I'm guessing it's a rivet on my jeans or the back pocket or something?

Could be. I'd go MCTUBBS' route first. Try dressing in very casual clothing, track pants and t-shirt kind of thing, to clear the MMW, then change into business clothes post-security if you need to.

Have you had any surgeries performed on or near that hip? I heard from a TSO (of all people) that the MMW w/ATD will sometimes false on scar tissue.

What about a very low scar from an appendict operation in 1973?

What about a very low scar from an appendict operation in 1973?

That's an excellent question, and one I'm in no way able to answer. I found out when my knee falsed for no apparent reason, and the TSO asked if I'd had any surgeries down there. That led into the scar tissue discussion, as it's a part of the body that's frequently opened up.

It's hardly statistically significant since I've only been through a MMW+ATD about 5 times, but I've had it alarm on bare skin, t-shirts, hair (even when it was a buzz cut), among other weird things. It did not alarm the one time I forgot a bluetooth headset in my pocket or most of the times I've worn bulky cargo pants/cargo shorts. However, those times did alarm on my t-shirt "collar". :rolleyes:

My experience is minimal since I have tried my best to stop flying, but a couple repeats I have had are:

1. Metal zipper tab on a 1/4 zip pullover sweatshirt
2. Bunched up sleeve around my wrist on a dress shirt.

I've heard sweat can be a false positive, so things like underarms and shirt collars could be a hit on a hot/stressful day.


I would not be at all surprised if it was found that the "ATR software" was nothing more than a random number generator that throws darts at a couple areas of a stick figure and paints a box on a screen. Really, why bother writing code, testing and validating the thing when TSA loves to spend money on things that don't work anyway.

Tank top and lounge pants it is then. Good thing I live down south.


I would not be at all surprised if it was found that the "ATR software" was nothing more than a random number generator that throws darts at a couple areas of a stick figure and paints a box on a screen.

I am starting to think this is the real issue.

The scanners were rejected in part by Germany because the following causes an alarm:
- sweat stains
- damp areas on clothing (see above)
- folds of clothing
- pleats in clothing
- layers of clothing
- tissues in pocket

Essentially, any time one has more than one layer of clothing ie a shirt inside or outside a pair of pants, and any time one has dampness from sweat, the machine can raise an alarm.

Since the above includes the vast majority of travellers, the alarm rate was so high with so little actual security issues, that this was one of the major reasons for not using scanners in Germany.

Essentially, any time one has more than one layer of clothing ie a shirt inside or outside a pair of pants, and any time one has dampness from sweat, the machine can raise an alarm.
.

I suppose that includes bras and underwear.

Bizarre, isn't it? No wonder so many countries passed on installing those scanners.

I handle it this way:

1. I take a sedative.
2. I say hello to the TDC, use my driver's license only (even for international trips), and use a mobile boarding pass whenever possible. This means that there's nothing to scrutinize, no scribbles to write. If I'm connecting, I keep my onward boarding cards hidden. That just confuses them, and they start asking questions.
3. I plan for a "treat" after I finish security (a cocktail, a chocolate, a nice cup of coffee.)
4. Aim for queues that have no imaging at all (check www.tsastatus.net)
5. I have "security clothes:" pocketless shorts and a tucked in t-shirt (i.e. obvious that I have no belt), and no shoes or socks. I carry my real clothes in my bag. It sounds extreme but it works.
6. It it's an MMW airport, I take the punishment and just try to think happy thoughts.
7. If it's a backscatter airport, I opt out. But since I have barely any clothes on, the opt out is much, much quicker.

If I'm in Europe, South America, or Israel, I don't worry about a thing. I wear normal clothes, need no medication, and don't even think twice about it.

The scanners were rejected in part by Germany because the following causes an alarm:
- sweat stains
- damp areas on clothing (see above)
- folds of clothing
- pleats in clothing
- layers of clothing
- tissues in pocket

Essentially, any time one has more than one layer of clothing ie a shirt inside or outside a pair of pants, and any time one has dampness from sweat, the machine can raise an alarm.

Since the above includes the vast majority of travellers, the alarm rate was so high with so little actual security issues, that this was one of the major reasons for not using scanners in Germany.

While redressing after a groping at FNT, I watched the MMW-ATD results for people coming through. Many were "pleats"/"folds" on pants legs or shirts; some were loose-fitting clothes that seem to "hang" over other parts.

But many of them made absolutely no sense, as there was nothing on the person and nothing visible. I did see one lady's "costume jewelry" bracelet, with spherical balls about 1/2" in diameter, cause a false alarm.

I'm convinced it's stupid. Again, it seems that 60% or more of the people coming through are getting patted down for resolution.

One other thing from else-thread...some of the people I saw with "alarm boxes" had 6 - 8 of them; none of them received any patdown except in the area of the boxes. So TSA again is inconsistent with regard to when someone gets full patdown after MMW (and I've seen very old ladies get them in CLE; the look on their faces was pathetic to see when they got the patdown after doing what they were told).

I have always wondered why the machines cannot distinguish between a tissue and my undies or bra! Is it because the machines cannot detect through 3 layers? (sigh):rolleyes:

So what happens about women wearing sanitary towels, or I guess people with incontinence pads? Will it always alarm then? (Seems it meets some of the criteria of things that cause an alarm).

If it does always alarm in that situation, I guess you'd get the nastiest kind of genital groping, in which case it's better to opt-out from the start...

... So TSA again is inconsistent...

These are synonyms.

"TSA...inconsistent" These are synonyms.

Yes, in every situation except this... TSA is consistently a waste of resources.