Whole Body Scanners Opt Out Stories [merged]
#3511
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We do know, however, that screeners can and do ignore SOP every day.
Someone also posted elsewhere in this forum: he contacted TSA HQ for clarification on this matter. The reply he got back was that it was up to the screeners to make the determination: alternatives could be the WTMD or a full-body grope, at the whim, er, discretion of the screener
#3512
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,967
That's also nonsense. You don't have to fake an injury to opt-out and you don't have to demonstrate that you can't "assume the position".
I'm really surprised so many are making such a big deal about "medically" opting out. All you have to say is "I'm opting out." End of story. You don't have to give a reason.
Once you get to the "pat-down" AKA grope then explain any issues you have when they ask "Do you have any medical devices? Do you have any sensitive areas? etc."
It's not that complicated.
and ... I just completed opt-out #97 today at PIT without issue.
... Just counting the days until I get my Global Entry / TSA Precheck card and I can be done with opt-out pat-downs and gropes.
I'm really surprised so many are making such a big deal about "medically" opting out. All you have to say is "I'm opting out." End of story. You don't have to give a reason.
Once you get to the "pat-down" AKA grope then explain any issues you have when they ask "Do you have any medical devices? Do you have any sensitive areas? etc."
It's not that complicated.
and ... I just completed opt-out #97 today at PIT without issue.
... Just counting the days until I get my Global Entry / TSA Precheck card and I can be done with opt-out pat-downs and gropes.
Have you ever had an opt-out patdown with a medical condition? I have, many times. Highlighting sensitive areas often invites more scrutiny or pressure.
I'm frankly very concerned that the comments on various threads with winks etc will lead to changes from TSA because they will catch on one day that the number of people claiming to have shoulder issues may be overstated, and that would result in a worse situation for those of us who do have a medical reason for being unable to use the scanner.
#3513
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That's also nonsense. You don't have to fake an injury to opt-out and you don't have to demonstrate that you can't "assume the position".
I'm really surprised so many are making such a big deal about "medically" opting out. All you have to say is "I'm opting out." End of story. You don't have to give a reason.
Once you get to the "pat-down" AKA grope then explain any issues you have when they ask "Do you have any medical devices? Do you have any sensitive areas? etc."
It's not that complicated.
and ... I just completed opt-out #97 today at PIT without issue.
... Just counting the days until I get my Global Entry / TSA Precheck card and I can be done with opt-out pat-downs and gropes.
I'm really surprised so many are making such a big deal about "medically" opting out. All you have to say is "I'm opting out." End of story. You don't have to give a reason.
Once you get to the "pat-down" AKA grope then explain any issues you have when they ask "Do you have any medical devices? Do you have any sensitive areas? etc."
It's not that complicated.
and ... I just completed opt-out #97 today at PIT without issue.
... Just counting the days until I get my Global Entry / TSA Precheck card and I can be done with opt-out pat-downs and gropes.
Some people say it is by the book, but since none of us has ever seen the book, we really have no idea what it says.
We do know, however, that screeners can and do ignore SOP every day.
Someone also posted elsewhere in this forum: he contacted TSA HQ for clarification on this matter. The reply he got back was that it was up to the screeners to make the determination: alternatives could be the WTMD or a full-body grope, at the whim, er, discretion of the screener
We do know, however, that screeners can and do ignore SOP every day.
Someone also posted elsewhere in this forum: he contacted TSA HQ for clarification on this matter. The reply he got back was that it was up to the screeners to make the determination: alternatives could be the WTMD or a full-body grope, at the whim, er, discretion of the screener
#3514
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Bolding mine: If you say the words "opt-out" you will be allowed to pass thru the WTMD but you will receive the full grope as opposed to saying something to the effect that you "cannot raise your arm"/"assume the position" (and give a simple reason as to why you cannot) and then you will be allowed to go thru the WTMD where if no alarm, you should (n.b. should) be good to go-tho you may out of "randomness" , receive a full grope-and if you do, ask if it is because you were deemed an "opt-out" as if the answer is yes, procedure is being violated where at that point, you should ask why.
If you ask if this is procedure, you will (IME) be told 'yes' or 'yes, it is at our airport, anyone who does it differently is doing it wrong'.
TSA HQ's official response to an inquiry (posted by someone elsewhere in the TS&S forum) is that either procedure (forced grope or WTMD) is acceptable procedure.
Of course, if you asked TSA HQ if it was standard procedure to make a pax stand on his head and bark like a dog, the answer would probably be 'in some cases, the officer's judgment, known unknown threats, bla-bla'.
#3515
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 616
I wear an insulin pump and I never use the term opt out. I always tell them I can't because of the insulin pump. That's a medical reason, but I always get the patdown. More airports seem to just let me get my grope, swab my pump, and let me be on my way.
Every so often, I get the lecture about how safe the scanners are, less radiation than 2 minutes of flight, less radiation than a cell phone, etc. Those drive me crazy. I've even been told to tell my doctor that he wrong and that I should go through the scanner. It's the manufacturer who says not to go through the scanners. There was a teenager last year at SLC that had her pump damaged by the scanner, so I'm not taking chances.
Every so often, I get the lecture about how safe the scanners are, less radiation than 2 minutes of flight, less radiation than a cell phone, etc. Those drive me crazy. I've even been told to tell my doctor that he wrong and that I should go through the scanner. It's the manufacturer who says not to go through the scanners. There was a teenager last year at SLC that had her pump damaged by the scanner, so I'm not taking chances.
#3516
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#3517
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How REAL law enforcement professionals view the TSA ^
When TSA employees ask about what I do for a living, I always decline to provide any information.
I'm curious what questions are being asked during the PreCheck interview. A PM would be fine if you'd rather not post in the forum.
Is there a gate to walk through?
Same here. I've been losing weight, so I have a few pairs of jeans that are loose. Just me, but I know that the TSA employee doing a same sex grope on another man in public, in his hometown, and causing pants to drop will be more embarrassed than me.
If you trust TSA employees know how to operate the equipment competently.
I asked to have the resolution pat down in public, was refused. Was told that I would not be able to fly if I did not comply. "No problem, my work will be upset but I don't really want to go anyway." TSA Three Striper replied "Well I can call them and let them know why you can't come."
#3518
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I wear an insulin pump and I never use the term opt out. I always tell them I can't because of the insulin pump. That's a medical reason, but I always get the patdown. More airports seem to just let me get my grope, swab my pump, and let me be on my way.
Every so often, I get the lecture about how safe the scanners are, less radiation than 2 minutes of flight, less radiation than a cell phone, etc. Those drive me crazy. I've even been told to tell my doctor that he wrong and that I should go through the scanner. It's the manufacturer who says not to go through the scanners. There was a teenager last year at SLC that had her pump damaged by the scanner, so I'm not taking chances.
Every so often, I get the lecture about how safe the scanners are, less radiation than 2 minutes of flight, less radiation than a cell phone, etc. Those drive me crazy. I've even been told to tell my doctor that he wrong and that I should go through the scanner. It's the manufacturer who says not to go through the scanners. There was a teenager last year at SLC that had her pump damaged by the scanner, so I'm not taking chances.
It's like a guy with a really bad pickup line in a bar - do these lectures really ever work? Do they really ever make a pax with a physical or medical limitation suddenly go "Oh, OK, I'll just use the NoS then?"
#3519
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Why should TSA make an issue about it? If there's no pass-through gate, offer the pax the WTMD instead of the NoS. If they're just passing through for a grope, then it isn't going to impede traffic either way.
#3520
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This thread http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/pract...hwhile-76.html has some other people's experiences in it.
#3521
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I submitted to fingerprinting for my AOA credential ten years ago when I worked for US. Who knows where that data is now, but given the poor track record of DHS, they're not getting any more personal information from me.
#3522
Join Date: Oct 2011
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In my interview it was.
How did you hear about the program? - Coworker ...
What do you do for a living? - I travel a lot ...
Have you ever been convicted of a crime domestically or internationally? (To which they already know the answer.) - No...
Do you have any questions? - No...
... and that was it. Quick and painless. I have no skeletons in my closet and I'm constantly being background checked for my work anyway. So it was really no big deal to me.
They take your photo to put on your card and fingerprint you and that's it.
And yes, as I was accused of earlier, I do have a working knowledge of radiation.
If you mean Global Entry interview, they're fairly basic (at least in my case), mostly just a confirmation of what you put on the application. How long I've lived at my address, where I work, will I be using GE for work or personal, etc. That plus fingerprinting and watching a video. Pretty quick.
This thread http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/pract...hwhile-76.html has some other people's experiences in it.
This thread http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/pract...hwhile-76.html has some other people's experiences in it.
#3523
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When I signed up, the agent also asked me how I flew on such cheap tickets (I told him about some of the deals I had been on).. Spent about 80% of the interview chatting about travel and sports.
#3524
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#3525
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I know that. I was being facetious. My point is it doesn't take long to walk through the unit.
Last edited by KenTarmac; Feb 16, 2013 at 7:27 am