sunnyjl

So I get to the airport, head through TSA Pre-Check as always, and of course the MTD beeps as I walk through (can't go off for the multitude of foreigners going through Pre-Check, but I digress). So I get the "random" hand swap, and it's positive. They send me over to the side, swab my bags, and inform me that I'm going to have to have a private, secondary screening. I tell them no, not happening, and any pat down will take place right here in public. They say no, it has to be in private, and I ask, why is that? The TSO (female) says she will have to use the front of her hand between my legs. I say absolutely not, I won't consent to a sexual assault simply to get on a plane. I can reschedule my trip. Not to mention the fact that I'm wearing a skirt, because I never expected this scenario.

She calls a supervisor, who honestly was very nice. I know he felt the whole thing was a total joke. I mean, these people know me...I am through this airport 2-3 times/week for the last 10 1/2 years. So while waiting for the LEO, another female TSO who has basically just been standing there being nosey, decides to rifle through the FF tags on my bag (I have a tag for every airline, funny enough). I didn't care much about that...let them see how much of a FF I am. LEO arrives, he's a real schmuck and basically just reiterates what the TSO told me. They asked for confirmation several times that I wanted to leave and not fly today (almost as if they were shocked that someone would actually choose to miss a flight vs. a sexual assault). They let me leave, and the LEO follows me all the way out to the parking garage, watches me get in my car, and drive away.

Now I'm on a train to my destination, have missed the first day of my business appointment, getting a raging migraine from the stress of this event, but hey, at least I leave with my dignity, unraped, and most of the Constitutional rights intact.

I have a question, though, hopefully someone can answer: Are they going to retaliate against me in the future? When I get to the BP checker, is something going to tell them I'm a troublemaker, or something of that sort? As I said, I travel all week long...I don't want any future trouble. I just want to be able to do my damn job.

Thanks.

FliesWay2Much

1. It was interesting that the clerk said the reason you had to go to a private room was that she was going to grope you with the front of her hands. Obviously, they have indoctrinated the clerk-force to believe that fondling the same genitals with the back of the hand is OK, but the front of the hand must be concealed from the public.

2. When I have thought through this scenario for myself, I have decided I would never allow a clerk and/or a cop to escort me back to my truck in the parking lot. You know the cop wrote down your plate number and has "run" you. I have already decided I will take a taxi to the nearest hotel, satellite lot, or perhaps even home and worry about picking up my vehicle later.

Yes, I'm very surprised they let you leave without further hassle or an attempt to arrest you for something.

By the way, well done! Many of us are proud of you.

sunnyjl

Run my plate for what? I would assume that with my ID, he already has all the information on that anyway. I don't even have a parking ticket to my name.

FWIW, I have GE. GE means absolutely zero and was a complete waste of my time and money.

And thank you for the praise. It means a lot to me, it really does. I was very, very upset (I didn't let the tears start until I got to my car), and having a really hard time with this.

Spiff

Well done! Don't forget to file a formal complaint with TSA, your airline, and your elected representatives. TSA complaint line: 866-289-9673. Don't let them send you to the worthless blog. Make your complaint official.

GUWonder

Legally standing your ground in a dignified way at the checkpoint and acting upon your principles in this matter is deserving of praise for walking the talk that necessarily needs to be walked and talked when it comes to these coercive sexual gropes the TSA fancies.

The TSA may have taken down your name and could file it on a report somewhere. They tried that with me a few times, but fortunately I've had no negative repercussions because of that. That said, YMMV.

Same here, but not to home and not to an office of mine.

As much as possible I use public transit to/from airports and would have no problem with leaving airports using public transit or taxis/hired cars to shuttle me to some shopping venue or wherever else my fancy takes me.

bruceba

Don't forget to complain about the multitude of foreigners as well.
They are such a bother. Enjoy the train

FliesWay2Much

Did they force you to produce an ID when you refused the private groping? If so, which one did you surrender? Your DL doesn't have your plate numbers on it. Cops salivate when they can record a license plate and run it against open warrants and whatever else they want. Sorry to keep asking questions... Did the clerk fill out a report on you?

sunnyjl

I happen to live in a border town. When foreigners are given less scrutiny than a US citizen, with GE, I have a problem with that.

Yes, they took my DL. They took it to the supervisor's station behind me. I have no idea what they did with it. They can run it for whatever they like...I have no records, driving or otherwise.

catocony

I was almost sympathetic, until you launched into the immigrant bashing. If you feel that the brown people in line were why TSA hassled you, you're wrong.

As to taking a taxi home or something, I would hop on a rental car bus or maybe a courtesy van to a hotel that's real close to the airport. Then come right back.

sunnyjl

There were no brown people that I could see. Before you go off on your presumptive, racist rant, I live in a northern border town. Most of the foreigners going through here are white, and not illegal. It's simply that foreigners of any kind are more of a threat than a citizen with GE who is FF to nth degree. Not to mention in my airport, anyone can go through pre-check...it's a free-for-all, yet I get picked for these swabs constantly.

catocony

Maybe it's your attitude? I go through pre-check at various airports weekly and I get the hand swabs from time to time. We all do. Blaming others for getting through unscathed, though, is pretty stupid. Everyone gets hassled by TSA on some level and at some point. You were unlucky this time.

Pre-check has been marketed as a virtual return to 9/10 security. It isn't. You still have stuff like you ran into. It works well 90% of the time, as well as anything that still doesn't allow a bottle of water, cup of coffee or can of shaving cream through security. But, things like the hand swabs and random patdowns are a part of pre-check, which is why I'll never pay for it. Until there is a way to get 9/10 security, I'll use it for free as long as United keeps hooking me up.

sunnyjl

No attitude...the MTD beeps at "randomly" to select people for swabbing...

jtodd

^
Great job! I haven't had to take this approach since I have nearly fully given up on air travel due to the extent of violations by TSA employees. When/if this happens to me I will not allow them to assault me under coercion.

Yoshi212

+1. As my father says, "Assumption is the mother of all F^ck Ups"

nrr

You should be more concerned as to why the "explosives" swab showed a positive result. Was it only a false positive?; if NOT, should you be swabbed again, you'd be in the same situation you described in your OP.