SSSS (Secondary Security Screening Selection) on Boarding Pass (policy debate thread)
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Arizona, USA
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SSSS (Secondary Security Screening Selection) on Boarding Pass (policy debate thread)
I was at SFO this morning, noticing that there were a lot of people in the selectee line. There was a group of elderly Asian passengers, each passing through the "puffer," then being wanded and patted down to absurd lengths.
This was not unnoticed by everyone else in the line.
The question that went through my head is, "What are they LOOKING for?" What is the point of wanding and patting down someone who has already "cleared" a WTMD and a puffer? What's left to find?
The other question (a silly one to ask the TSA, I know,) but has SSSS ever been shown to DO anything? Yes, I know that the 9/11 terrorists flagged the CAPPS system, but that's subject to questions about banned items, locked flight deck doors, etc. I'm talking about since SSSS was introduced, has it ever been shown to DO anything other than humiliate and delay passengers and keep the TSA busy?
This was not unnoticed by everyone else in the line.
The question that went through my head is, "What are they LOOKING for?" What is the point of wanding and patting down someone who has already "cleared" a WTMD and a puffer? What's left to find?
The other question (a silly one to ask the TSA, I know,) but has SSSS ever been shown to DO anything? Yes, I know that the 9/11 terrorists flagged the CAPPS system, but that's subject to questions about banned items, locked flight deck doors, etc. I'm talking about since SSSS was introduced, has it ever been shown to DO anything other than humiliate and delay passengers and keep the TSA busy?
#3
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The issue with SSSS is this.....if you intend to do harm and you get SSSS on your boarding card you will do one of three things
1) Leave the airport and miss your flight to fly another day
2) Ditch your weapon,board the flight and sort something else out or do nothing
3) Wait 5 min, go to the counter and ask for a seat change, sometimes this removes the SSSS from your boarding card (no idea why, but it has worked for me more than once).....should you get SSSS again see steps 1 & 2
So no, SSSS essentially does nothing for homeland security.
1) Leave the airport and miss your flight to fly another day
2) Ditch your weapon,board the flight and sort something else out or do nothing
3) Wait 5 min, go to the counter and ask for a seat change, sometimes this removes the SSSS from your boarding card (no idea why, but it has worked for me more than once).....should you get SSSS again see steps 1 & 2
So no, SSSS essentially does nothing for homeland security.
#5
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Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 2,403
I was actually on Continental.
It's quite possible that this was a group, and if one person on the reservation gets SSSS, so does everyone else. It makes such good sense, since terrorists usually travel in groups of 25 elderly tourists.
It's quite possible that this was a group, and if one person on the reservation gets SSSS, so does everyone else. It makes such good sense, since terrorists usually travel in groups of 25 elderly tourists.
#6
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 562
The other question (a silly one to ask the TSA, I know,) but has SSSS ever been shown to DO anything? Yes, I know that the 9/11 terrorists flagged the CAPPS system, but that's subject to questions about banned items, locked flight deck doors, etc. I'm talking about since SSSS was introduced, has it ever been shown to DO anything other than humiliate and delay passengers and keep the TSA busy?
Travelling with a person who has been SSSS'd will not automatically SSSS you, unless you are a minor. I don't know why these large groups always seem to get SSSS'd. Maybe it is how they book their tickets...totally ineffective.
#7
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Arlington VA
Posts: 5,735
I have heard of NO security issues with either Continental or United flights in the past few weeks, so apparently the SSSS process is working.
Please do not question the wisdon of the government. They are much wiser than all of us.
Please do not question the wisdon of the government. They are much wiser than all of us.
#8
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Yes, the BD program is a classic example of excellence in government - not!
How about we do away with SSSS altogether and replace it with a proper, technically-able, screening system that detects dangerous items correctly the first time.
#9
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I don't think there actually is truly random extra screening, just the punishment kind being explained away as such.
#10
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 562
Great idea Like the chunky midget at FLL who likes to stand facing the line with a nasty face and engage passengers in staring contests to see who will start sweating?
Yes, the BD program is a classic example of excellence in government - not!
How about we do away with SSSS altogether and replace it with a proper, technically-able, screening system that detects dangerous items correctly the first time.
Yes, the BD program is a classic example of excellence in government - not!
How about we do away with SSSS altogether and replace it with a proper, technically-able, screening system that detects dangerous items correctly the first time.
Instead of an automatic computer generated SSSS, let the BDO's pull people who actually draw a suspicion.
How many of you have been SSSS'd before, for the reasons I have listed above? And then, how many of you have been pulled aside for a BDO initiated screening?
If the TSA is going to have "random" screening, selectee screenings...at least get a better system in place for choosing the selectees.
#11
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We don't need BDOs - to date, they've added zero extra value to aviation security save for one sole incident at MCO, where the person was acting so strangely even the janitor could have spotted him.
#12
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 562
We shouldn't have or need random 'selectee' screening - we need a single, technically advanced, comprehensive screening system which is able to detect dangerous objects and chemicals in baggage and on passengers - a combination of CT/MRI, no-sample chemical analysis, and clothing-penetrable ultrasound. All of these technologies exist TODAY - we just need to bring them together into one holistic solution.
We don't need BDOs - to date, they've added zero extra value to aviation security save for one sole incident at MCO, where the person was acting so strangely even the janitor could have spotted him.
We don't need BDOs - to date, they've added zero extra value to aviation security save for one sole incident at MCO, where the person was acting so strangely even the janitor could have spotted him.
I agree that we definitely need better technology. As I am seeing with the MMW topic, people are just not going to collectively agree on any improved technology. I am assuming that your suggestion of clothing-penetrable *ultrasound* is probably less invasive than the MMW...though I am not an expert on technology.
#14
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Layers, dude...think "layers". The BDO's are just a "layer".
I agree that we definitely need better technology. As I am seeing with the MMW topic, people are just not going to collectively agree on any improved technology. I am assuming that your suggestion of clothing-penetrable *ultrasound* is probably less invasive than the MMW...though I am not an expert on technology.
I agree that we definitely need better technology. As I am seeing with the MMW topic, people are just not going to collectively agree on any improved technology. I am assuming that your suggestion of clothing-penetrable *ultrasound* is probably less invasive than the MMW...though I am not an expert on technology.
The chemical scan machines can look inside a container (and likely on skin and textile fibers) to determine the chemical makeup of the contents - there is no sample prep, just pass the container through the scanner.
#15
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