Call to arms.

Old Jan 2, 2010, 2:04 pm
  #136  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,441
Originally Posted by gsoltso
I actually beg to differ about the intelligence factor, some of the smartest people I have worked with are here at TSA (both locally and the blog team).
red456 is offline  
Old Jan 2, 2010, 2:20 pm
  #137  
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Greensboro
Programs: TSA
Posts: 2,424
Originally Posted by knotyeagle
Sounds good, which means of course that the screener was immediately corrected by the supervisor before it got out of hand, didn't it? I mean the container is opened, negotiable units (currency and checks) which could perhaps threaten the Obama stimulus package but not the flight to DCA were discovered. I'm curious why your brethren TSA screener elected to detain the passenger.

And how much of threat is a house phone number that it needs to be divulged? Your brethren lead screener Dominic Grieto at Austin (AUS) was insistent last October 18th that he could not "release me" until I told him my house phone number for an incident report that he wanted to write? He was wrong and I enjoyed him trying.
Based upon procedure, what you describe is what should happen with a container that has organic that turns out to be nothing but money and a TSO is doing something they should not be doing (refusing to clear the item). I have no clue (again, I am not informed on but one side of the situation) what prompted the questioning and everything that went on after the item was cleared for WEI.

We do not have detention capabilities (with the odd exception for safety issues - such as preventing you from going somewhere because something may cause you harm, or if there is a serious threat to the checkpoint area forcing the crowd to evacuate - although those are not detention technically), we only screen and secure. I don't know what the incident report was for, but if there was a problem with getting the needed info, then the LTSO should have contacted an STSO and let them make a determination if this is something that is important enough to require LEO intervention or just send you on your way with the information they already had.
gsoltso is offline  
Old Jan 2, 2010, 2:22 pm
  #138  
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Greensboro
Programs: TSA
Posts: 2,424
Originally Posted by red456
To quote Bill Cosby "roll your eyes at me, I'll roll that little head of yours" All joking aside, some of the people I work with are exceedingly intelligent.
gsoltso is offline  
Old Jan 2, 2010, 2:26 pm
  #139  
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: boca raton, florida
Posts: 621
Originally Posted by gsoltso
Based upon procedure, what you describe is what should happen with a container that has organic that turns out to be nothing but money and a TSO is doing something they should not be doing (refusing to clear the item). I have no clue (again, I am not informed on but one side of the situation) what prompted the questioning and everything that went on after the item was cleared for WEI.

We do not have detention capabilities (with the odd exception for safety issues - such as preventing you from going somewhere because something may cause you harm, or if there is a serious threat to the checkpoint area forcing the crowd to evacuate - although those are not detention technically), we only screen and secure. I don't know what the incident report was for, but if there was a problem with getting the needed info, then the LTSO should have contacted an STSO and let them make a determination if this is something that is important enough to require LEO intervention or just send you on your way with the information they already had.
Even better still is when Dominic Grieto said that he was going to search for my driver's license (I used a US passport as my acceptable government ID) thru the wallet that had already been cleared. A bit beyond administrative search I'd say (and did to him).

And by the way, even in Texas a person is not required to show a driver's license unless operating a motor vehicle on a public highway. I'm sort of sorry Dominic Grieto did not try to get the AUS airport police involved.
knotyeagle is offline  
Old Jan 2, 2010, 2:57 pm
  #140  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: DFW
Posts: 27,997
Originally Posted by gsoltso
I will not presume to speak for fellow screeners without their direct input. I actually beg to differ about the intelligence factor, some of the smartest people I have worked with are here at TSA (both locally and the blog team). If there is confusion on what the TSOs are supposed to be looking for, then it is the responsibility of management to clarify and retrain where necessary. I hope that if any of you experience something that is blatantly wrong, you would forward the information to the proper TSA components (local airport staff, GotFeedback, and if it is egregious enough your local political structure). TSA can't fix what it doesn't know is wrong, so forward this type of info for us. I know some of you here have had bad experiences with TSOs, specific airports, and policies and even some with the GotFeedback programs as well. I know that, but I still say to keep forwarding the info, it is the only way for things to get to HQ and management so they can work on things that they are unaware of.
If TSO's are so darn smart then why can't they learn that a Nexus card is acceptable ID?
Boggie Dog is offline  
Old Jan 2, 2010, 3:21 pm
  #141  
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: boca raton, florida
Posts: 621
Originally Posted by Boggie Dog
If TSO's are so darn smart then why can't they learn that a Nexus card is acceptable ID?
Or a US Passport card, or a current US passport with an expired Venezuelan visa in it?
knotyeagle is offline  
Old Jan 2, 2010, 4:21 pm
  #142  
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Greensboro
Programs: TSA
Posts: 2,424
Originally Posted by Boggie Dog
If TSO's are so darn smart then why can't they learn that a Nexus card is acceptable ID?
I have nothing on that, the only thing I can think of is the Nexus is not as widespread and the TSOs don't see them often. That being said, there is no reason to not contact an STSO when a passenger tells you (as a TDC) that it is acceptable by the TSA list (especially if you are confused about it). The worst case scenario for the TDC should be a learning experience about a new form of ID you have not seen or a regulation change that you were uninformed about. the worst case for the passenger should be standing at the TDC until an STSO can come and say it is ok. I don't believe I have ever had a Nexus card in 5 years of being here, but if one came by and I were unsure about it, call the STSO and resolve it, then learn for the next time I see one.
gsoltso is offline  
Old Jan 2, 2010, 4:23 pm
  #143  
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Greensboro
Programs: TSA
Posts: 2,424
Originally Posted by knotyeagle
Or a US Passport card, or a current US passport with an expired Venezuelan visa in it?
Both of those are acceptable forms of ID as long as they are current and not tampered with. The Venezuelan visa has no bearing one way or the other for transit in the US, only in Venezuela (sp?).
gsoltso is offline  
Old Jan 2, 2010, 4:39 pm
  #144  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Florida
Posts: 3,006
Originally Posted by gsoltso
Both of those are acceptable forms of ID as long as they are current and not tampered with. The Venezuelan visa has no bearing one way or the other for transit in the US, only in Venezuela (sp?).
Use Firefox, it has a spell checker in it. And yes you spelled it correctly.
Trollkiller is offline  
Old Jan 2, 2010, 5:02 pm
  #145  
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: USA
Posts: 1,439
Originally Posted by gsoltso
The search is for the specific threat items, period. There is no search for drugs, cash or anything specific that is not on the prohib list. When the bag is screened, we are searching for prohibs ONLY. When something is noticed on the Xray as a possible threat item, it is further screened with a bag check.
So if while searching someone's belongings with your X-ray machine, you see something that looks like a bag of plant matter and some rolling papers, a bag of powder along with a scale, razor blade, and a straw, a bag of powder with a syringe and a tourniquet, a big bag of pills, a bong, a fancy glass pipe, a large quantity of cash, a bunch of credit cards, or a bunch of passports, you're going to ignore that thing and move on? I find that hard to believe.

TSO Ron seems to think that if you see something in someone's bag that looks like illegal drugs, you are required to report it to a supervisor. In fact, as I learned last year, TSA's Operational Directive 300-54-2 states:

When TSA discovers contraband during the screening process that is not a TSA Prohibited Item, the matter should be referred to the local Law Enforcement Officers as appropriate. An Enforcement Investigative Report should not be initiated.
Examples of such contraband include:
  • Illegal drugs
  • Drug paraphernalia
  • Large amounts of cash ($10,000)

Originally Posted by gsoltso
There is no bag check for drugs or money. They are not something that is a specific "look for it" item.
West, this is so simple: 1) When you and your associates are searching someone's belongings, and you see something that looks to you like illegal drugs, what do you do? 2) When you and your associates are searching someone's belongings, and you see something that looks to you like a weapon, what do you do? Ron tells us that the next step in each case is the same: get a supervisor involved. Is that correct? If so, how can you say that you are searching for weapons but not for drugs?
pmocek is offline  
Old Jan 2, 2010, 5:20 pm
  #146  
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: boca raton, florida
Posts: 621
Originally Posted by gsoltso
Both of those are acceptable forms of ID as long as they are current and not tampered with. The Venezuelan visa has no bearing one way or the other for transit in the US, only in Venezuela (sp?).
Gee so I wonder why your trained document checkers have been declining them as acceptable ID then. Or the use of US Military ID at Panama City, St. Petersburg, etc.

A bit too much for the trained document checkers on what the "rule-du-jour" is or do they just make it up as they go along?
knotyeagle is offline  
Old Jan 3, 2010, 9:27 am
  #147  
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Greensboro
Programs: TSA
Posts: 2,424
Originally Posted by pmocek
So if while searching someone's belongings with your X-ray machine, you see something that looks like a bag of plant matter and some rolling papers, a bag of powder along with a scale, razor blade, and a straw, a bag of powder with a syringe and a tourniquet, a big bag of pills, a bong, a fancy glass pipe, a large quantity of cash, a bunch of credit cards, or a bunch of passports, you're going to ignore that thing and move on? I find that hard to believe.

Of course I am not going to pass that up, there is a razor blade in it and razor blades are verboten. The other items (depending on what they look like, some of the stuff you list here would be dense enough to cause a bag check based on a possible threat) would possibly be discovered while looking for the razor blade. IF there is nothing in the bag that looks like a threat or possible threat, then the bag rolls on. Sorry if you don't believe me, but I really don't care. I tell you what I have done in the past and would do now on xray, whether you believe or not is not my problem.

TSO Ron seems to think that if you see something in someone's bag that looks like illegal drugs, you are required to report it to a supervisor. In fact, as I learned last year, TSA's Operational Directive 300-54-2 states:

I can't speak for Ron, he does a good enough job of that on his own.

[/INDENT]

West, this is so simple: 1) When you and your associates are searching someone's belongings, and you see something that looks to you like illegal drugs, what do you do? 2) When you and your associates are searching someone's belongings, and you see something that looks to you like a weapon, what do you do? Ron tells us that the next step in each case is the same: get a supervisor involved. Is that correct? If so, how can you say that you are searching for weapons but not for drugs?
When I am searching and see something that looks like illegal drugs, I refer to a supervisor, period. That has nothing to do with the reasoning behind the bag search. That is a response that the agency has in place based upon discovery - meaning that if we come across it while performing the basic duty (searching for WEI), we report it, end of story.

What you keep trying to make out is that all TSOs go into a bag looking for drugs or money and anything else that would be "the big catch" and it is just not true. Many of the TSOs would rather go through their entire career without finding anything other than the odd pocket knife or soda (it means that they are safer in general AND they don't have to run the chance of testifying in court!). Some TSOs may say they are doing this, and to those I say - Bad idea, it can get you in trouble.

Oh yeah, if I find a weapon the correct response is to notify the STSO and let them move forward, so yes the response is exactly the same, but the situations are not.
gsoltso is offline  
Old Jan 3, 2010, 9:30 am
  #148  
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Greensboro
Programs: TSA
Posts: 2,424
Originally Posted by knotyeagle
Gee so I wonder why your trained document checkers have been declining them as acceptable ID then. Or the use of US Military ID at Panama City, St. Petersburg, etc.

A bit too much for the trained document checkers on what the "rule-du-jour" is or do they just make it up as they go along?
Again, I cant presume to speak for others, only myself. I hope you don't hold that against me, my soothsaying skills are pretty lame.
gsoltso is offline  
Old Jan 3, 2010, 9:41 am
  #149  
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: boca raton, florida
Posts: 621
Originally Posted by gsoltso
Again, I cant presume to speak for others, only myself. I hope you don't hold that against me, my soothsaying skills are pretty lame.
I don't expect you to speak for others, only the other TSA screeners you have seen in their correct/incorrect behavior. Interestingly enough it appears many of here (and perhaps me as well) have a greater sampling of what is the norm for TSA screener behavior than you have.

I'm sure you see the behavior at GSO many days/week. I see the behavior at different TSA checkpoints (such as FLL, CLL, AUS, HOU, MCO, MDW, OAK, APW, MKE, DAL, SAT, CAK, etc) weekly.

And my solution is to confront the screener directly when he/she is not following the procedure. Eric vin Lynn at Appleton (ATW) on 2 Aug was insistent that my shoes had be on the belt rather than in the bin by themselves. I asked him about the shoes in my carry-on back and he replied logic is not the issue. It did not work out well for him or lead screener Jimmy Bromlee.
knotyeagle is offline  
Old Jan 3, 2010, 10:02 am
  #150  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Florida
Posts: 3,006
Originally Posted by gsoltso
Fear profits a man nothing.
I like your signature but you forgot the rest. It should read

"Fear profits a man nothing, unless he can land a TSA contract."
Trollkiller is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.