The Scene: A not-so-busy Terminal 3 security checkpoint.
The Characters: A 60-something-year-old TSO, n301dp, n301dp's cargo pants
The Story:
I'm sure that I am among a whole host of people on this board who wear cargo pants whenever they travel. Today was no different for me.
After loading up the x-ray machine belt with my usual bins, cases, and extra-large bottle of contact solution I proceeded up to the metal detector with my boarding pass in hand. As I began walking through the archway, the TSO monitoring the detector looked down at my pants and said "whoa...you need to either go through the puffer or you'll have to receive a pat down."
I was not wearing pants that had an exorbitant amount of pockets--they are normal pants with a cargo pocket on each leg at about the knee level.
After shooting the officer an incredulous look I asked for clarification--I didn't set off the metal detector when I began walking through. His response was that
every person wearing cargo pants needed to follow this procedure or go through secondary screening. At first I thought he was joking until he actually waved me over to the puffer machine. As I went through the metal detector again I once again expressed the fact that this rule made no sense and has not been in practice anywhere else I've traveled this year, including at CVG twice prior! He kind of laughed off my comment.
Excited for a rum & coke at the DL CRC, I decided not to push the issue further. On second thought, after the R&C and a few beers later on in the evening, upon hearing the new rule about cargo pants I should have just taken my pants off and walked through the metal detector in my boxers. I'm sure that the police would believe that I did it on the order of the TSA
.
Anyone else have a similar experience?