Originally Posted by
WChou
The usual premium station to the extreme right was closed. To show how well designed these contraptions are, two very tall guys left a portion of themselves "unscreened." Once they entered the "I surrender" position, their arms were above the scan area. I doubt anything above their elbow up imaged.
The premium station is actually somewhat poorly designed because this is also the Family/Medical/Assist line. Regardless, I usually go through it because it has minimum hassle. I have also seen tall guys do the surrender position with their hands and elbows above the top wall. In fact, a TSO was doing the "I surrender" motion to instruct the guy going through, and then told him to do more of a gorilla pose. When that didn't work, the guy reassumed the surrender position and was scanned again. Yes, this guy got scanned
twice and was then held for a patdown.
I did opt out and went with the pat down. Still, I had to remove everything after passing through the WTMD. A real pain but worth it if it means bypassing the WBI. The items that usually stay in my pocket such wallet and BP had to come out.
Did they rifle through your wallet's contents as well? I usually place all of this stuff in a zipper pouch insider of my carryon, so this procedure won't change for me between the WTMD/WBI.
Yes, I enjoy how previously non-dangerous wallets and papers are now a
HUGE PROBLEM but only when the WBIs are running. It's kind of like how LGAs weren't an issue until August 2006. Give me a break. Either they were always an issue or never were. Which is it?
Unfortunately, with backscatter machines installed at every station at SJC now, there will me no alternative except to opt-out when they're in use at all checkpoints. I will opt out as long as it continues to be an option and gladly give a reason to educate the people within earshot.