Originally Posted by
Global_Hi_Flyer
That being the case, the TSA is misclassifying information. Which is really no surprise. And I would posit that it is being done to avoid bad publicity or lawsuits. Both of which are improper reasons for classifying information. (Yes, I know that SSI/FOUO is technically not a classification, but through time the practical effect is that the information is the same as classification).
I do wonder how long it will be before such a frisk is used as a retaliatory measure - after all, it was an LTSO that threatened a passenger in front of me with detention when the passenger exercised his First Amendment rights.
I honestly do not know if they are misclassifying info; but i do know i don't expect anyone here to agree with anything TSA does.
With an agency of over 50k employees who do exercise some amount of authority (regardless of whether or not you hold that authority in contempt), no matter the agency, it would not be possible for someone to abuse their authority in some way. Take an average police department for any major city (many post on this site how those officers are so much more professional that TSA employees), and how many complaints are filed with IA and the AG? Many. And those "highly trained" officers number MUCH less in number than TSA employees.
Take the San Antonio PD, for example, much smaller that TSA, and almost each year some are charged wtb assault, bribery, theft, and recently even murder. On a daily basis, per capita, TSA employees interact with more people, and yes there are thefts, "false" additional/random screening, but as of yet nothing like assault (despite what you believe, otherwise show me the criminal complaint) nor murder.
It seems TSA, per capital is at least on par with other agencies, or doing better. Just my opinion, yet i doubt anyone here will agree.
All I can say is this, if you ever do receive the more invasive pat-down, follow up with management as to why it happened. With the new SOP, if it was done out of retaliation, you might then be surprised by the result you get. As I said, many of the changes are internal.