I had a very similar experience flying out of SAN on Saturday! When I told the TSA agent routing folks through the NOS that I was opting out, he actually told me that he was a microbiologist and knew all about radiation levels. I don't know if he was pulling my chain or not but he neither questioned, disputed, or reinforced my opting out. I stood by for about five minutes. Interestingly, toward the end of this time something started going wrong with the NOS and they had to start routing people through the WTMD. Oh, and also interesting, the lady behind me was drop dead gorgeous and wearing a low-cut top and they sent her through the WTMD for no apparent reason. This tells me the TSA is very sensitive to the charges that have been made about their use of the NOS.

Anyway, at a certain point the same TSA agent tells me if someone does not come soon in response to his repeated requests for a male assist, that he will do it himself so I can be on my way. I think that was BS because he clearly had a job to do routing folks into the NOS; he was clearly just trying to placate me and bide time.

Also during this time I mentioned that I could no longer see my belongings and he immediately had me move over to where I could see them - he did follow procedure here.

The initial pat-down was very professional. They kept my posessions with me the whole time, the agent told me in advance everything he was going to do, made sure I saw him change his gloves, and in fact did not go all the way up when he was patting up the insides of my legs. At the end I actually commended him for his professionalism. But then the gloves alarmed and I was told I would have to go to a private room for a resolution pat down with another TSO. I protested and said they could do it in the open. They refused and insisted I go to the private room. I acquiesced at that point, not wanting to cause myself further grief.

The pat-down in the room was very thorough. He *did* go all the way up, and all the way around my pelvis with quite a bit of pressure using the front of his hands. Although he did tell me everything he was going to do in advance and asked if I had any sensitive areas. It was invasive and annoying and clearly a violation of my fourth amendment rights, but other than insisting that the second screening be done in the private room they did follow their own procedures.

From now on I'll take the time to drive to SNA.