Originally Posted by
SATTSO
TSA does not require people to walk through a WTMD. Nor require those who can not to stand in the positions you describe for AIT screening or pat down screening. We have some FT members who know this for a fact, people who hate TSA. But they wouldn't agree with your statement.
As an agency, the TSA may not
require it, but there are a statistically significant number of screeners that
don't know that. Significant enough that one can conclude that the agency aids and abets this behavior. (Heck, the agency
says that it accepts Trusted Traveler cards and passports as ID, yet a significant number of TDC screeners either don't recognize them or fail to accept them).
I've personally witnessed the screeners at certain airports (including DCA) try to force handicapped folks through an AIT and berate them for not "assuming the position". (last time I saw it happen at the DL/CO pier at DCA I was the beneficiary as I avoided the opt-out and was able to use the WTMD instead). That it happens at DCA of all places speaks volumes.
This may well be a training failure, it may be inconsiderate screeners, lazy screeners, or it may be malicious. We'd never know because the policies and their derivation are SSI (or classified). The words "Trust me, I'm from the government" doesn't exactly inspire confidence in this day and age.
It is actually rare the screener who doesn't know what to do - but that does happen.
I think it happens more often than you think.