Originally Posted by
craz
Well, the other week at T7 @ JFK as I rounded the corner from the IK checkin area to the Security lines, I noticed the reg line was snaking thru its ropes while the Elite line had 1 person waiting on it and no one walking towards it. So I ducked under the rope to save some time. The TSA agent went balistic and we exchanged words .A PA cop standing nearby came over to see what the arguing was all about (by then I went to the Checker who of cause sent right back to where I was standing). The cop basically backed up the TSA agent and told me I needed to 1st go to that red coat security person etc etc, once I told him I already did that, he said then stand on the line and keep your mouth shut
Now you may want to go at it with any LEO. I wasnt about to I had a flight I needed to be on. The TSA guy didnt like when I said a few things to him not in English, actually it wasnt in any language but it sure sounds like I was telling him what he could go do with himself and all I did was smile as he was ranting on
So before you go at it you better make sure there isnt any LEO standing around as you wont get a chance to present your side Rightfully or not and if you dont listen to the LEO, you can kiss your flight Goodbye
You do have to listen to the LEO if given instructions, though if he is wrong (and he is here) his agency would be subject to litigation and you would win. I certainly would listen to a LEO, especially if I had a flight to catch. But I would also demand that he speak with the top TSA supervisor who would back up my cliam. In this case, the TSA agent was dead wrong, and I have indeed discussed the matter with the TSA supervisor at both EWR and JFK after being incorrectly informed by a junior TSA agent as you were. Once the supervisor has explained that TSA policy is to not enforce or get involved in any "line control" measures, the LEO would be required to let you go where you want or risk a nasty lawsuit for false arrest.
I do not pay attention to the rent-a-cops to (try) to control access. Further, there is no rule that I am aware of which requires one to listen to or obey a red-coat. It's not like instructions from a flight crew or TSA/LEOs which one is bound to follow even if wrong (up to a point at least).
Originally Posted by
northpole999
You do have to listen to the LEO if given instructions, though if he is wrong (and he is here) his agency would be subject to litigation and you would win. I certainly would listen to a LEO, especially if I had a flight to catch. But I would also demand that he speak with the top TSA supervisor who would back up my cliam. In this case, the TSA agent was dead wrong, and I have indeed discussed the matter with the TSA supervisor at both EWR and JFK after being incorrectly informed by a junior TSA agent as you were. Once the supervisor has explained that TSA policy is to not enforce or get involved in any "line control" measures, the LEO would be required to let you go where you want or risk a nasty lawsuit for false arrest.
I do not pay attention to the rent-a-cops to (try) to control access. Further, there is no rule that I am aware of which requires one to listen to or obey a red-coat. It's not like instructions from a flight crew or TSA/LEOs which one is bound to follow even if wrong (up to a point at least).
As a follow-up -- I'm just wondering if anyone else has gone ahead and simply ignored the line-control folks and jumped in the line they chose and ignored the ensuing static. It would be interesting to know if anyone else has challenged the supremacy of the low-wage divisions of the airport rent-a-cop army.