I had a recent experience which completely surprised me. I have always thought anyone who decided not to be patted down at airport security was free to be escorted from the area and fly another day. I am a female, over 80 and pre-check; have not flown for over a decade until a couple of weeks ago, so knew everything had changed considerably.

I walked through the metal detector and was told I was randomly selected to walk through the other revolving machine. Walked through and for no reason, lighted the cartoon outline all over my body except right shoulder and right breast. The upcoming pat down was more than I could manage, so I asked to have my purse brought to me, as I would prefer not to fly that day.

The screeners called their supervisor and said they would need to call the Harbor Police. The escort would have been helpful to me, and I thanked them. However, they said the police would do a more invasive search than TSA. I said "Do you mean I would be handcuffed?" The screeners said no, but I could not leave without being patted down by either them or the police, and I would also be fined. I asked the amount of the fine. They could not say. With no choice left to me, I went through with the pat down and boarded the plane. Although the screeners were polite, I had a vague feeling of coercion.

So...could someone with accurate knowledge of the new rules please clarify for me: Are we free to leave with no penalty or pat down? Or: Were the screeners correct that there is no choice. We are not free to leave? And: What is the amount of the fine? And: Under these circumstances, do the police, at the security area, actually arrest a passenger who decides not to fly?

Long story, many questions from a naive little old lady . Your clarification would be appreciated.