Originally Posted by
chollie
What the article doesn't say is that if you don't freeze and TSA can find you later in the sterile area, you and your belongings can be subjected to a punitive 'random' genital frisk and bag search and swab.
But the law says TSA can only screen at entry to the sterile area and at the gate. They have no power to do anything anywhere else. The only exception is the few sworn police that are with TSA. They can detain you, but they are sworn police: they need probable cause and all the usual police limitations and conditions etc.,