Leaving JFK to LHR last night as i went through the security, had my computer in the bin, put my shoes in the bin, took my blackberry out of the holster, put it in the bin and began to walk through.
"Stop"
"Stop"
I look over - didn't know the TSA agent was talking to me.
"Take the holster off"
Me: It never beeps
"What don't you understand about following instructions?"
Me: It never beeps
"TAke it off now Sir"
I put it in the bin - walk through - dont buzz
"Sir, you have been selected for secondary screening"
I wait several minutes till an a TSA agent comes over.
"Sir you seem to have a problem following instructions, so please listen closely"
Me - "I don't have any problems listening so please go ahead."
As he is telling me how i am going to be wanded and patted down another agent swabs my briefcase and suitbag.
The TSA agent wands me like he is cutting a diamond. Incidentally, im shoes off in bare feet and he goes over my bare feet several times.
As I am in the stand up wanding process nothing beeps - he feels the bump of my watch - "Are you concealing anything under your sweater?"
Me- "It's my watch"
"Please roll the sleave up so I can see it"
I do
He now is doing a pat down and feels the buttons on the arms of my shirt under my sweater
"What is being concealed under your sweater right here/"
Me - "The buttons on my shirt"
"Take your sweater off so I can examine them."
As i am taking my sweater off - halfway over my head - "Stop right now - you are trying to conceal what I am look for." My shirt is coming off with my sweater. "I told you only take off your sweater"
Me - "That's what I'm doing" I keep my short on and let him look at the buttons on my shirt.
He begins to swab the bags
Me - "Excuse me they have already been swabbed once"
"I can inspect them as many times as I want - this is about security"
Me - "Exactly, and by spending your time harrassing me you are depriving everyone here of the security we deserve. May I see a supervisor"
The supervisor comes over and I explain why I think I have been singled out - I didnt want to take off my blackberry holster.
I explain that swabbing my bags a second time seems excessive.
"Unless you can demonstrate to me they have been swabbed once I can't do anything."
Me - "Who can I complain to"
"I am the only one here"
Me- "Have a nice night" and I get on my way
Does anyone have an address or email hopefully I can provide TSA details about this. To me, the sad part of this isnt the extra 10 minutes they spending showing me who the boss is, it's the 10 minutes they lost doing their job and putting everyone at risk -- End of Rant
