Yes, the key of alarm resolution is to identify dangerous objects, which means a TSO has to identify
all alarms. We can see zipper tabs, we can pat down a hip or knee implant to clear that alarm, we can clear underwire in a bra. Unfortunately in this situation, a visual inspection was not an option for the TSO. Yes, it would have been far more easier to have the lady flash her boobs and be on her way, but that would have been outside of the SOP. If she did flash her boobs and go, and then hired a lawyer to sue the TSA because she had to flash her boobs....
Now there is...if you consider showing your boobs to a TSO a better option.
We can clear the area around the boob, but we can't clear the boob itself...
No...it is not SOP to ask a passenger to display skin. If a person is wearing shorts, we can visually clear a knee implant. We are never to ask a passenger to "lift" their clothing. A knee or hip can be cleared by patting it down.
Sorry
essxjay...that screener was an idiot and gave you bad advice.
Cee, somebody over on the blog is contending that the TSA allowed the woman to be
alone behind a curtain to remove the offending piece of jewelry. If the jewelry was so dangerous as to make her a threat to aviation security, then why was Ms. Hamlin allowed to be alone to remove it? Or was a screener in there with her?
Not that I like the TSA one bit, but it just makes no sense to leave someone alone who is considered to be a threat - and if she was not considered to be a threat, then why did she have to remove the piercing?
Unfortunately, I foresee, as do some others, nothing but forced strip searches or FULL body pat downs coming from this fiasco, i.e., men and women should be prepared to be violated as happened a couple of years ago with the breasts gropings if they wear piercings.