Whole Body Scanners Opt Out Stories [merged]
Sep 8, 2010, 5:33 am
#151
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Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,953
....
Interestingly enough my gate was C12 next to security, and my flight was delayed for a couple hours....after my dinner I sat watching security for almost 2 hours counting opt outs, roughly 4/10 would opt out during this time period at this checkpoint. Obviously I'm not a statistician, scientist or anything, this was just my personal estimate, but I just thought it was interesting to see how many people actually didn't want anything to do with the machine. So in passing I learned my lesson, if you opt out remember don't walk through the machine.
Interestingly enough my gate was C12 next to security, and my flight was delayed for a couple hours....after my dinner I sat watching security for almost 2 hours counting opt outs, roughly 4/10 would opt out during this time period at this checkpoint. Obviously I'm not a statistician, scientist or anything, this was just my personal estimate, but I just thought it was interesting to see how many people actually didn't want anything to do with the machine. So in passing I learned my lesson, if you opt out remember don't walk through the machine.
Obviously, the TSA is blowing smoke about the "acceptance" rate of WBI.
I don't think I'd walk through the machine either - I wouldn't trust it or the TSA.
Sep 8, 2010, 7:12 am
#152
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Sep 8, 2010, 8:43 am
#153
Join Date: Jul 2003
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Sep 8, 2010, 8:45 am
#154
Join Date: Dec 2004
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Went thru IAH on Monday. Nude-O-Scope in operation right next to the regular machine. One line led to both. I looked for the opt out sign and couldn't see one. Told the woman monitoring the line that I wanted to opt out. She had no idea what I was talking about. Repeated that I would not go through the scanner. She told me to put my things on the belt by the nude-o-scope and then ignore the guy directing people to the nude-o-scope and simply walk thru the the magnetic one. And that is what I did - thru and on the other side in seconds. Only problem was my things were coming out next to the nude-o-scope out of my sight. I simply walked past the people getting pat downs and retrieved my stuff. A traveling companion was keeping watch over them.
As I was leaving I stopped and told the supervisors that I had not seen the opt out sign and that I had been looking carefully for it. He assured me that it was there. Went to check and came back. Offered to show it to me but I had to catch a connection and demurred.
So - it was easy to opt out primarily because the agent didn't know what I meant and the agent doing the screening wasn't watching where I was going (around him rather than by him). Didn't get a secondary pat down. From a TSA stand point it was pretty loose. From my standpoint it was great to get thru so quickly.
BTW the line trying to get thru the nude-o-scope was incredibly long and -everyone- going thru it was being stopped for the secondary pat down. Lots of grousing as people were worried about connecting flights. On the plane the person next to me said it took 45 mins to get thru this "in transit" check point.
As I was leaving I stopped and told the supervisors that I had not seen the opt out sign and that I had been looking carefully for it. He assured me that it was there. Went to check and came back. Offered to show it to me but I had to catch a connection and demurred.
So - it was easy to opt out primarily because the agent didn't know what I meant and the agent doing the screening wasn't watching where I was going (around him rather than by him). Didn't get a secondary pat down. From a TSA stand point it was pretty loose. From my standpoint it was great to get thru so quickly.
BTW the line trying to get thru the nude-o-scope was incredibly long and -everyone- going thru it was being stopped for the secondary pat down. Lots of grousing as people were worried about connecting flights. On the plane the person next to me said it took 45 mins to get thru this "in transit" check point.
Sep 8, 2010, 8:55 am
#155
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This might be a stupid question, but after reading thread after thread about the NoS, I haven't seen it mentioned...
Like many travelers, I wear prescription eyeglasses. By definition, these are a medical device - I'm near-blind without them - and therefore cannot be separated from them. I keep them on when I go through the WTMD, and they've never alarmed.
Given that the TSA is demanding shoes, belts and pocket contents go through on the x-ray belt if you're being herded through the NoS, what's the policy on eyeglasses? Since removing my eyeglasses, even for a short period of time, would interfere with my ability to comply with TSA 'procedure' & prohibit line-of-sight with my belongings, I would think this would be cause for an instant opt-out. Does anyone have any experience with this?
Like many travelers, I wear prescription eyeglasses. By definition, these are a medical device - I'm near-blind without them - and therefore cannot be separated from them. I keep them on when I go through the WTMD, and they've never alarmed.
Given that the TSA is demanding shoes, belts and pocket contents go through on the x-ray belt if you're being herded through the NoS, what's the policy on eyeglasses? Since removing my eyeglasses, even for a short period of time, would interfere with my ability to comply with TSA 'procedure' & prohibit line-of-sight with my belongings, I would think this would be cause for an instant opt-out. Does anyone have any experience with this?
)
Sep 8, 2010, 9:09 am
#156
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 93
re "it is for your safety."
I would have to laugh and tell him that that is not what my colleagues with top level clearances and intimate knowledge of the processes tell me ... even they are offended by the crap that we all have to go through and admit that it is largely a charade.
I would have to laugh and tell him that that is not what my colleagues with top level clearances and intimate knowledge of the processes tell me ... even they are offended by the crap that we all have to go through and admit that it is largely a charade.
Sep 8, 2010, 9:39 am
#157
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 81
This might be a stupid question, but after reading thread after thread about the NoS, I haven't seen it mentioned...
Like many travelers, I wear prescription eyeglasses. By definition, these are a medical device - I'm near-blind without them - and therefore cannot be separated from them. I keep them on when I go through the WTMD, and they've never alarmed.
Given that the TSA is demanding shoes, belts and pocket contents go through on the x-ray belt if you're being herded through the NoS, what's the policy on eyeglasses? Since removing my eyeglasses, even for a short period of time, would interfere with my ability to comply with TSA 'procedure' & prohibit line-of-sight with my belongings, I would think this would be cause for an instant opt-out. Does anyone have any experience with this?
Like many travelers, I wear prescription eyeglasses. By definition, these are a medical device - I'm near-blind without them - and therefore cannot be separated from them. I keep them on when I go through the WTMD, and they've never alarmed.
Given that the TSA is demanding shoes, belts and pocket contents go through on the x-ray belt if you're being herded through the NoS, what's the policy on eyeglasses? Since removing my eyeglasses, even for a short period of time, would interfere with my ability to comply with TSA 'procedure' & prohibit line-of-sight with my belongings, I would think this would be cause for an instant opt-out. Does anyone have any experience with this?
Sep 8, 2010, 9:42 am
#158
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re "it is for your safety."
I would have to laugh and tell him that that is not what my colleagues with top level clearances and intimate knowledge of the processes tell me ... even they are offended by the crap that we all have to go through and admit that it is largely a charade.
I would have to laugh and tell him that that is not what my colleagues with top level clearances and intimate knowledge of the processes tell me ... even they are offended by the crap that we all have to go through and admit that it is largely a charade.
Sep 8, 2010, 9:51 am
#159
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 842
Inform everyone
My favorite thing to do is to strike up a conversation with those around me to inform them that they don't have to go through the nude-o-scope. I love looking at the Smurfs when they are suddenly faced with the fact that everyone is going to opt out. In TPA the other day, they actually stopped herding people toward the nude-o-scope when I was in line.
Sep 8, 2010, 10:01 am
#160
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 93
do you mean who are my colleagues? No, they laugh at TSA/ hate them... they (my colleagues) are REAL federal LE officers. As for TSA, I'm sure they won't care... ignorance and arrogance seem to be part of the kool-aid mix at orientation.
Sep 8, 2010, 11:41 am
#161
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I get that - and obviously I have no plans of taking my glasses off - but I'm just curious what the 'official' TSA position would be. Are metal eyeglasses (or any non-removable medical device) a 'get-out-of-NoS-free' card?
Sep 8, 2010, 11:56 am
#162
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And it certainly doesn't matter whether or not the 'position du jour' makes any sense.
Sep 8, 2010, 12:26 pm
#164
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 81
I would suggest you post your Q on the tsa's blog itself and see what BB has to say.
Sep 8, 2010, 1:57 pm
#165
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Don't email a complaint. Write a hard-copy letter saying that you were forced to use the WBI, even though you repeatedly stated that you were exercising your right to opt out. Keep it short, don't bother about the wallet and stuff; not allowing a passenger to opt out is a clear violation of TSA stated policy. It's good if you have names, otherwise date and time.
Send it (certified) to the manager and security director at the RIC, copy to TSA in DC and to your congresspersons.
It's more of a hassle than just emailing (duh, that's why we invented email
), but it only costs a couple of dollars and creates a formal paper trail for your complaint.
Send it (certified) to the manager and security director at the RIC, copy to TSA in DC and to your congresspersons.
It's more of a hassle than just emailing (duh, that's why we invented email
), but it only costs a couple of dollars and creates a formal paper trail for your complaint.