Whole Body Scanners Opt Out Stories [merged]
Sep 21, 2012, 7:12 am
#3031
Join Date: May 2003
Location: At This Point, Only G*d Knows!
Posts: 3,467
I have been told the same thing about having to work with they have, in fact when my laptop tested positive, the agent actually said to me that it is probably the machine, but he still had to follow procedure.
In my case he and his supervisor were really nice about the whole things and offered me a chair while they cleared my laptop, bag and cables inside. It was still annoying and pointless as it was a False Alarm, but being nice about it and realizing it is a False Alarm (and not a gotcha kind of thing) made the experience much more tolerable.
Dan
In my case he and his supervisor were really nice about the whole things and offered me a chair while they cleared my laptop, bag and cables inside. It was still annoying and pointless as it was a False Alarm, but being nice about it and realizing it is a False Alarm (and not a gotcha kind of thing) made the experience much more tolerable.
Dan
Sep 21, 2012, 6:56 pm
#3032
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 1,007
I have been told the same thing about having to work with they have, in fact when my laptop tested positive, the agent actually said to me that it is probably the machine, but he still had to follow procedure.
In my case he and his supervisor were really nice about the whole things and offered me a chair while they cleared my laptop, bag and cables inside. It was still annoying and pointless as it was a False Alarm, but being nice about it and realizing it is a False Alarm (and not a gotcha kind of thing) made the experience much more tolerable.
Dan
In my case he and his supervisor were really nice about the whole things and offered me a chair while they cleared my laptop, bag and cables inside. It was still annoying and pointless as it was a False Alarm, but being nice about it and realizing it is a False Alarm (and not a gotcha kind of thing) made the experience much more tolerable.
Dan
Sep 23, 2012, 4:56 am
#3034
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043
Good to know. When I asked why he needed it, he did not demand it or say I had to show it. That fits. It also fits the professionalism of the officer to not exceed his authority when he easily could.
Sep 23, 2012, 7:37 am
#3035
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Southwest Florida
Programs: AA lifetime Gold , DL Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 572
Last year Connecticut created the Connecticut Airport Authority to operate all the state owned airports, and they have just hired their first director and from what I have read they will eventuality form their own law enforcement agency to replace the CT. State Police, which presently are understaffed because of budget problems and freeing up troopers to go back to their highway patrol duties.
I doubt the BDL airport assignment is high on the list of choice assignments for a State Trooper, probably the reason why he never smiled.
Mr. Elliott
Sep 23, 2012, 1:15 pm
#3036
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043
And that type of professionalism that the Connecticut State Police, who are the law enforcement agency at BDL will probably be ending within the next year or so.
Last year Connecticut created the Connecticut Airport Authority to operate all the state owned airports, and they have just hired their first director and from what I have read they will eventuality form their own law enforcement agency to replace the CT. State Police, which presently are understaffed because of budget problems and freeing up troopers to go back to their highway patrol duties.
I doubt the BDL airport assignment is high on the list of choice assignments for a State Trooper, probably the reason why he never smiled.
Mr. Elliott
Last year Connecticut created the Connecticut Airport Authority to operate all the state owned airports, and they have just hired their first director and from what I have read they will eventuality form their own law enforcement agency to replace the CT. State Police, which presently are understaffed because of budget problems and freeing up troopers to go back to their highway patrol duties.
I doubt the BDL airport assignment is high on the list of choice assignments for a State Trooper, probably the reason why he never smiled.
Mr. Elliott
I had an uncle that was a Ky. State Policeman and he was often called upon to work University of Kentucky basketball games. He absolutely hated it, even though UK tickets are one of the hardest to get in college sports. He had to watch the crowd and not the game. If he was caught watching the game too much he was reprimanded. It was torture.
He was serious as well. After retiring from KSP, he went back regular army and became CSM of the Kentucky National Guard. There is nothing more serious than a CSM.
Sep 23, 2012, 8:07 pm
#3037
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Winter Garden, FL
Programs: Delta DM-3MM United Gold-MM Marriott Lifetime Titanium Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 13,498
OK, I'll be the one who looks stupid. What is a "CSM"? I tried to guess but didn't get past "Commanding...."
Bruce
Bruce
Sep 23, 2012, 8:38 pm
#3038
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043
There is one per command. He was the highest ranked NCO in the KY National Guard and as such he was regular army and not National Guard.
Sep 25, 2012, 9:41 pm
#3040
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,264
Sep 26, 2012, 7:23 am
#3041
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Long Island, NY
Programs: United 1K, AA Plat Exec, DL Plat, Marriott Titanium Lifetime Elite, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,872
The following is an account of what just occurred to my partner and I at JFK:
As a type 1 diabetic, I use an insulin pump at all times. The manufacturer of that pump has advised me NEVER to go through any of the advanced screening methods, as it can adversely effect the reliability of my device. When presenting myself to security at JFK Terminal 7 on 9/26, agents refused to allow me to be screened by the magnetometer as other passengers with disabilities and small children are allowed to do, and said that I would be treated as an Opt-Out, even though I did not Opt-Out, I was medically unable to pass through the AIT. I was told that I would be forced to undergo a secondary pat-down even though I had done nothing that would show reason why I would require such a screening. Upon notification of my objection, the supervisor came over and told me that "if you want to fly today, you will be getting a pat-down." When I requested that he call a law enforcement officer to take a report and witness this discrimination, I was told that no LEO would be called. I had to call 911 in order to get police to respond, which took about 30 minutes. I was told that ANYONE who could not go through the AIT MUST get a secondary pat-down, no matter if they are disabled. During my pat-down, which took more than 15 minutes to complete, two officers went through EVERY item I had, including taking EACH of my credit cards out, and inspecting each side closely, and separating every dollar bill I had from the others. I clearly was not only discriminated against for being a diabetic, but also for complaining about the TSA.
As a type 1 diabetic, I use an insulin pump at all times. The manufacturer of that pump has advised me NEVER to go through any of the advanced screening methods, as it can adversely effect the reliability of my device. When presenting myself to security at JFK Terminal 7 on 9/26, agents refused to allow me to be screened by the magnetometer as other passengers with disabilities and small children are allowed to do, and said that I would be treated as an Opt-Out, even though I did not Opt-Out, I was medically unable to pass through the AIT. I was told that I would be forced to undergo a secondary pat-down even though I had done nothing that would show reason why I would require such a screening. Upon notification of my objection, the supervisor came over and told me that "if you want to fly today, you will be getting a pat-down." When I requested that he call a law enforcement officer to take a report and witness this discrimination, I was told that no LEO would be called. I had to call 911 in order to get police to respond, which took about 30 minutes. I was told that ANYONE who could not go through the AIT MUST get a secondary pat-down, no matter if they are disabled. During my pat-down, which took more than 15 minutes to complete, two officers went through EVERY item I had, including taking EACH of my credit cards out, and inspecting each side closely, and separating every dollar bill I had from the others. I clearly was not only discriminated against for being a diabetic, but also for complaining about the TSA.
Sep 26, 2012, 10:23 am
#3042
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 56
The following is an account of what just occurred to my partner and I at JFK:
As a type 1 diabetic, I use an insulin pump at all times. The manufacturer of that pump has advised me NEVER to go through any of the advanced screening methods, as it can adversely effect the reliability of my device. When presenting myself to security at JFK Terminal 7 on 9/26, agents refused to allow me to be screened by the magnetometer as other passengers with disabilities and small children are allowed to do, and said that I would be treated as an Opt-Out, even though I did not Opt-Out, I was medically unable to pass through the AIT. I was told that I would be forced to undergo a secondary pat-down even though I had done nothing that would show reason why I would require such a screening. Upon notification of my objection, the supervisor came over and told me that "if you want to fly today, you will be getting a pat-down." When I requested that he call a law enforcement officer to take a report and witness this discrimination, I was told that no LEO would be called. I had to call 911 in order to get police to respond, which took about 30 minutes. I was told that ANYONE who could not go through the AIT MUST get a secondary pat-down, no matter if they are disabled. During my pat-down, which took more than 15 minutes to complete, two officers went through EVERY item I had, including taking EACH of my credit cards out, and inspecting each side closely, and separating every dollar bill I had from the others. I clearly was not only discriminated against for being a diabetic, but also for complaining about the TSA.
As a type 1 diabetic, I use an insulin pump at all times. The manufacturer of that pump has advised me NEVER to go through any of the advanced screening methods, as it can adversely effect the reliability of my device. When presenting myself to security at JFK Terminal 7 on 9/26, agents refused to allow me to be screened by the magnetometer as other passengers with disabilities and small children are allowed to do, and said that I would be treated as an Opt-Out, even though I did not Opt-Out, I was medically unable to pass through the AIT. I was told that I would be forced to undergo a secondary pat-down even though I had done nothing that would show reason why I would require such a screening. Upon notification of my objection, the supervisor came over and told me that "if you want to fly today, you will be getting a pat-down." When I requested that he call a law enforcement officer to take a report and witness this discrimination, I was told that no LEO would be called. I had to call 911 in order to get police to respond, which took about 30 minutes. I was told that ANYONE who could not go through the AIT MUST get a secondary pat-down, no matter if they are disabled. During my pat-down, which took more than 15 minutes to complete, two officers went through EVERY item I had, including taking EACH of my credit cards out, and inspecting each side closely, and separating every dollar bill I had from the others. I clearly was not only discriminated against for being a diabetic, but also for complaining about the TSA.
Sep 26, 2012, 1:03 pm
#3043
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 240
@joelfreak - sorry about your experience. Where are the American Disability Act supporters? It makes me mad that people with various medical conditions are singled out. 
Take comfort in knowing that people without diabetes sometimes face the same treatment as you. I guess they all see us as cattle that need to be herded through the checkpoint. They expect us to happily "moo" along.
Several people that I know that have flown recently in the US have said that the scanners are now the norm and the WTMD is a rare thing. Funny that in Canada, this isn't even a big deal like it is in the States. They don't use the scanners are often and they don't see opt-outs as a "threat". Also, they don't use the backscatter machines.
Take comfort in knowing that people without diabetes sometimes face the same treatment as you. I guess they all see us as cattle that need to be herded through the checkpoint. They expect us to happily "moo" along.Several people that I know that have flown recently in the US have said that the scanners are now the norm and the WTMD is a rare thing. Funny that in Canada, this isn't even a big deal like it is in the States. They don't use the scanners are often and they don't see opt-outs as a "threat". Also, they don't use the backscatter machines.
Sep 26, 2012, 1:38 pm
#3044
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 616
The following is an account of what just occurred to my partner and I at JFK:
As a type 1 diabetic, I use an insulin pump at all times. The manufacturer of that pump has advised me NEVER to go through any of the advanced screening methods, as it can adversely effect the reliability of my device. When presenting myself to security at JFK Terminal 7 on 9/26, agents refused to allow me to be screened by the magnetometer as other passengers with disabilities and small children are allowed to do, and said that I would be treated as an Opt-Out, even though I did not Opt-Out, I was medically unable to pass through the AIT. I was told that I would be forced to undergo a secondary pat-down even though I had done nothing that would show reason why I would require such a screening. Upon notification of my objection, the supervisor came over and told me that "if you want to fly today, you will be getting a pat-down." When I requested that he call a law enforcement officer to take a report and witness this discrimination, I was told that no LEO would be called. I had to call 911 in order to get police to respond, which took about 30 minutes. I was told that ANYONE who could not go through the AIT MUST get a secondary pat-down, no matter if they are disabled. During my pat-down, which took more than 15 minutes to complete, two officers went through EVERY item I had, including taking EACH of my credit cards out, and inspecting each side closely, and separating every dollar bill I had from the others. I clearly was not only discriminated against for being a diabetic, but also for complaining about the TSA.
As a type 1 diabetic, I use an insulin pump at all times. The manufacturer of that pump has advised me NEVER to go through any of the advanced screening methods, as it can adversely effect the reliability of my device. When presenting myself to security at JFK Terminal 7 on 9/26, agents refused to allow me to be screened by the magnetometer as other passengers with disabilities and small children are allowed to do, and said that I would be treated as an Opt-Out, even though I did not Opt-Out, I was medically unable to pass through the AIT. I was told that I would be forced to undergo a secondary pat-down even though I had done nothing that would show reason why I would require such a screening. Upon notification of my objection, the supervisor came over and told me that "if you want to fly today, you will be getting a pat-down." When I requested that he call a law enforcement officer to take a report and witness this discrimination, I was told that no LEO would be called. I had to call 911 in order to get police to respond, which took about 30 minutes. I was told that ANYONE who could not go through the AIT MUST get a secondary pat-down, no matter if they are disabled. During my pat-down, which took more than 15 minutes to complete, two officers went through EVERY item I had, including taking EACH of my credit cards out, and inspecting each side closely, and separating every dollar bill I had from the others. I clearly was not only discriminated against for being a diabetic, but also for complaining about the TSA.
My plan for the future is to make the groper uncomfortable. I'm going to make him clarify that my resistance is really my penis and scrotum. I want him to think about what he is doing. It may not make a difference. Since I have to get groped to get on a plane, I may as well make them feel as miserable as I'm feeling about it.
How does the TSA really know that it is an insulin pump? They swab it for explosives, but wouldn't I clean it really well if I packed it full of C-4? They never make me turn it on or examine it.
On the flip side, I hope it never does give a false positive on explosives. I don't know how that would be cleared. I don't think they would want me pressing buttons on it at that time.
Sep 27, 2012, 3:56 am
#3045
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,444
My plan for the future is to make the groper uncomfortable. I'm going to make him clarify that my resistance is really my penis and scrotum. I want him to think about what he is doing. It may not make a difference. Since I have to get groped to get on a plane, I may as well make them feel as miserable as I'm feeling about it.