OrlandoFlyer

My 85year old ex-mother-in-law went through security at CAK today and the TSA clerks told her the only way through security was to go through the MMW even though she told them she did not want to go through it. They were very firm that she had to do this and questioned her as to why she did not want to go through MMW. When she went through the MMW it showed three anomalies so she still got the pat down.

The TSA clerks at CAK were just wrong and need to stop bullying our older citizens and show some respect. This agency is a disgrace to our country.

Anybody know the name of the FSD at CAK as I intend to file a compliant about this incident.

mrbengrady

Egregious TSA Violation

Today is 10/29/2012 4:43 PM. I was just denied being searched by the TSA at Denver International Airport. I opted out of the body scanner. I was denied being searched by the TSA for calmly stating my opinion that I thought the physical search that was going to be performed on me was sexual assault.


[Screener A] (He refused to give me his name and badge number. I had to read it from his name badge.) was the TSA screener who was going to do the physical search on me and the one who stopped the search process.

After he stopped the screening process after my comment that I thought it was sexual assault, I ensured him that I was not refusing to be physically searched, only that I was calmly voicing my opinion about how I disagreed with the process.


At this point I asked for a supervisor after [Screener A] again refused to physically search me. A TSA supervisor came towards me already with an attitude before giving me a chance to give my side of the story (which was that I was denied being physically screened for my calm opinion while never refusing to be physically searched).

The supervisor threatened me with calling the Denver Police. I said I welcomed the Denver Police because then I could tell my side of the story to someone who would listen to me that I wasn’t refusing physical screening, merely stating opinion. The Denver Police said it wasn’t the Denver Police’s decision on whether or not to allow the physical screening to continue, that it was solely up to the TSA.

The supervisor demanded I give him my home telephone number. I refused and asked him why he wanted it. He said he was going to write a report on me. I again refused. He checked with the Denver Police who said I didn’t have to give it to him. I wouldn’t have given it to him anyway.

I should note that another TSA screener who was hovering over me during this process was very combative, rude, and snippy towards me at every turn. I told her that I am allowed to calmly state my opinion in a non-disruptive way. I told her I was not under arrest and still have my First Amendment Rights.

She kept telling me, “It’s federal law”. I said that federal law does not require me to remain silent as long as I’m not disrupting anything or shouting “fire” in a movie theater.

She told me that she was also a former Marine and that I should be ashamed of myself. I told her that she is the one who should be ashamed of herself for denying me my screening due to my opinion that I think the physical screening is sexual assault, not to an actual threat. She was laughing in a sarcastic manner. I told her she should re-examine why we fight in the military for our country…to keep our freedoms from being infringed upon.

I also asked [Screener B] to let me sit down in a chair or on a bench. I was standing on the yellow footprints for awhile. She said no. I told her I have screws in my ankle (injury from the Marines) and want to sit down. She denied me a second time. I pointed to a bench about ten feet away and told her I was going to go sit on that bench while we waited for the TSA supervisor to show up. She denied me again and asked if I have proof of my injury. I laughed inside and told her, yes, I do have proof. I ended up sitting directly on the dirty athletes foot infested yellow footprint mat until TSA supervision showed up.

Also present was the boss of the TSA supervisor (I never got his name after asking for it) and Supervisor of Airport Operations.

The SAO took control of the situation at this time. I asked everyone present why I was being denied being physically searched because I never refused the physical search. No one could give me an answer. I said that I was allowed to give my opinion in a calm, non-disruptive manner as protected by the First Ammendment as long as I wasn’t disrupting operations, which I wasn’t.

They were stumbling on words and finally the SAO took the role of the guy who didn’t know what had just happened prior to his arrival, but that he was following procedure by denying my boarding my flight because TSA refused to physically screen me.

The SAO said he wasn’t a TSA supervisor and it was out of his hands whether I was screened or not. So I asked for a TSA supervisor again. That’s when the boss of the TSA supervisor finally spoke up. He had a very combative attitude. I asked him how I could arbitrarily be denied screening based on a TSA screener’s dislike of my opinion. He said sometimes you have to just shut up. I told the group that I fought for this country in the US Marines ( I was in the Infantry from 1997 to 2001) to protect the rights of those who are in situations exactly like the one I was in.

The boss of the TSA supervisor denied my screening. They said I could try again tomorrow (10/30/2012) if I changed my attitude.

The SAO then started to lead me out of the TSA screening area because I was denied screening. I said before I left the security perimeter, I would like the names and badge numbers of everyone involved because I wanted to file a complaint report. I was refused the list of those involved. I was refused touching my belongings during my screening (or lack of) so I couldn’t get my notepad and pen to write the names and badge numbers myself. He gave me options at this point. He said I could choose not to fly or reschedule for a different flight tomorrow (on 10/30/2012).

I was considering renting a car and driving home, but chose to reschedule the flight for tomorrow. The SAO led me (while under escort by Denver Police) to the United ticketing/check-in desk where he was deciding what flight I would take with the United ticketing/check-in employee. I stepped in and said I was part of this decision making process and that I would like to talk with the United check-in employee directly instead of going through the SAO. We were all standing a mere 4 feet from each other so it was silly that I was going through SAO to talk to the United employee about questions I had. Chris begrudgingly relented and let me speak directly to the United check-in employee and was annoyed that I once again voiced my opinion.

They came up with a flight that leaves at 6:50AM (boards at 6:15AM) the next morning on United Flight UA 373Y. Gee thanks. They said there was no other option. My original flight was United UA 1098 which was departing Denver at 6:15PM Mountain time today (10/29/2012) and arriving in Houston, Texas at 9:35PM Central time.

Please keep in mind that I conducted myself in a calm manner always. I never raised my voice during this whole process. I never disrupted the screening process. To sum it up, I was denied traveling by a public service/ government employee because of my opinion. This is a chilling foreshadowing of what is to come in the future. If you are not a complacent, pliable, sheeple of a person, you will be dealt with harshly.

Please, I am asking for help in finding the contact information of State Senators of Texas and Denver. I live in Texas. I was working out of town in Wyoming and had to travel through the Denver Airport.

Also, help me find the contact information of Kentucky Senator Rand Paul and Texas Senator Ron Paul who are true heroes and pioneers for change in this juggernaut of a government we have in the United States.

Also, how do I obtain a copy of the TSA video of my screening? Freedom of Information Act? How do I do that?

I can and will find the contact info for these heroes, but I need all the help I can get.

By the way, the traveler in front of me in the security line also opted out of the body scanner. You can too. I never saw what happened to him. I guess he didn’t tell TSA his opinion, otherwise, he would’ve been in my shoes.

Thank you for reading my story.

In case you were wondering, yes, I will have to pay for my own hotel tonight thanks to TSA.

I will keep you updated on my flight tomorrow morning (10/30/2012) and whether TSA deems my attitude acceptable or not. Hopefully Matt Drudge of drudgereport.com will post my story.

AKC6

Same thing for me at RDU recently. Bigbelly said, "I'm going to get right in your face," but couldn't, because of his belly. I started taking one long sidestep back and forth, he did the same, and when I saw the pax were watching and snickering, I said, "You know we love it when you lead."

In a voice about an octave higher than he wanted, he hollered, "Better hurry up with that male assist!"

essxjay

Welcome to Flyertalk, mrbengrady, and thanks for sharing your story. I'm sure folks will be along shortly with some answers.

Per our community's Guidelines and Rules we've redacted both your email address and the names of the screeners, supervisors and airport personnel from your post. You are welcome to share this info with others via PM or email if you've opted to allow members to contact you that way.

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essxjay
TS/S moderator

tkey75

Just being curious - why were you going through a TSA checkpoint in DEN when only connecting there?

MichaelKade

mrbengrady I am so sorry you went through this. A tough lesson but I always have a voice recorder activated when dealing with the TSA for this reason.

What happened on your flight the following day?

FearFree

Smoke break?

KDS

From my own personal experience, the DEN TSA personnel seem hypersensitive lately to passengers who do not remain quiet and who express concern over having the TSOs touching genitalia. Your story is consistent with my last time through DEN, though I was not prevented from the security screen after three supervisors got involved. But I was threatened momentarily with that.

Himeno

Went through STL this morning, thankfully no nude-o-scopes at the checkpoint so no need to opt out.
However, the lines were backed up with 20-30 min waits with a number of lanes closed. They had 5 people working the precheck lane, including a TSO who wasn't meant to be there (someone who had just "turned up").
I counted at least 8 TSOs standing around doing not much. At one point, the terminal manager arrived and spent at least 15 minutes (and who knows how much longer after I left the checkpoint) walking around wanting to open another lane, but looking completely stumped as to how to do it.

Here's an idea, how about taking the 3 TSOs who are doing nothing but staring at the people in line and one of the 5 people on the precheck lane and open the closed lanes.

FliesWay2Much

I had the exact same experience at Dulles when I, too, asked if they were going to touch a certain part of my anatomy, because I didn't have a body part named "resistance." Like the OP, I was told that my use of the term was "offensive" and that I was disrupting the screening process. Their statements to me about being offended were clearly scripted. I have read enough notional evidence here and on other message boards to suggest that this is a TSA-wide tactic designed to threaten and intimidate. Guess what?? They won't succeed.

I think this specific subject deserves its own thread, so I will start one shortly and see what happens.

tkey75

I thought that, but smoking is pretty widely allowed in certain sections of the airport.

longhorn11

Went through AUS today, it has become increasingly annoying to go through there over the last year or so. Used to be as smooth as DAL on most days. Had my first experience with a medical WTMD request (minor neck surgery) and they surprisingly gave me no hassle whatsoever. Waived me right on through and that was it. Forgot where I was for a second.

Ysitincoach

The clerks at CAK are a** cl*wns. Poorly trained. Attitude re-adjustment candidates.

They consistently bark the wrong information. They're reluctant to offer people opt-outs, and they're retaliatory when they do.


Organizationally CAK, YNG and TOL are spokes on CLE's hub office.
FSD (Cleveland): Michael Young

greggwiggins

Not uncommon for people in Wyoming cities such as Cheyenne to drive to Denver to begin their travel; it's not that long a drive, with more flight options and often lower prices.

joelfreak

I have had more than 5 different 3 stripers, and now MANAGEMENT in suits tell me that there is no difference between an opt-out and medically unable to go through the AIT. Without any actual rules to point to, there is no way to claim any different.