barbell

I don't know.

In SAN on Sunday (see previous post) he got nowhere near my crotch.

In ATL today (also see previous post) he got all up in my business and rooted around.

barbell

Don't worry, my babies, I have bigger plans in store.

As for "my stuff" being out of view, the WTMD monitor was so overwhelmed by the entire process asking her for it elicited a blank stare.

Randy Wallingford, the TSA lead screener, had 3 different employees make multiple trips to bring my stuff back to me while I waited, which is when he made mention of the 30-minute wait.

He had the staff to move my stuff around, but not to grope me. That's odd.

And bocastephen, I agree completely with your assessment. Though I'm a non-exempt guest of the airline when I fly. Antics like that do not bode well for my family's financial well-being. And like CalVol, I was coming off of a sleep-deprived weekend where I didn't entirely have my wits about me. The TSA counts on the disorientation, and I'm glad I at least had my wits to opt out.

nachtnebel

Sorry to hear about this. I admire your composure. I wonder if it would be worthwhile to publish the names of folks who do this kind of uncalled for groping on an SPD. That sounds like a flat out assault to me.

PhoenixRev

It is evident the TSO and the supervisor are playing a word game in order to try to minimize the fact that they are touching your crotch.

While I understand that everyone's anatomy is different, I can assure you that I cannot stand with my feet spread apart enough so that someone's hand would not encounter my scrotum. It simply is not possible for a TSO to run their hand up my thigh until they reach "the area where your leg meets your body" without having contact with my testicles.

Any TSO that says that every male they do that thorough patdown on will not have their genitals touched is a bald faced liar.

Fredd

Indeed. For further evidence, see pat-down. I'd always thought of a pat-down as relatively unintrusive.

Caradoc

Maybe those staffers still hadn't passed their background checks, and weren't SSI-cleared to be trained to grope people yet.

Caradoc

It's been a long time since my gross anatomy classes, but I'm reasonably certain the statement would apply to everyone, not just males.

flapping arms

{Lather rinse repeat}

We should all repeat this exact script, every time the screener uses such a phrase.

What I wish I had the chutzpah to reply with, and I hope someone tries it: "Thank you very much! Per your direction, I will proceed directly to my gate."

patom

Departing MLB today Mrs Patom got forced to the NOS and opted out. She got the spiel about this is not an xray, etc but stood her ground. The "what I'm going to do speech" took longer than the actual frisk which was back of hand and no big deal.

skidv25

Just had my first opt-out experience a few minutes ago here at BOS Terminal C (AirTran c/p). When I approached the checkpoint, they were only using the WTMD, but as I got closer to the front of the line, they switched to Backscatter NOS only. An agent directed me to the NOS, and I told him that if they were going to make me go through it, I would opt out. The agent called for a male opt-out. He told me to wait near the NOS, but I moved to a different spot, so I wasn't so close to it, and also so I could see my belongings. After about a two minute wait, they let me go to the other side. An agent asked me to point out my belongings, and he transferred my stuff to a table. I had three bins, a suitcase, and my shoes, which was a lot to carry, so he placed my shoes on top of my jacket () and another bin directly on top of the bin with my laptop ( ). Next, he did the usual "pre-pat down" stuff, asking me if I had any sore spots, medical devices, or if I wanted a private room.

At this point, he began the pat down. He first asked me to face my belongings, and he kept me informed as to what he was doing. No touching of my "resistance" was involved. (He didn't even use the word "resistance" at any time during the pat down.) A swab of the agent's gloves concluded the pat down. All in all, not a bad experience for my first opt out. The agent was very professional, but I didn't like how he transferred my stuff to the search table.

MKE-MR

Two at BUF to report:

September, noticed the lines were backed up at all WTMD except the far left, so sidled over there. Didn't see the dreaded blue boxes until too late. Opted out, as did my wife. Patdown was no big deal, as to be expected pre-rules change. The clerk did mention that "soon there would be no choice" and objected when I characterized the flying public choosing to go through this untested technology as "sheep".

Late January, my luck ran out again. We were running late for one of the last flights of the night and the checkpoint was nearly entirely closed down. No line, and I went first, getting the "belts off, nothing in pockets" speech. I ducked through the WTMD while the clerk was briefly distracted by a shiny object, but they called me back and turned me towards the NoS. I opted out and had the "humorous" experience of having four male TSA clerks standing around me telling that I'd have to wait until they had staff available to grope me.
The wait was only about 1 minute in the end, and while not appreciated, the grope was reasonably professional. He indicated that the gloves were new (although I didn't see, and didn't really have the time to be a @#$ about it), and my items were brought to me (although it didn't matter since there was literally nobody else going through the checkpoint and no TSA nearby my bags either). While he indicated that he would proceed until meeting resistance, I clarified that he had no right nor need to touch my genitals and he advised me that if I positioned my pants properly he wouldn't need to. I took the opportunity to share my viewpoints rather specifically on his organization's leadership and the complete idiocy of the entire procedure, as well as the questionable reliability and calibration of the machines in use. He admitted that nobody there had any idea when they were last inspected or calibrated, but pointed out that my argument around those machines was invalid since I had opted out. Well, yes and no...since that's obviously not my only problem with the security setup. They opened and re-ran my bag after I'd finished the grope, and I was on my way shortly thereafter. Total process time, under 5 minutes.

I have to say that while I am just as angry as others here about the complete lack of necessity for such idiotic and useless procedures, at least they were executed reasonably quickly, competently, and without crossing the line into sexual abuse. I told the LTSO as much.

And the bonus for opting out was that my wife was sent through the WTMD without having to opt out.

exbayern

If you positioned your pants properly????

divemistressofthedark

??!?!?

Caradoc

Well, now... isn't THAT interesting?

FriendlySkies

Time to dust off the sling?