ACLU quesitioning enhanced patdowns
#46
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DCA / WAS
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From the article:
When a friendly TSA officer next commands us to bend over while the inspector puts on rubber gloves and soothingly lilts, “This won’t hurt a bit,” I’m not ready to believe him. We’re reaching that bend-over point.
One last kinda fib: TSA is not a law enforcement agency; they only want you to think they are. Though the “officers” wear pretty blue shirts, have walkie-talkies, big patches and shiny badges, they have no law enforcement authority. The documentary, Please Remove your Shoes, makes note of this. This fact hasn’t been sitting well with real law enforcement types, but TSA evidently needs to maintain this kind of deceitful appearance in an attempt to command respect.
One last kinda fib: TSA is not a law enforcement agency; they only want you to think they are. Though the “officers” wear pretty blue shirts, have walkie-talkies, big patches and shiny badges, they have no law enforcement authority. The documentary, Please Remove your Shoes, makes note of this. This fact hasn’t been sitting well with real law enforcement types, but TSA evidently needs to maintain this kind of deceitful appearance in an attempt to command respect.
#48
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: on the path to perdition
Programs: Delta, United
Posts: 4,786
Well, I get to fly in and out of BOS in a couple of weeks and will be opting out. Do all of the terminals at BOS have WBI?? To avoid hassles I typically goto terminals with out them and then walk to my terminal but that can not be done at BOS.
#49
Join Date: May 2010
Location: FLL - Nice and Warm
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Posts: 1,025
Maybe you need to request an LEO present for the sexual assault.
Don't forget your comment card!
Ask the TSO if all the screeners are from Provincetown and Rockport. - But do this after he finishes!
#50
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: LAS
Posts: 1,279
In a legal sense, the claim of assault is probably incorrect. The process starts with getting your permission. If you agree to whatever procedure they perform on you, you can't then claim it's assault. Of course, if you refuse, they won't let you fly. It would be very interesting for someone to push the envelope and claim they were unduly coerced into giving permission. Somebody who must fly to address a medical condition (e.g., would miss a critical procedure in a hospital in a different city) would be an ideal candidate. I'd contribute to the legal fund in a heartbeat.
#51
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Panama City Beach, FL
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Posts: 910
I have a friend who was brutally raped, and when I told her about this, she said she absolutely wouldn't be able to endure it. She is still in psychological treatment, and the rape occurred years ago.
#52
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: DFW
Posts: 28,131
In a legal sense, the claim of assault is probably incorrect. The process starts with getting your permission. If you agree to whatever procedure they perform on you, you can't then claim it's assault. Of course, if you refuse, they won't let you fly. It would be very interesting for someone to push the envelope and claim they were unduly coerced into giving permission. Somebody who must fly to address a medical condition (e.g., would miss a critical procedure in a hospital in a different city) would be an ideal candidate. I'd contribute to the legal fund in a heartbeat.
Agreeing to a pat down might be permissive but where does it cross the line? Only after they grab a breast or a penis?
I'm starting to think this aggressive pat down will do more damage to TSA and draw the public's attention to the Jack Booted Thugs that makes up TSA.
#53
Suspended
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,953
In a legal sense, the claim of assault is probably incorrect. The process starts with getting your permission. If you agree to whatever procedure they perform on you, you can't then claim it's assault. Of course, if you refuse, they won't let you fly. It would be very interesting for someone to push the envelope and claim they were unduly coerced into giving permission. Somebody who must fly to address a medical condition (e.g., would miss a critical procedure in a hospital in a different city) would be an ideal candidate. I'd contribute to the legal fund in a heartbeat.
Very sad, especially if she would decide to choose the strip search instead, there is not guarantee that she will no also be patted down.
Last edited by Kiwi Flyer; Aug 24, 2010 at 12:29 pm Reason: merge consecutive posts
#54
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Wirelessly posted (goingaway\'s phone: BlackBerry8900/4.6.1.231 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)
That was one of the situations I thought of immediately. Worse, if she reacted then she'd likely have police involved and end up arrested bc of this abuse. I don't like where this Country is going, and am very sad to say they are not alone in their paranoia and erosion of rights for their citizens
Originally Posted by Dorlee
I have a friend who was brutally raped, and when I told her about this, she said she absolutely wouldn't be able to endure it. She is still in psychological treatment, and the rape occurred years ago.
#55
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: PDX
Programs: TSA Refusenik charter member
Posts: 15,978
TSA officials commenting for the article, “added that checkpoint requirements for passengers departing from the United States haven’t changed since the underwear bomber incident last December.” That suggested pat-downs were still the same as they had always been.
However, when meeting with privacy officials at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and TSA later that month, I was told unofficially that there were two standards of pat-downs. One for the normal situation where passengers are going through metal detectors and a different pat-down for those who refuse to go through the whole-body scanners.
However, when meeting with privacy officials at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and TSA later that month, I was told unofficially that there were two standards of pat-downs. One for the normal situation where passengers are going through metal detectors and a different pat-down for those who refuse to go through the whole-body scanners.
#56
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: on the path to perdition
Programs: Delta, United
Posts: 4,786
The one time (SLC in Feb) that I opted out the screener was quite professional and as he did the pat down described in detail what he was going to do. When it came time for groin area he noted that he was going to go over that area with the back of his hand. I will expect no less for an administrative search.
#57
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: PDX
Programs: TSA Refusenik charter member
Posts: 15,978
However, 'paranoia' means fear without rational basis. As there is real cause for concern over enhanced pat downs we should avoid terms that confound or convey the opposite of what we really mean.
#58
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 198
#59
Join Date: May 2006
Location: BOS and ...
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"Controversial enhanced pat-down protocol trials at BOS, LAS"
Through the slow-news weekend - this last Saturday and Sunday - there's been a news story about trials at Boston and Las Vegas of a "controversial" new TSA "enhanced" pat-down protocol... It's an open-hand palm-side slide down both legs instead of the back-hand patting that's supposed to be the current standard. This is my best rendition of the description given by the newscasters on radio and TV in Boston.
Wonder how they're going to decide ^ or . (I mean about the protocol!)
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Mods, please fold this into the existing thread. Apologies to mods et al.
Wonder how they're going to decide ^ or . (I mean about the protocol!)
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Mods, please fold this into the existing thread. Apologies to mods et al.
Last edited by Firewind; Aug 23, 2010 at 5:27 pm
#60
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: FLL & PIT
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Posts: 1,235
During my past 2 opt outs of the WBI I was asked if I wanted to have my pat down in a room away from public observance.
I said NO. I have no issues with being touched.
Next time I'm going to go ahead and ask for the private room for my pat down and when inside I will just drop my shorts and take off my shirt.
I'm not afraid of my body and I've seen more of the human body than any TSO will see.
Then they won't have to touch me at all.
As it is I go "commando" anyway. So they might as well see the franks and beans up close and personal.
I wonder if I would get slapped with indecent exposure though? Afterall it is in a private room away from the public. And who knows I might get a date of it.
:-:
I said NO. I have no issues with being touched.
Next time I'm going to go ahead and ask for the private room for my pat down and when inside I will just drop my shorts and take off my shirt.
I'm not afraid of my body and I've seen more of the human body than any TSO will see.
Then they won't have to touch me at all.
As it is I go "commando" anyway. So they might as well see the franks and beans up close and personal.
I wonder if I would get slapped with indecent exposure though? Afterall it is in a private room away from the public. And who knows I might get a date of it.
:-: