IAH - Button down collars latest security threat to America
 

1. Never mind barker #1 who yells at you to state your first and last name.
2. Never mind barker #2 who directs you to a lane and God help you if you "choose your own" lane based which one is moving faster.
3. Never barker #3 who insists on making you stand on the black line until they tell you to come through the nudoscope.
4. Never mind that you have nothing on except your clothes and socks on with NOTHING ELSE on your person!
Barker #4 blocks my path on exit from the nudoscope and tells me he is going to inspect my shirt collar. Asked why, he claimed an anomaly showed up on the scanner. When asked to show me what it looked like, he refused. He then challenged me to go through the scanner again and I said "Sure, let's do it." When I moved to do so, he threatens me with "Why don't you go home or else...".
I replied "you asked me to repeat the test, if I don't do that that you will detain me for not following your orders. What do you want me to do?"
Now barkers 4, 5, and 6 yell for the supervisor in chorus.
Supervisor asks barker #4 to explain what was going on.
Barker #4's version of the events ranked up there with the best of Grimm's Fairy Tales. He became the most polite TSA agent who courteously informed a beserk passenger about what he intended to do, and that the passenger did not comply to his request, nad had to be detained. I told the supervisor that this guys was lying about what happened. Who do you think the supervisor believed and put in the penalty box?

All for 2 buttons on a button down collar.

What can you do about it when it happens to you?

1) Write your congressman
2) Write your senator
3) Write to the TSA
4) Write to the local and national newspapers
5) Write to the house leaders for both parties

and ask them to reconsider whether power that they have given these abusers without any sanity in the process or no real redress for the traveller is making America any safer?

Above all, don't ignore it or say "Oh well, that's the way it is."

I will repost a copy of my letter(s) when I have done so. I try to practice if I preach.

Why didn't you request for a LEO and/or Supervisor the moment the Agents did something you didn't like? I'm not saying the TSA agents didn't do things as they should but you can't let them trample over you and not exercise the rights you still have (which grow smaller each month it seems).

Answering your question, TSA supervisor made it clear that the choice I had was to either walk away or be arrested by Houston LEO becuase "he did not appreciate the tone of my voice".

THat's where you say "Are you telling me that I have no first amendment rights". Rinse, lather, repeat.

Should not have gotten to that point. The moment the TSA agent got on you about stepping back into the machine when you moved you should have called for a LEO and the TSA supervisor. Ive only had one problem with TSA people that required a supervisor and when he showed up I told him not to address the situation until the LEO was present to observe all actions taken. Magically the TSA supervisor told the Agent that I had done nothing wrong and to let me go.
Of course I'm playing Monday Morning Quarterback what happened with you but for your next time put the power back in your hands.

The IAH TSOs (most, not all) are some of the rudest in the system. I always opt out and when I do around 30% of the gropers want to inspect my collar. Do they think I could hide something up there?

I'm not looking forward to flying on Monday. :td:

Perhaps it is because they can't actually "collar" anyone. :o

Be thankful you didn't have collar stays instead of your button down collar as you can take an eye out with those things.....:rolleyes:

You can poke an eye with a finger, I'm surprised they let hands through the checkpoint. :rolleyes:

Makes me want to pass through the check point with a "survival" stash in my collar consisting of a handcuff key, some string or wire, and sewing needle -- none of which are a safety of flight issue, but I'm sure to raise an objection with a blue-shirted Barney Fife...

Belated welcome to Flyertalk, luv2fly1st and I'm truly sorry about your bizzaro incident at the c/p. Just when I think we've bottomed out on news of the absurd around here my mind is blown. Button down collars -- I ask you!

We look forward to your letter. ^

I'm waiting for the headline on this: "TSA COLLARS SUSPECT".. :D

My response would be "I am not obligated to be polite to you. Don't like it go ahead and strip search me and I will be suing you under Bivens. And your union won't cover the cost of your personal defense."

Lately I have actually found most TSA to be polite even when I get sarcastic with them before the full grope (I always opt out). I politely lecture them on the radiation dangers they are facing, hoping to cast some seeds of doubt. Maybe more effective to wear one of those personal radiation detector things they hand out in Japan.

With the TSA these days, you might as well just walk into the airport naked.

They would then pat down the hairy parts.