TSA's New Program
Dec 27, 2012 | 9:52 pm
#16
Join Date: Oct 2011
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So when I tell the BDO that my itinerary and reasons for traveling are none of their business, will I still be allowed to go through PreCheck?
This program is as big a load of crock as the TSA's come up with recently. Be sniffed by a dog and interrogated like a fugitive, and maybe they'll let you into PreCheck. Or maybe, and I suspect this is far more likely, the BDO will be on the hunt for a terr'rist on that particular day, and half of those who slide into the PreCheck line will be sent for a resolution pat-down. Because, really, why would anyone fly into Atlanta unless they planned to blow the city up?
This program is as big a load of crock as the TSA's come up with recently. Be sniffed by a dog and interrogated like a fugitive, and maybe they'll let you into PreCheck. Or maybe, and I suspect this is far more likely, the BDO will be on the hunt for a terr'rist on that particular day, and half of those who slide into the PreCheck line will be sent for a resolution pat-down. Because, really, why would anyone fly into Atlanta unless they planned to blow the city up?
Dec 27, 2012 | 10:14 pm
#17
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And what happens on false positives, or when dogs alert on out of scope items (eg, drugs or a giant stack of cash)?
Dec 28, 2012 | 5:53 am
#18
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In order to pass the test, the handlers and their dogs had to go through the room and detect nothing.
But of 144 runs, that happened only 21 times, for a failure rate of 85 percent.
Although drug-sniffing dogs are supposed to find drugs on their own, the researchers concluded that they were influenced by their handlers, and that's what led to such a high failure rate.
But of 144 runs, that happened only 21 times, for a failure rate of 85 percent.
Although drug-sniffing dogs are supposed to find drugs on their own, the researchers concluded that they were influenced by their handlers, and that's what led to such a high failure rate.
Dec 28, 2012 | 10:16 am
#19
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 729
I am not claiming that the dogs are a perfect solution, but they might be better than the nude-o-scopes--which generate false positives as well.
Dec 28, 2012 | 10:25 am
#20
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 150
Two populations I wonder about...
People traveling with dogs
People terrified of dogs,
I think both will find "MI" less than helpful.
I do like the adorable puppies though.. I just wonder about their effectiveness in this capacity vs use with cargo etc.
People traveling with dogs
People terrified of dogs,
I think both will find "MI" less than helpful.
I do like the adorable puppies though.. I just wonder about their effectiveness in this capacity vs use with cargo etc.
Dec 28, 2012 | 10:37 am
#21
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: in the sky
Posts: 490
What sorts of questions can be expected? Are answers compared and verified against what is known of the passenger already? Perhaps the answers/questions are a moot point if micro-expressions are more important in determining intent. In that case, non personal questions would be enough and "my favorite color is blue" would be acceptable... :-/
Dec 28, 2012 | 11:38 am
#22
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It's an idea that is good in theory, but in the hands of TSA - well, that's another story.
The dogs will be trained to detect explosives. Fine. How many times have you had your footwear - or feet - swabbed? Will the dogs be able to detect (and not respond to) the types of fertilizer that alarm? Any traces on someone's shoes can get on the floor and be tracked around and picked up by other people.
The problem with the questioning will likely be TSA's implementation. The starting assumptions will be that training can be quick and easy and that all pax are probably guilty of something.
The goal, as it is today, will not be to clear innocent pax, it will be to detect the 'big catch'.
The dogs will be trained to detect explosives. Fine. How many times have you had your footwear - or feet - swabbed? Will the dogs be able to detect (and not respond to) the types of fertilizer that alarm? Any traces on someone's shoes can get on the floor and be tracked around and picked up by other people.
The problem with the questioning will likely be TSA's implementation. The starting assumptions will be that training can be quick and easy and that all pax are probably guilty of something.
The goal, as it is today, will not be to clear innocent pax, it will be to detect the 'big catch'.
Dec 28, 2012 | 4:46 pm
#23
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Test Managed Inclusion their way at one airport. At another, test Mongrel Inspection, where the dogs ask the 20 questions and the human BDOs sniff each passenger.
Ill bet both airports catch the same number of terrorists. ^
Dec 28, 2012 | 4:51 pm
#24
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A better, more controlled study might involve using the dogs and BDOs to sniff and question all TSOs at an airport like, say, EWR. Include baggage handlers.
Balance that with a similar test conducted at TSA HQ.
Since all of these folks have been passed a background check and have nothing to hide, there should be zero alarms from either dogs or BDOs, right?
Balance that with a similar test conducted at TSA HQ.
Since all of these folks have been passed a background check and have nothing to hide, there should be zero alarms from either dogs or BDOs, right?
Dec 30, 2012 | 7:54 pm
#25
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 4
This will only get worse until people fight back. Talk is worthless. You are facing a $6 billion dollar bureaucracy that desires only to perpetuate and expand itself. The TSA desires to be in your airports, in your harbors, in your bus stations, on your roads, in your homes, listening in on your phone calls. If you've had enough "security," stand up for liberty.
Jan 8, 2013 | 6:38 am
#26
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The story made the NY Times this morning too
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/08/bu...ning.html?_r=0
Managed inclusion sounds like something you need surgery to fix, what a weird name.
But, wait there's more coming
Another possible initiative is what Mr. Pistole calls Global Entry Light. Details have not yet been worked out, but the basic idea is to adopt some aspects of the international traveler Global Entry program for domestic use by the T.S.A. At a lower enrollment fee, and perhaps with participation by private companies, Global Entry Light would offer expedited screening to qualifying domestic travelers who dont also travel enough internationally to need the regular Global Entry.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/08/bu...ning.html?_r=0
Managed inclusion sounds like something you need surgery to fix, what a weird name.
But, wait there's more coming
Another possible initiative is what Mr. Pistole calls Global Entry Light. Details have not yet been worked out, but the basic idea is to adopt some aspects of the international traveler Global Entry program for domestic use by the T.S.A. At a lower enrollment fee, and perhaps with participation by private companies, Global Entry Light would offer expedited screening to qualifying domestic travelers who dont also travel enough internationally to need the regular Global Entry.
Jan 8, 2013 | 7:23 am
#27
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Any confidence that the TSA's "managed inclusion" will exculde racist profiling results? Not here, as wishful thinking is what leads to confidence in the TSA.
The only upside of this dog and pony show from the TSA will be that a higher proportion of persons will be less subject to the worst of the regular TSA nonsense.
The only upside of this dog and pony show from the TSA will be that a higher proportion of persons will be less subject to the worst of the regular TSA nonsense.
Jan 8, 2013 | 7:55 am
#28
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Boston
Posts: 821
To the editor:
Re T.S.A. Experiments With Behavior Screening (business, Jan. 8): Imagine if, in the year 2000, I had told you that after writing the government a check or being interrogated by a government employee, you might be able to avoid walking barefoot through an airport checkpoint. You would have rightfully called me insane. Instead of heaping yet more programs and exceptions onto an already bloated agency, perhaps it is finally time to completely rethink our approach to aviation security.
Re T.S.A. Experiments With Behavior Screening (business, Jan. 8): Imagine if, in the year 2000, I had told you that after writing the government a check or being interrogated by a government employee, you might be able to avoid walking barefoot through an airport checkpoint. You would have rightfully called me insane. Instead of heaping yet more programs and exceptions onto an already bloated agency, perhaps it is finally time to completely rethink our approach to aviation security.
Jan 8, 2013 | 8:28 am
#29
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Great - so those of us who've gone through the process to achieve GE or otherwise qualified to PreCheck and who are enjoying shorter lines and a more civilized process will now be subjected to random people being added to our line. Thanks, TSA.
Jan 8, 2013 | 8:40 am
#30
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Boston
Posts: 821
One reason for the expanded program, the agencys administrator, John S. Pistole, said, is to make sure that the T.S.A. PreCheck lanes are being fully utilized throughout the day, rather than just at peak hours. In a year-end report to employees, Mr. Pistole cited as an example what occurred at the Indianapolis airport on the day before Thanksgiving. Nearly a third of all passengers were chosen to go through a dedicated PreCheck lane, rather than the usual less than 5 percent, he said.