I was the first passenger to go through the general security line at Terminal A at BOS on Monday morning. Someone was bringing newspapers in before I went through. I was directed to the circular backscatter.

I was wearing cargo pants at the time. I obviously emptied my pockets before going through, but I almost always keep things in my front pockets.

There was a female agent telling people when to go in, etc. and there was a male agent at the back. A few seconds after I exited the backscatter, he asked if I had anything in my pockets. I said that I didn't have anything in my pockets. Then the agent said "Ok, I'm just going to pat you down real quick," and then proceeded to briefly pat down the pocket area on my pants. He didn't pat down anything else.

I'm just curious as to whether this was necessary or not. The only other time I've been through a backscatter was 2 years ago and I had no problems with that.

Probably. The NoS can have problems with pleats, folds in clothes, heavy pockets (even empty) - they appear suspicious and the only way to resolve the suspicion is to physically clear them.

After this came out:

http://boingboing.net/2012/03/07/how...ugh-a-tsa.html

The TSA started getting worried about side pockets. They only worry about the visible ones, so if you want to bring your gun in, sew the pocket on the inside of your pants.

Was it necessary? No. But they didn't violate any of their own rules, either.

It means that the Officer reviewing the scan saw an "anomaly" relayed it to the Officer dealing with you and that's why she did the very limited pat down. That is, to resolve the "anomaly." Seems reasonable and limited to the issue identified.

Same idea as the laptop-sized hidden pocket some enterprising TSOs sewed on the inside of their uniform. Quite handy for smuggling contraband.

No, there was no "anomaly" because there was nothing there. The machine malfunctioned.

What's a "circular backscatter"? I thought all backscatter NOSs were rectangular boxes.

According to the list here on FT, BOS Terminal A is equipped with BSX.

However, TSA has begun a nationwide program to remove the BSX scanners and replace them with MMW, so it's possible that BOS now has MMW and the OP just got confused.

Can anyone confirm which NoS BOS Term A currently has?

Terminal A has had MMW since sometime last fall, and it has re-motivated all the staff at that checkpoint to send everyone through the AIT. Previously with the BKSX, they still sent some people through the WTMD; now the WTMDs are roped off consistently.

I am a bit confused. They force you even if you cant stand there like a criminal!

How does the guy bringing in the newspapers go through the AIT? Do they search each and every fold of every newspaper to make sure there are no IEDs hidden in them? How can I FEEL SAFE if someone is bringing in a bunch of newspapers that aren't all completely checked over??

In my observations at a variety of airports, somewhere between 50 and 70% of all people going through MMW get groped.

Relax, guys. They will still let kids and employees through the WTMD, but for able-bodied adults who don't have fake shoulder problems, it's the MMW or opt-out.

Yes, I think they will be removed BKSX sometime in a few month or so. TSA will install a new MMW or ProVision 2. BKSX is only a cancer machine. Don't go through BKSX. Just keep avoid the scanner.