Had the same contents in my bag essentially unchanged for last three years.

For some reason my carry on bag was "flagged" and TSA agent came to end of belt saying she was going to open and looked inside.

She literally took every item out of every pocket of my bag. While doing so, she opened my small deck of business cards (which were in readable/clear plastic) and paused to read them.

Serveral items she asked, "what is this". Yep, a USB drive.....
And what's this? Yep, multi-function power adapter for different regions.
Then she held up a paperback book, "Slash" and said, "planning on a long flight?"

Also in my bag was two pages of my doctors note and detailing a current medical issue. She proceeded to pause, both hands on page as if to start reading them. At this point, I told her you need to stop reading immediately and I actually grabbed the paper from her. She said, 'excuse me'.

I then told her that my medical records are none of her business and have nothing to do with security and I find it offensive for you to start reading my paperwork.. I think at that point she knew I was deadly serious.

She then ran bag back through xray, never found whatever she was supposedly looking for, and then said "you're all set" and walked away.

Needless to say I was caught off guard and probably should have asked for a supervisor. Angry can not begin to describe how mad I was.

It's not too late:

http://www.oig.dhs.gov/hotline/hotline.php

Complete the form with as much information as you can possibly provide, including a description of the screener, the lane you were in, the time, your flight, etc., etc., etc.

The form can't be saved and it's hard to print out but you should try to capture as much information as you can to save.

You didn't even need to say they were medical records. Grab them, call for a supervisor, and have a lively discussion about looking for WEI.

They could be love letters, financial records, confidential legal papers, notes on a book you're going to write about TSA abuses. None of them can even be REMOTELY claimed to look like WEI on an x-ray.

You were right to shut down the fishing expedition. Please follow up.

One perfectly acceptable answer to the "what is this" question is "It's not WEI." Whatever answer the passenger gives, the screener shouldn't be allowed to give it any weight. Items are either WEI, or not-WEI, and the bad guys would ALWAYS answer "not-WEI" if asked. Unless they were from that mythical island where one tribe always lies.

Since most people don't understand the "WEI" acronym, the proper way to answer the question "what is this?" is:

"It's not a BOMB."
"It's not a GUN."
"I'm not a TERRORIST, so that's not a WEAPON."

Make sure to loudly pronounce each word as I have written them above.

This kind of BS happens occasionally. There isn't much you can do when they rummage a bag, but inspecting/reading personal items is way beyond the line of acceptability. I rarely have issues with them reading papers, but have had a number of problems with clerks counting the trivial amount of money in my wallet or lookign at the types of credit cards I have (when I go through the NOS with it in my hand).

I've found that it's completely useless to ask "What are you looking for?" since I've never had a TSO answer that question. So, I changed my approach. I now say: "Will you please stop for a second." They have always done so when asked politely. Then I say "I'd like you to call a supervisor and then explain why you are reading my personal papers." This works remarkably well at getting them to stop the reading nonsense. Unfortunately, they usually continue the charade and double down on the "we're looking for something that showed up on the x-ray" crap.

I've stopped TSA employees dead in their tracks when they try to read documents or turn credit cards right side up so they can read them. This gets bumped up to a three striper, TSM, LEO, FSD. *

I don't know what to make of this. The last time I saw a screener get confused by an ordinary object, they were trying to remove the cap of a Sharpie marker by spinning it around like it was threaded.

When I am asked what something is "for", the answer is "None of your business." That usually stops them in their tracks, as they are looking at common items.

Excellent! ^


*It freaks them out / let's them know you're serious when you spout their own acronyms.

TSM - Transportation Security Manager, person in in a suit or business casual mingling around the checkpoint, usually with airport credentials hanging on a neck lanyard.

FSD - Federal Security Director, the person in charge of the whole airport's security. One can find their name and previous background easily, since the TSA issues press releases when they are appointed. Name dropping when dealing with worker bees is fun!

File a formal complaint at 1-866-289-9673 (TSA complaint line). Do not let them dissuade you from filing the complaint with their BS explanations. Do not let them direct you to that waste of electrons know as the TSA blog. File a formal complaint. Name and shame your assailant if possible. At the very least, describe your assailant and the circumstances as accurately as possible, as suggested above.

Actually, I have found it rather difficult to ascertain the current FSD at any particular airport. Finding press releases from a year or two in the past is no guarantee that the person mentioned is still the FSD as of today.

And since even the names of the FSDs at various airports must be viewed as SSI (except when the agency puts out press releases), the FSDs are not mentioned on the TSA web site. I also haven't seen it mentioned on any of the individual airport web pages I've checked, though that's not terribly surprising since there is little regarding TSA on the airport web sites.

How about a friendly call to airport operations and ask them the name of the current TSA FSD? Can't hurt.

I'm kinda paranoid when it comes to that sort of thing. Considering how bent out of shape people get when you take a freakin' photograph these days, calling the airport to ask who is the FSD might be considered a "terrorist scouting technique" and put me in a database.

Well instead of their name, how about calling and asking to speak to them? Chances are you'll get their voicemail and that would have their name on it.

You guys crack me up!
OP, just call and get the name.

Appropriate response (if not simple silence):

“It's NOT the item that triggered this search, and it's certainly not a threat to aviation safety.”

Lather, rinse, repeat.

Or perhaps this one would be better:

"What does it look like to YOU?"

Or just talk to them like they're really slow.*

"Oh bless your heart, you've never seen a USB drive...".

*Bonus points - working for TSA, they really might be.