Boggie Dog

I traveled a couple of times after having back surgery. I didn't find the concern or handling of the pat down to take into account the fact that I told the screener I had sensitive incisions. I think he made it a bit rougher just because he could.

chollie

I had something similar happen once, years ago. I was wearing shorts, flip-flops, and a very light nylon windbreaker (pullover style).

The belt monitor (a guy) told me the windbreaker had to come off. I know better than to argue with a TSO, so I took it off.

I did have a sporty bra underneath. The xray screener (a woman) was angry and so was a TSO standing next to her, chatting - not at me, but at the guy for telling me to take my windbreaker off.

chollie

I learned the hard way to never identify a sensitive spot. I've had a screener hit the sensitive spot hard enough to make me cry out and double over.

All that happened was that the screener insisted on starting the entire process (including the verbal cr*p) again and hitting the spot even harder. I flinched, broke eye contact, and she started AGAIN. After a couple more chops to the sensitive area, I actually stopped the screening and called for the police, who witnessed my final intimate grope by a supervisor who managed to clear me without harsh attention to the sensitive spot.

PHX T2, no surprise.

ysolde

Very disturbing. Very disturbing.

spd476

I got a new insulin pump and CGM last year that can go through the body scanners. The scanner picks up two anomalies for them. After the scanner, I tell the TSA about the pump. All they want is for me to touch the area of the anomaly over my clothing and then they ETD swab my hands. They never touched me at all. I suppose the ETD test would pick up that my pump is a bomb, but it was quite the difference from the usual full patdown I would get with my previous pump that couldn't go through the scanners.

petaluma1

That's exactly the way someone with an illness/disability/incision should be treated.

cestmoi123

This would be an issue even with Pre - if the WTMD alarms, the appropriate response is a pat-down.

KDS

Each time I am asked before a molestation grope if I have any sensitive areas, I always reply, "Yes, my genitals." The reaction I get from TSOs varies (some sigh, some roll their eyes, some say "We don't touch those!").

It's the latter response I "enjoy" because, then, when the TSO makes contact, I loudly say, "Hey, those are my genitals!". And I have a legitimate complaint for the supervisor because I was told my genitals would not be touched.

But, with very few exceptions, after I say that with a nonsmiling face to the TSO, I usually get no contact and often the contact stays even further away than what otherwise would be the case (based on gropes before I started saying this).

chollie

I take it you never tried to go through the checkpoint with a covert cheeseburger stashed in your groin?

'Cause you know, that's just so believable.

KDS

Nope! Might be interesting to come in contact with a cheeseburger that's explosive, though...must have lots of "sauce" on it.

saizai

I've worn a kilt through TSA before. When told to take my (webbing & D-ring) belt off, I said they probably really didn't want me to do that, but if they wanted to put it in writing as a command, I'd comply. Somehow they always backed down and just wanded / groped me.

On the other hand, one of those times, the screener directly squeezed my dick while grabbing all the kilt fabric. :/


I very much wonder this also. Ditto with the part about requiring people to take their pants down at all. The TSA manuals I've seen say they're not allowed to ask pax to remove clothing or prosthetics or to move clothing in a way that would expose skin … but there's a lot that's been withheld from me, so maybe it's contradicted somewhere.

TSA performing a strip search at LEO direction, though … that would be a whole lot of interesting, legally speaking. TSA has always adamantly maintained in court that local cops have nothing to do with TSA and are always acting independently, not at TSA's direction, and TSA aren't intentionally engaging in any law enforcement motivated activities.

TSA performing a LE strip search would directly contradict all of that. I would love to know of any cases of it happening; please contact me (PM or s.ai/contact) if you know of any.

chollie

The former TSO whose post was quoted above indicates it is SOP for multiple TSOs to grope a pax's genitals and then compare notes. S/he also indicates that it is SOP to tell a pax to drop his/her pants.

I find it really offensive (but not surprising) that this TSO suggests pax wait until they've cleared security to "stuff your pants with whatever".

I guess that means if you're wearing an adult diaper or an ostomy bag, you are supposed to remove it prior to the checkpoint? And what about the guy who always triggers the NoS because he is unusually endowed?

Loren Pechtel

The unintended consequences of replacing the actual images with the computer-processed ones.

ysolde

The excesses of TSA in the US are often humiliating and without cause. While most TSOs are polite, the occasional overenthusiastic grope/probe of private areas has led me to wear ultra-absorbent maxi pads whenever I travel. I just don't need to feel a TSO's fingers . . . there.

Another thing, in fall/winter, my travel wardrobe is fairly consistent: I wear a sweater over a turtleneck. The turtleneck is usually made of a very thin synthetic material, while the sweater is made of cashmere. Works in a wide range of circumstances (with jeans, knit pants (my go-to on travel days), and pencil skirts). Well, the last time I traveled internationally (early April), the TSO at JFK asked me to remove my thin cashmere sweater, something he did not ask of any other passenger on that chilly day. I was left in a very thin black turtleneck, meant to be worn under a jacket or sweater, while they found a female TSO to do the pat down and then pat me down. My sweater (along with my shoes and carry-on) sat on the end of the conveyor for what seemed like forever.

At LHR and FRA, I offered to remove my sweater, thinking it was a new thing, and they looked horrified at the notion that I should undress any more than any other passenger, simply because I was in a wheelchair.

petaluma1

I think that's something all female passengers should do in order to protect themselves from wandering fingers. I believe there are also incontinence pads for men; perhaps they should start wearing such protection also.