Ask a SPOTnik
Aug 23, 2008 | 11:42 am
#61
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Thank you. May I add the "least restrictive means" test to the training regimen? It may not be specifically required of TSA, but I think this standard ought to be applied to all government activity.
Just out of curiosity, anything more to the MKE comment than the bagggie incident from a couple years ago? I love hearing stories from around the country that reinforce my idea that TSA needs more employees like me.
Just out of curiosity, anything more to the MKE comment than the bagggie incident from a couple years ago? I love hearing stories from around the country that reinforce my idea that TSA needs more employees like me.
I agree ... we need more TSA folks that have a more laissez faire attitude to security. I think we all acknowledge that security is important and recognize the need for airport security. We're just not very happy (to put it mildly) with how TSA does it.
Super
Aug 23, 2008 | 11:49 am
#62
Suspended
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negative on that one.
any person may travel with any amount of cash on their person within the united states and/or any of it's territories-period (is it wise, not but it is 100% legal). it is only when cash in excess of $10,0000u.s.*** is being transported into or out of the united states or any of its territories that it must be declared and reported
i think you (collectively re: screeners as part of the s.o.p not you personally
) have been duped (yes i'm using the word duped) into looking for the "big drug money catch". you see a "large wad" of cash, call a leo, leo brings the puppy and the puppy smells drugs-bingo a press release.
****btw, did you know that it also applies to foreign currencies where the exchange rate causes the amount to exceed $10,000u.s. just wondering if part of the training is to keep current on the the currecny exchange rates and have them at the checkpoints to verify that it is over $10,000u.s.
any person may travel with any amount of cash on their person within the united states and/or any of it's territories-period (is it wise, not but it is 100% legal). it is only when cash in excess of $10,0000u.s.*** is being transported into or out of the united states or any of its territories that it must be declared and reported
i think you (collectively re: screeners as part of the s.o.p not you personally
) have been duped (yes i'm using the word duped) into looking for the "big drug money catch". you see a "large wad" of cash, call a leo, leo brings the puppy and the puppy smells drugs-bingo a press release.****btw, did you know that it also applies to foreign currencies where the exchange rate causes the amount to exceed $10,000u.s. just wondering if part of the training is to keep current on the the currecny exchange rates and have them at the checkpoints to verify that it is over $10,000u.s.
Aug 23, 2008 | 11:55 am
#63
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Originally Posted by TerminalBliss
It is indeed a "consensual administrative search" that you most certainly can indeed "back out of." If you choose not to allow the search, you just have to find another way to travel. Irritating to be sure, but quite within the constraints of the Constitution.
The idea of reporting large amounts of cash to LEOs relates to both efforts to counter funding of potential terrorist groups and the efforts to counter bulk cash smuggling of illicit drug operations. Don't want to have coppers notified about large amounts of cash...simple, don't take it to the airport with you.
Bottom line: if there's another reason for suspecting someone of the crimes you mention and they have a lot of cash ... feel free to ask them about it. If not, leave them alone.
Aug 23, 2008 | 12:47 pm
#64
Join Date: Jan 2008
Programs: I work for the TSA
Posts: 848
Hmm, I have a question for the spotniks! Do you undergo some sort of psychological profiling before being chosen for the position?
I was discussing this with a (TSO) co-worker recently ... her comment regarding our BDOs was, "They sure picked from the bottom of the barrel when they chose them!"
Which I found rather unkind ... I don't mean to be insulting, but I've noticed that almost all the BDOs seem to have rather unpleasant personalities. The ones I knew when they were TSOs tended to be abrasive ... you know, the kind that bark random commands at the passengers in a loud, angry voice?
I wonder about the BDO program, I really do. I'm wondering if they're deliberately recruiting and training (how?) officers who are less predisposed to feeling badly about jerking the passengers around. And I wonder how people with this skillset might be put to use eventually ... hmmm.
I was discussing this with a (TSO) co-worker recently ... her comment regarding our BDOs was, "They sure picked from the bottom of the barrel when they chose them!"
Which I found rather unkind ... I don't mean to be insulting, but I've noticed that almost all the BDOs seem to have rather unpleasant personalities. The ones I knew when they were TSOs tended to be abrasive ... you know, the kind that bark random commands at the passengers in a loud, angry voice?
I wonder about the BDO program, I really do. I'm wondering if they're deliberately recruiting and training (how?) officers who are less predisposed to feeling badly about jerking the passengers around. And I wonder how people with this skillset might be put to use eventually ... hmmm.
Aug 23, 2008 | 1:54 pm
#65
Join Date: May 2005
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Then tell me how to transport the funds? There is no bank that operates seamlessly in both the US and Puerto Rico. Citibank sold its PR operations to Banco Popular, and even so, the US branches are not connected to the PR branches, making them a different bank with the same name. If I take a check with me, I'm looking at least at a one week hold for the funds to clear, if not more.
Aug 23, 2008 | 4:43 pm
#66
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I'd like to know about this too -- with the dollar in the toilet, the cash you are carrying around could rise in USD value over the 10K limit pretty easily, without you necessarily being aware. And if you do have over the limit, they don't confiscate the amount over the limit, they confiscate the whole thing. I regulary will have a few thousand USD worth of each of the currencies of the countries I travel to regularly in my wallet -- Euro, SFR, GBP, CAD and USD. With the dollar being so weak, it isn't difficult to end up with 2 - 3 thousand USD worth of each without really being conscious of it, and then they want to confiscate it. They need to raise the limit up to recognise the fact that 10K USD just isn't worth that much in real money any more.
*it is $10,000.01 which needs to be reported and not $10,000.00
Aug 23, 2008 | 7:16 pm
#67
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 576
Generally these comments are made by those not selected, but they will be a BDOs best buddy when a slot is available.
Aug 23, 2008 | 9:25 pm
#68
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus, SkyMiles
Posts: 4,338
HSV Dean reported in another thread that BDO's were attending some kind of lecture that was ominiously titled: "Integorration and Interview." Mind to clear this up?
Welcome here, by the way.
You braved through an anti-TSA forum donning an unpopular job...congratulations!
Welcome here, by the way.
You braved through an anti-TSA forum donning an unpopular job...congratulations!
Aug 23, 2008 | 9:26 pm
#69
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 442
From Ron Marsico's recent column in the Star-Ledger:
Star-Ledger
Drawn to our attention by FTer Andy1369.
I e-mailed the author of the above-referenced column and asked him to either retract or clarify his statement, which he refused to do. I don't have access to those e-mails as they are on an account I can't get to from where I am now, else I would give direct quotes.
It was pointed out to him that it was NOT illegal to carry sums over $10,000 domestically. While he acknowledged that one could carry such sums out of and into the country by completing the proper paper work, he refused to acknowledge that it was perfectly fine to carry them domestically. He also refused to issue a clarification to his statement to that effect and in fact wrote "I stand by my statement" or words to that effect.
As we all know, the TSA's website says:
It is my belief that this reporter has bought the TSA's untruth hook, line and sinker and was not even willing to research the matter so he could provide the paper's readership with accurate information.
This has led me to believe that he is not acting as an independent reporter but rather as a mouthpiece for the TSA.
It's interesting to note that although the TSA's website says it's illegal to carry sums over $10,000, on another page it outlines the procedures required to take such sums into and out of the country. Of course, I can't find that page at this time
- the search terms I put in the last time I looked for it don't bring up the correct page and neither does entering other search terms, making me wonder if that page has disappeared from the TSA website.
Star-Ledger
Drawn to our attention by FTer Andy1369.
I e-mailed the author of the above-referenced column and asked him to either retract or clarify his statement, which he refused to do. I don't have access to those e-mails as they are on an account I can't get to from where I am now, else I would give direct quotes.
It was pointed out to him that it was NOT illegal to carry sums over $10,000 domestically. While he acknowledged that one could carry such sums out of and into the country by completing the proper paper work, he refused to acknowledge that it was perfectly fine to carry them domestically. He also refused to issue a clarification to his statement to that effect and in fact wrote "I stand by my statement" or words to that effect.
As we all know, the TSA's website says:
It is my belief that this reporter has bought the TSA's untruth hook, line and sinker and was not even willing to research the matter so he could provide the paper's readership with accurate information.
This has led me to believe that he is not acting as an independent reporter but rather as a mouthpiece for the TSA.
It's interesting to note that although the TSA's website says it's illegal to carry sums over $10,000, on another page it outlines the procedures required to take such sums into and out of the country. Of course, I can't find that page at this time
- the search terms I put in the last time I looked for it don't bring up the correct page and neither does entering other search terms, making me wonder if that page has disappeared from the TSA website.
Aug 23, 2008 | 9:53 pm
#70
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: HSV
Posts: 876
Originally Posted by Andy1369
HSV Dean reported in another thread that BDO's were attending some kind of lecture that was ominiously titled: "Integorration and Interview." Mind to clear this up?
By the way, off-topic for this thread, but it's not two days of badge training, it's two days of training in things liken unto passenger engagement and conflict management and verbal judo and crap like that. The badge training part of the Evolution was done two days ago for us, and took about 45 minutes. Basically, it was a whole crapload of "the badge represents the public trust" and a whole laundry list of "thou shalt nots" when it comes to the badge, such as using it in any way that might make someone believe you were a police officer, with examples cited such as trying to execute a search warrant or place someone under arrest, trying to get out of a traffic violation, trying to use it in an altercation or if intervening in an altercation, can't buy a wallet holder for it or a belt clip, can only be worn on the uniform while in the official functions of your duties on the screening floor... etc etc etc... on pain of termination and criminal prosecution.
Basically, it was a 45-minute droning lecture about not trying to impersonate a police officer if you like your job.
Originally Posted by tsadude1
Generally these comments are made by those not selected, but they will be a BDOs best buddy when a slot is available.
Aug 23, 2008 | 11:05 pm
#71
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: Marriott Plat
Posts: 968
Aug 24, 2008 | 2:22 am
#72
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: LH HON Circle, Premier M&M World MC, UA MP
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So, how do you deal with somebody who is autistic and goes through the airport themselves?
What if somebody has extreme anxiety? Or paranoid schizophrenia?
All disorders make one act a bit "off" - but doesn't mean anything. You say you've had some study in psychology, but you don't have a degree in it, nor a PhD (or PsyD) so how are you able to figure these things out? And who decides if the person is telling the truth? You need an MD psychiatrist to make a dx; is there one at every airport?
What if somebody has extreme anxiety? Or paranoid schizophrenia?
All disorders make one act a bit "off" - but doesn't mean anything. You say you've had some study in psychology, but you don't have a degree in it, nor a PhD (or PsyD) so how are you able to figure these things out? And who decides if the person is telling the truth? You need an MD psychiatrist to make a dx; is there one at every airport?
Aug 24, 2008 | 2:28 am
#73
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NYC
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Oh, and do BDOs - in general - hold any security clearances? If so, which ones? And do you believe somebody who holds a TS/SCI (or Q/SCI) and is on official business should be given more leeway than Joe Schmoe?
Aug 24, 2008 | 4:13 am
#74
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 576
BDOs screen travelers for involuntary physical and physiological reactions. BDOs recognize that an individual exhibiting odd behaviors does not automatically mean a person has terrorist or criminal intent. BDOs do, however, help determine if an individual presents a higher risk or if his/her behavior has a non-threatening origin.
If a pax has such noticeable behavior because of extreme anxiety or paranoid schizophrenia would you like a seat next to them????
Last edited by tsadude1; Aug 24, 2008 at 4:51 am
Aug 24, 2008 | 4:21 am
#75
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 576
How would a BDO know what your security clearance is and why would it matter. Your getting on a plane to travel, what does clearence have to do with it. If you are traveling with certain docs you should know what the procedure is anyway. We have SOCOM pax often, great travelers.