Chased by a TSO!
 

This has to be a first!

I won't name the airport, but as part of a personal research project into TSA gate searches, I was observing their antics at a boarding gate on the way to catching a flight from a nearby gate. Edited to add: Please note, this was at a boarding gate - not the terminal checkpoint. When I was done collecting data, I did what I always do, which is to take a picture identifying the location and verifying the presence of TSOs, so that I can electronically match the location and date with the data I've collected in my mobile device. Unfortunately, I forgot to disable the flash and one of the TSO's at the jetway door saw me as I turned to leave. He shouted something (couldn't hear) as I walked away rather quickly toward my gate. Since my policy is to ignore anyone who shouts to attract my attention (unless it is advantageous to me to talk with them), I continued walking, but faster. I should point out, I was walking fast because I had spent so much time collecting data that I realized my flight had probably completely boarded.

As I turned a corner, I glanced back and the same TSO was running toward me and still shouting something, but there were too many people in the way. I was almost at my gate anyway. Because of the location of the wall and podium in relation to the jet-way entrance (around the corner), and because all the other passengers had boarded, I was past the GA and into the jet-way in no time. I stood inside the jet-way door, to see if he was coming but I didn't see him walk past the gate (my only viewpoint from the doorway), so he must have either given up and turned around or gone to the gate on the side of the corridor where there was a huge crowd gathered.

SO, my questions are:

1) Who the hell is the TSA to chase me down for taking a picture?
2) the two bozos that always hang away from the gate while gate checks are being conducted were closer to me than the tubby TSO. When he shouted at me, shouldn't they have helped their poor colleague?
3) Had the TSO caught up with me, my response would have been to continue to ignore him verbally except to say something like "if you feel a crime has been committed, please call a LEO". I just want to be sure that there is no such law as "disobeying a TSO", as I would never want to break the law of this fine country, unless I was involved in civil disobedience of some sort.

Well done! ^

1. You were a flasher.
2. Flight is evidence of guilt.

:D :D

I agree , well done. I's amazing they didn't close the terminal:D

Wow, nice. This 'situation' could have deteriorated quickly if tubby barreled down the jetway or if LEOs got involved.

I'm confused.

I thought that at least one of the TSOs on this board stated that it was TSA's policy not to run after people who have entered the sterile area. Isn't that why they had a terminal dump recently-- because a passenger walked away from a checkpoint not knowing that the inspection wasn't complete?

Or is it just that TSA won't chase after someone unless they believe the person hasn't respected their "autoritay"? :rolleyes:

"Diss the tubby TSO and all bets are off!" :D

i think that you are lucky....i think that barring pictures & phones in immigration/customs is valid & probably is against the checkpoint rules....

would you be happy if the terminal was evacuated?....

good luck w/ your research, but please refrain from activity which you know is bad form at least....

i just grin and bear it when faced with idiot like rules....

I thought about that and frankly was half expecting it to happen. Two things came to mind though... First, why would they consider someone taking a picture and observing the boarding process to be a security risk worthy of a terminal dump? and second, I feel I have done my part in preventing terminal closures on two occasions (SFO and SMF respectively), so I would not have felt too badly if it had actually occurred this time.

The checkpoint is a public place, in a public building. Pictures are allowed. To my understanding, the only thing that isn't allowed to be photographed are the images on the monitors (like X-ray images, etc.) that are there.

If I'd been that person, and if the TSO had caught me, I'd have refused to allow access to the photo. I may have even denied that I was the person who took the picture. By the time they would have the whole thing sorted out, the photo would be uploaded to somewhere else, so who cares if it gets deleted from the device...

Perhaps I'll add this to my list of "must dos" near a checkpoint. It seems as though snapping a photo or two might anger TSOs even more than comments about the nonsense that happens at their stations.

Well, that is at other airports. All airports are different and besides that they were doing it all wrong:D:rolleyes:

Would TSA attempt to file murder charges if one of the TSOs keeled over from a heart attack during this chase (supposedly unauthorized)? We'd be seeing a state funeral for one of their minions who died in the ongoing battle for air safety.:rolleyes:

Discovered that TSOs really don't like being stared at either. So a stare down coupled with photography might make them go away.

LOL good job PhlyingRPh. Eh the flash probably spooked them (they were probably doing something they shouldnt be doing).

Thats why i love my DSLR and the lens i normally travel with as i can get in where there at from a distance and have the sensitivity on the senor high enough i dont need a flash (unless i want to blind someone). What airport was this at.

1. If you have to ask . . .
2. Possibilities include (a) lazy, (b) know the rules better, (c) have a good sense of humor and think physical exercise is best for those who need it the most, or (d) some or all of the above.
3. There is no such law, but some TSO's invent laws all the time (as do some LEO's, too).

What's your research project?

On what grounds? What security is compromised by taking a flash picture in a public place? And when they rescreen everyone for prohibited items, will they examine all the pictures on everyone's camera?

PhlyingRPh, good luck on your research project! Can't wait to hear your findings.

As he was chasing you, you should have shouted back some R. Lee Emery-style encouragement to TSA employee Gomer Pyle. :D

Double check that against local rules. TSA says always ok subject to local rules, but each airport can have their own rules depending on state and local laws.

What did you do there?