Another Satisfied Customer (NOT!)
 

http://amputeemommy.blogspot.com/201...-im-angry.html

In all of the years since I have become an amputee, I can honestly say that I have can't think of a more upsetting and humiliating experience than what I endured at the hands of TSA at the airport. Robby and I both left the screening station flustered, in tears and late for our plane. It didn't take long for my humiliation to morph into anger.

So much for visits to Walter Reed and discussions with the amputees in order to help make travel easier through checkpoints for them.

One thing I do question is that mother wrote that TSA looked in her 4 year old's diaper. Unless the child has a developmental disability of some kind, why is a 4 year old still wearing a diaper?

Not disregarding the other issues - the OP's report pisses me off. However, I did want to comment on this issue.

First, TSA performing an inspection of a child's diaper by exposing the contents of said diaper is a questionable activity, IMO. For the TSO on this board, is that an accepted procedure that is performed in a NON-PRIVATE screening area? Is this the asinine treatment an adult wearing a similar device would receive?

Secondly, developmental disabilities are not the only reason a non-toddler child may wear a diaper during non-sleeping hours. One of my children, as well as one of my nieces, wore them until they were approximately six years old. Both of their pediatricians (in two different states, with no relationship to each other whatsoever) stated very clearly to the concerned parents that it is absolutely normal behavior. Children develop at different rates and bladder control is both a conscious and unconscious occupational skill, with the unconscious skill taking the dominant position. In other words, the body will decide when it is ready to maintain long-term bladder control, not the mind. Until that occurs, it is common to see diapers and disposable training pants used by children as old as eight. Look in any grocery/pharmacy store and you will see "pull-ups" available in weight ranges that border on those of a "normal" ten year-old child.

Sadly I find it easy to believe that "highly trained" TSA employees would act in this manner.

"Is there anyone out there that can say they have had a good TSA experience?"
--Comment on a news report of this story.

Water Pistole has his work cut out for him.

The only situation I can think of that would require a search of a diaper or underclothes would be when there is something that can't be cleared by touch - something like a brick or (go ahead and laugh) some other item that could reasonably be considered a threat item. If there is a situation of that nature, it is to be cleared in a private screening area (and if it is a minor, the parent would be with the child at all times). One situation I have heard of in training was a 3 yr old that had a cap gun (fairly realistic in size and shape)stuck in his diaper (that was quite some time ago and pre- 9/11 - so it was probably handled a bit differently than the process calls for now).

Really? REALLY??? After everything the OP went through, and the utterly unconscionable invasion of both her privacy and that of her son, you want to take it one step further and throw her son's toilet training into the mix??? Really - that is the question you come away with after reading her blog?

I am appalled by the treatment the OP received at the hands of the TSA. I am equally appalled by your response. :td::td::td:

My grey matter must be going as I do not remember security checkpoints pre-9/11.

Amputees getting shaken down. Kids underwear being "inspected" apart from parental comfort and permission, vets in wheelchairs being humiliated, kids in braces being forced to remove them and then walk without them without parental assistance.

The airlines are losing passengers. More of us are driving or taking other alternate transportation. Some are not going anywhere at all.

When is the travel/hospitality industry going to go to Congress and say enough is enough? This affects the industry far more than it affects any one individual.

We have lost international respect.
We have lost whatever international sympathy we might have had.
We have lost international conferences.
We have lost an Olympic Bid.
We have lost a World Cup bid.

Disney is likely losing thousands of customers because people are no longer willing to get in airplanes and fly, subjecting their kids to the abuse we put up with when we go to an airport and get on an airplane. I suspect many other tourist destinations catering to kids and their parents are also affected.

Hotels and conference centers are losing bookings to Canadian and European cities. When will we reach a critical mass?

All because people cannot stand dealing with these morons.

In 1970, I watched a demonstration in Ann Arbor, protesting the Viet Nam War. Regardless of how you feel about that war, its unpopularity ultimately led to the government calling it quits and brought down at least one president.

If this is true, file a complaint with TSA. Get a lawyer and sue them for emotional distress. Call your local news and tell them you have a story that anyone with a disability should know. One thing that is true is TSA doesn't pay attention until its all over the news......

:mad::mad:I'm at a total loss of words. I HATE TSA.

That may well be because TSA has zero social redeeming value.

Who wants to bet that checkpoint video will be unavailable for whatever reason TSA can come up with?

You are putting a lot on TSA and it is all anecdotal.
I have spoken to pax that did not want to go to Disney because it is getting too expensive.
To say that we have lost everything that you stated because of TSA is ludicrous.

The TSA in Chicago must be really bad, 'cause we're losing conventions left and right!

I stand corrected. You are correct. It is not just the TSA, it is your parent organization the Department of Homeland Security and its sister organization the State Department which makes getting visas for visiting scientists time consuming and expensive.

I also would not visit or spend one dime in Chicago due to hand gun ban.

Why is it that USA is getting a declining share of tourist and business travelers?

Speaking only for myself and many other people I know, travel to USA is at a bare minimum in large part because of the hassles.

Give it a week or two . . .

OTOH, imagine what we've saved in bribes.

Imagine what we (Chicago) lost in bribes from our shows going away.

It's Chicago...those are already listed under standard revenue.

I agree 100%

I hadn't even made the connection between the diaper and being 4 years old.

Yep. Unless the story is false - then the video will be shown. If we hear back that the video has been "erased" or "lost" - followed by silence, then you can be sure the story is correct.

As another smart poster commented

* "Oops ... the cameras aren't working" [EWR]
* "Oops ... the cameras weren't pointing at the incident" [ABQ]
* "Oops ... we deleted the video" [PHL]

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/14146228-post214.html

I hate the TSA as much as the next guy (as long as the next guy is named Spiff), but the original blog post is dated 31 May 2010. Unless someone flagged the tapes for special review, it's highly unlikely that the TSA, or any other public/private entity, still has footage from that far back to review.

24/7 streaming video from dozens of cameras takes up a lot of space. An archival period of more than 72 hours would surprise me, and more than a week would be outlandish.

Of course, a very short archival period (24-48 hours) would ensure that the TSA has footage if a plane goes down, but neatly escapes any potential embarrassment, as any customer complaint is likely to take longer than that to generate public outcry.

The victim states on her blog that she contacted the agency as soon as practicle after the incident so they should have saved the tapes you would think - who knows.

if anyone ever doubted the critical thinking ability of employee's of the TSA, there above, you have an excellent example...

Folks, let us remind you that a fellow FT'er is NOT the topic of this thread. So we'd ask you to limit your comments to the topic at hand.

We've removed several posts discussing another FT member.

Thanks for your cooperation.


______________________________

Cholula
TS/S Co-Moderator

I can store nice quality video at 1gb/hour. 2TB hard drive will give 2000 camera hours of recording for a cost of $124. So, if we look a having ten cameras covering a checkpoint we would have 200 hours of video for $124. I'd say over a week of video for $124 isn't too much to ask for.

It should also be noted that this is 30 frames per second so we if drop that to 15 then we would get sixteen days of video on a single drive.

Disk space is cheep. If they don't have the video it is because they don't want to have the video.

combatmedic - yeah those costs and rates are inline with prices from retail outlets, they drop 5-20% depending on the qty ordered. You can get a OEM builders pack(10) of 2TB Western Digital Caviar RE 32mb cache, 7200 RPM drives for 1100.

I helped a friend put in a video/audio survalliance system in at his studio where there are 30+ cameras feeding HD feeds 24/7 and he can fit a whole days recording on a single DL DVD, but still has a server with a 10TB data array. All of that cost $5K. TSA doesnt need that many cameras at the CP and in volume could do alot better pricing then that.

I still think the reason the tape disappeared is TSA didnt want it to come to light due to them looking bad. Which also falls in to the pattern of past behavior and evidence, which also is insight into future events and behavior.

Find another sucker, I already bet on the election. I suspect the cameras at that fascist checkpoint were inoperative that day. :D

TSA has a NEGATIVE social value, IMO.

Between TSA, Baby Daley, and the Chicago PD (Hill Street Blues would actually be an improvement), it's a wonder anyone wants to go there.

Considering TSA's history of dishonesty, I would venture to say they have the video but are lying about its existence.

My nephew is pretty heavily autistic and wasn't potty trained until he was nearly 6. He wore pullup type things all the time because he always went in his pants.

The blog post is now not accessible. Wonder if TSA forced it down?

Not TSA This Time
 

According to the blogger, she pulled the post because of excessive troll comments. She has two subsequent posts about that decison.

http://amputeemommy.blogspot.com

From her comments:

Too bad she's focused only on amputees. Her statements about "horrific experiences" are things that happen to regular travelers every day, amputees or not.

She also wrote:

From "Off Topic" thread at PV, by Anonymous
 

So much for a highly trained, responsible workforce....:td:

From the linked article:

BB at PV has written that TSA has contacted the woman and not had any response from her. However, he has also written that TSA will be meeting with ACA (Amputee Coalition of America) with this organization in the near future to discuss their issues.