Thank goodness for the TSA. Next time take the bus

That happened at the TSA Cesspool @ STL. She almost always wears skirts (I can't remember when I last saw her in pants), and she always gets extra attention, until now just wanding or a minor patdown. At STL last time a supervisor came up & directed her designated molester to "follow the new procedure". The look on her face afterwards said everything.

Women who dress modestly & as women should not be harassed. On top of that I have my own privacy issues with regard to the new protocols, & WifeMpls has a specific medical contraindication for submitting to unnecessary x-rays.

We were already worn down by the incessant barking, bullying & generally rude behavior at many locations, STL in particular where we typically depart ~18-20 times a year.

After several successive unpleasant sessions w/ the schoolyard bullies last summer, I canceled all unnecessary trips that didn't involve prepaid expenses. With TSA's latest intrusion into our privacy & dignity, we just have to say that "enough is enough". If the Thanksgiving drive to STL works out, we'll eliminate 18-20 round trips a year.

We are no longer booking any airline travel, domestic or international. The disposition of our Christmas trip (ATH/FRA/CGN) is still up in the air.

I'll hang on to our CO/UA/DL miles with occasional non-flying activity; I've already started giving away WN credits & awards to friends & coworkers since they all have finite expiration dates, but on the condition that they must "opt out" & make their abusers change gloves.

You are not safe from the TSA on a bus: http://www.infowars.com/tsa-searches...us-passengers/

I never wear skirts, but I see a lot of business women wearing nice form fitting skirts. I guess I will not dress as they do.

I wonder what women of certain religious sects like Pentacostals and Mennonites will do since the women typically wear long, loose skirts.

The OP's story is just so weird that they claimed that the gloves do the detection and the WTMD detected something, yet didn't alarm.

i'm glad i only have 2 more trips this year.

One thing I've learned from the previous SAN incidinent, is that once you've given your ID to the checker, if they ask for it again, be ok to present it, but don't let it leave your hands.

As far as giving them more info, like a SS#, forget it.

Well, at least one here continues to wear her skirts, which do not fall into the definition of 'bulky'! CATSA has a female member of the MCC on the board and I do wonder if that influences the more liberal policies in Canada including the recent change to allow female CATSA employees to wear skirts of modest length.

I haven't been able to find much chatter online yet but there are many modest dress fora covering a wide variety of religions including LDS, Catholic, Jewish, Religious Society of Friends, as well as various traditionally plain churches. Often they are populated with stylish young women wearing modest yet fashionable clothing, and who do not stand out as 'different'.

The range of dress amongst some of these groups is so varied that the results and the discussions are I suspect varied as well. Many Mennonites for instance wear modern, fashionable clothing, just as some Mennonite groups may choose to wear plain dress.

This is beyond filing a complaint.

I recommend filing suit for a violation of the Privacy Act.

IIRC, both TSA posters on this forum and Bob over on the PV have stated that the TSA is exempted from the Privacy Act. (yes, I know their statements do not make it true, just passing my recollection along)

Your recollection is correct. If it were me I'd be jumping at the chance to test that hypothesis in federal court.

If I had another option, I would've left the airport like the SAN passenger.

Ground transportation was not an option, as it would've taken me a minimum of three days to get home. I needed to be home that day.

The TSA clerks were not going to permit me to proceed without the SS#.

From now on, my travel plans shall include options for avoiding TSA bullying.

I would never give them my SSN. If they absolutely insisted I would ask for an LEO, or give them the number 123-45-6789. How are they going to argue that it's not yours?

Thanks - this is a huge help and since I'm been bullied into giving my SSN to the TSA in the past, I will keep a copy of it.

Good thought. Can they force you to re-identify yourself? What can the TSA force you to give them? Seems like they insist on BP and ID...

There is a certain point where rifling through your personal documents, checking your computer files, etc violates the 4th Amendment. I think that's actually settled case law. Definitely time to call an attorney, and also you might want to file a complaint with EPIC or the ACLU.

Here's how I would answer the SSN question.

"I don't remember it off the top of my head. It's 021-something-something. Maybe 021-62, I think? Or is it 63? I don't carry my Social Security card with me."

Then if pushed, I will just make up a number with the caveat that I'm not entirely sure.

"Ma Kettle" doesn't necessarily remember her #. Better to play dumb than get into a fight with TSA over constitutional rights.

Here's irony for you. As a white/male, I've gone through customs only twice, that didn't involve a bag check. Someone once admitted that they needed to look like they were searching someone, knew I wasn't carrying, so they could let me go at any time, so they could fill the line.

Talk about a traveller being in a weak (or non-existant) negotiating position.

And file it with the OIG and the GAO, as well as your congress representatives.

Nothing good can come from providing that information. Nothing. Identity theft, adding you to watch lists, and so forth. I would refuse. Let 'em call the cops.