I have an idea - documenting checkpoints
 

I just read a post in the opt-out day thread that has me enraged and which I will quote here:

"Flew out of BOS today. At the security checkpoint there was a young lady, a TSA employee, yapping very loudly how anybody who opts out of the xray won't get on their plane. She was sitting checking ID's and tickets and complaining how she wasn't able to go anywhere over Thanksgiving so anybody who opts out won't get on their plane either."

This got me to thinking about an idea that would not involve flying (thus we can continue to boycott the airlines so their bottom line gets hurt and they start to pressure the TSA and lawmakers) and would not cost people much money:

Would it be possible to get a few people in different cities to bring a videocamera or other video recording device (iphones, whatever) to document these checkpoints? I am thinking about a situation where three people show up together and each takes a recording shift. Then we might get some of these outrageous comments and intimidations/punishments on video. Maybe it could start in BOS - seems like they have been particularly bad based on some of the posts I have read on here.

Whatta yall think???

Watch how fast the TSA policy on photos and videos changes in "response" to the new "threats to security".

PHX is also a prime target in this regard...

Barbell - you always seem to be cutting edge and very well informed. I'm curious as to what you think of this idea.

TXagoggo - Aww shucks, flattery will get you everywhere! And here I thought no one was listening.

I think the idea is brilliant. It's a little difficult to organize as this entire group is like herding a bunch of cats. I'd say everyone should figure out how to get their phones to record and just set it once entering the airport and turn it off once reclaiming your weapons, err carry on luggage.

Is it Scubatooth who advocates recording the Enhanced, err Standard, err Was-Never-Called-Enhanced-Has-Always-Been-a-Testicle-Grab Standard Pat Down? That way we'll eventually have this nonsense on camera? TSA can't run and hide once this stuff is recorded.

And trust me, the vast majority of screeners are rubes who say this kind of stuff all the time because they think it's funny. We will record it by accident, but we will record it.

I read an earlier thread where Scubatooth was vocal about his use of radios/scanners so he might be a good person to help educate us non-techies on how to do this. For instance I have a very old cell phone that does not have a good enough capability. But just because of all this I am thinking about investing in a new one that can record high quality video with high quality sound (arguably even more important than video).

I would caution the TSA folks to be *very* careful about what they say and do moving forward in the future. We are living in a world of video cameras and microphones everywhere. What you say in passing to a no-nonsense passenger may very well be on the cable news networks before your shift is out. You might want to try taking a chance on your immunity but even if you avoid prosecution you could get the axe it's gonna be tough to buy baby formula on a Burger King salary.

I would not be surprised to see it change by the end of this week considering what asses they made of themselves last weekend in San Diego. No one is going to have sex with any TSA employee I've ever seen.

Once again, there are "meet-ups" being organised at various airports for NOOD. I regret not being able to be more personally involved as I won't be in the USA, but I would hope that those participating would be more organised than just showing up to fly and opt-out. Instead, there should be many non-flyers handing our leaflets, there should be people filming at all checkpoints, and there should be volunteer lawyers on hand if the TSA gets LEOs involved at any point.

I don't think so since checkpoints are public spaces. There are a number of threads addressing photography at airports and specifically of the checkpoint so you might glance through those discussions for legal details.

Sorry Polonious - I posted that in error. Thanks for the input.

I don't know about that. 10 years ago, we never thought they'd have NoS's or junk grabbing at the checkpoint either & now here we are. Especially with all the "It's for your own safety" line being spouted all over the media.

I was wondering why my ears we're burning. The radios are a separate issue from video and each takes a different approach and equipment to nailing TSA. The radios are very specialized pieces of equipment that have to be set up. On the radios if it's a analog communication like am/fm freq any scanner or HAM radio can pick up. If it's digital ( especially p25 encrypted) then it's more complicated as the radio and scanners are not cheap($500 and up) and the set-up programming can take a bit. Still might be worth it to snoop on the clerks and see what there up to.

The video on the other hand is not that hard. It can be done a couple of way. If you have a smart phone it most likely has a video camera and you can go that way. There are also glasses that have cameras in them ala mission impossible but if you need RX your out of luck cut but the cost is $65-80.

Personally being a professional photographer in addition to being a paramedic I have a full compliment of gear so I can shoot from 1' away to a football field with the lens I have, so I can shoot wide or close for a tight shot by zooming or changing lenses. My main camera is a canon 5DmkII which has the capability to capture HD video (100mbps capture rate) as well as 21mp still images. I have a back body but it's still only. I only shoot in RAW format so if the images ever come into question they will stand up in court to any claims the images were photoshoppee/doctored (I speak from experience)

Ill work with anyone in the Dallas area to capture stills/video as I have been in contact with DFW department of public safety as to any regs/rules/restrictions so were in the clear as long as were taking up alot of space in one area or if i put a very obvious large fast lens (think what you see on the sidelines at Monday night football).

But keep in mind that photography and audio recording are two very different animals and may fall under different laws.

I thought for sure I've read some of these procedures and it was advised that you take a friend to a private screening for your safety. They don't trust the TSA scum in private so a friend is recommended for safety? What does that tell you?

Regardless, the TSA cannot keep the friend from using a recording device. The same can be said about the public space area. The TSA cannot shut you down if a friend is recording.

So I'm curious about the 2-party notification states. If they post that they are recording me, that's good enough notification. Does that mean I am free to record too?

TSA can make all the wild claims/threats it wants but they can't usurp the first amendment that protects photographers/journalists, etc. Making up rules because there under the spotlight won't stand up in court.

I have been a working photographer long enough to know how the game is played and what my rights are(and the limits), it's also why I carry multiple copies of a document called "the photographers rights" that's was written by a lawyer ( I posted it within the past week, but don't have it off hand) I have never been a papperazzi or shot adult content as I have standards. In my time working assignments I have done a wide variety type of photography but now I mainly do speciality assignments. I pride myself on not only the quality of my photography work as I have been published internationally and have images a few galleries in the US but also in the caribean) but also my interaction with the public/clients while shooting.

I have had your average Joe, rent a cops, wanna be lawyers get in my face and tell me either what they think of me or I can't do xyz or threatened legal action. They thought they could intimidate me because I look in assuming. I have even been assaulted( weapons brandished) more then a few times. In each case I defended myself including taking a knives and a loaded gun away from one idiot that stuck it in my face to intimidate and proceeded to disassemble it and scatter the parts. The aggrssor has ended up in custody of the law each time and had criminal charges filed. I did file a civil case against a private security company for the replacement of a camera that I sacrificed when I used it to break free from a choke a bouncer attempted at a event I was hired by the facility and event coordinator to cover. I professional camera body does make a good club if need be.

Where is this organizing happening? I'd like to go hand out leaflets at SEA on the 24th. I won't be flying.

Here's the one in which I documented responses to requests for information about photography policies at 50 U.S. airports: PV Alert: Can I Take Photos at the Checkpoint and Airport?

I found it here is the link to the photographers rights PDF file.

www.krages.com/phoright.htm

It's here: http://www.krages.com/phoright.htm

This would be very interesting. I wonder if a court would allow the recording as evidence, even if you did not tell the person you were recording..

In public there is no expectation of privacy so no permission needed in any state. There have been a few questions like this in various threads in the past including one where a screener claimed it was illegal to photograph/video them at work and were informed they were wrong they had no expectation of privacy and could quit if the didn't like it, but it was not illegal.

Already doing it. As soon as I clear security, I take my digital camera that looks like a still camera rather than a video and set it to video mode. It takes really good good low res video with sound. I "take pictures" out the windows and of the ugly airport art. Only I am not. I let the video free run and a hold the camera in the general direction of the screening process as if I am looking for something else to photograph. I can get several minutes this way. When I get to the gate I review it for interesting stuff. Nothing yet. But I am patient.

At my home airport you have to be in security to see security. So the outside-in will not work everywhere.

Brilliant idea!!! What about lapel cameras or in your eyeglasses....?

Sorry I won't be in the states to participate....it's going to be absofrikindickily great!

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8830/4.5.0.138 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

Until it died, I had a Palm with a still & video camera. The lens was on the back side up top. It was very easy to record while appearing to read email. Something like that would work nicely at close range. You could even place it in a bin face down (lens up) and leave it on all the way through the checkpoint.

Do that too. Set my phone to record continuous audio and off it goes through the system, recording away. It is in an outside pocket of my backpack but it works pretty good. This spy stuff is fun.

A nice additional tool...
 

...in case they want to bully you into deleting your images/video.


http://qik.com/

From the website:

"Instant
Video Sharing

Share videos privately with family and friends, automatically post to social networks, or broadcast to blogs and video sites.

Videos can be viewed live (right as they are being recorded) or anytime later."

A couple of websites on recording. Your mileage may vary, and this is not legal advice.

Court Says It's Okay To Secretly Record Conversation If Done For Legitimate Reasons
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/201...41010676.shtml
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/201...%20Level%29%29

Can we tape?
http://www.rcfp.org/taping/

Once you've recorded, can they get at your photographs?

http://ezinearticles.com/?Does-the-F...rd?&id=4469539
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10140373-38.html
http://news.cnet.com/Police-Blotter-...3-6187389.html
http://schlissellaw.wordpress.com/20...out-a-warrant/

Photography Hassles & Rights:
Photography Is Not A Crime
http://www.pixiq.com/contributors/248 (Site original at http://carlosmiller.com/ and may return there in the future)

A final note: If you are required ("requested" in TSA Speak) to remove all your personal effects to put through the carry-on baggage X-Ray, it's going to be harder to retain a electronic device for purposes of recording. Perhaps the reason for TSA having passengers remove all items except for clothing and underwear is to eliminate the possibility of having the encounter recorded.

If you have traveling with a partner, assuming they do not require both members of your party go through sequentially, you have the option of trading the recording position.

Gadgets
 

All the personal belongings going thru x-ray can also be modded to record pretty good quality video/audio.

Ask a gadget geek about "Surveillance Camera, High Resolution DVR, Photo, Video and Voice recording, 4gb Memory and Webcam Function Watches!"

Hammacher Schlemmer used to sell (still do?) cool video recording sunglasses. With some minor mods, they can be turned into regular glasses.

A dedicated outdoors person I know, has these: "Mossy Oak Break Up Camo Video Recording Glasses"--he has shown me stunningly clear video of the "great" outdoors.

Well... if they decide do have you go through the xray, I would hope you bring it to their attention!

If you opt out of the metal detector or NOS, you can still fly as these are NOT xray machines...

Bolding mine: It's nimrod-ettes like this one that give good TSO's a bad name but it is also a good idea to video this yutz with your cellphone or at least turn on the voice recording feature of one's cell phone if you hear threats like this (yes, what the TSO said is a threat) as it should be able to pick the voice as one's cellphone can still be on your person at the i/d checker and then turn the clip over to the media. Let's see the TSA try and spin that. :mad:

As long as there is a advisement of that possibility yes. I have seen big signboards in two-party states for some events that says by entering xyz event you consent to what ever. IANAL but if it works for events should work for you.