Came through the Terminal A checkpoint at SJC today. Used my passport card - TDC said "this is cool, I've never seen one before". She did handle it properly - after looking at it, she signed off my BP without harassing me or calling for backup. +1 for TSA following procedure.

Only one line (bag xray) open. And the strip-search machine was in use. Every other person was sent through the pervert machine... I managed to time it to go through the WTMD. No confrontation. But I did see someone ahead of me "opt out" - they were really working him over from what I could see. I noted that better than 50% of the folks that went through the electronic strip-search were groped, too, though one woman only had to be patted along her arm because she had a med-alert bracelet on.

Also noted a young girl (about 6 or 7) in the exit area - her mom had been forced through the strip-search machine and apparently separated from child. There may have been other family members there, couldn't tell, but the appearance was that the child had been separated. If so, bad on the TSA.

I had some extra time, so I wandered over to the B side of the terminal after clearing. 5 x-rays open, and 3 lines feeding WTMDs. The strip-search machines were roped off.

I vote with my wallet:
Presence of the porn-o-scopes at SJC is enough to make me drive 30 minutes to SFO to catch a plane almost every other week... good thing that T3 with United in SFO doesn't have the porn machines yet

A couple of months ago, I opted out at SJC much to the chagrin of the smurfs there - also mentioned to them that I'm more upset because my tax dollars are going to pay for the smurfs cancer claims in 10 years time

There have been a few remarks about the abrasiveness of some agents at SJC.
Any Recent observations regarding that?

Were the 50% of the scanned people who got groped being being rubbed down aggressively and up to the "resistance" butts, and breasts, as far as you could see? If so, although bad for the passengers, good for the cause, as many of those folks are leaving probably veeerrry unhappy with TSA...

I opted-out in January, at SJC.. When I told the clerk that I wanted to opt-out, her demeanor changed. She asked if I was sure that I wanted to do so, and after I confirmed that I was going to opt-out, she again asked if I was sure of what I wanted to do.. The clerk said that I would receive a full pat-down, and I could get through a lot faster if I went through.. I told her no, and was made to wait next to the backscatter

The molester was not too bad. He did not "meet the point of resistance", and used the back of his hand..

I wonder what would happen if you announced loudly
"You didn't search me properly you missed touching my genitals go back and do it again"?

The only one that I saw any aggressiveness toward was the opt-out. There were at least 2 TSA types involved in the pat down.

The waste of resources is amazing though - there were 3 people working the strip-search machine (the one feeding the machine, 2 - one male, one female - at the exit of the machine for the post-machine gropes), plus one in the peep booth. 2 working the opt-out.

At LAX T-4 yesterday it was four folks per machine, plus the peep booth person. And only one for the line using WTMD.

I've switched all of my flying from SJC to SFO when possible for multiple reasons, one of which is the presence of the ionizing radiation backscatter scanners present at SJC v. the MMW at SFO. I have little problem with the safety of the MMW scanners. Privacy is still a concern, however. (..and it will continue to be until ATD is tried and true and the glass viewing booths are removed.)

I've only had to opt-out once at SJC, and that was June 2010, so my data point is likely obsolete. They didn't gave me any problem back then, but this was right after they had installed the NoS at the A checkpoint and before all of the bad press. It was still the back of the head procedure, and the comment at the time was, "You're opting out? Ok. Just walk through the metal detector and wait for an assist."

Your airline will typically determine your success in avoiding the NoS. Due to the low amount of traffic, there's typically only one lane open in Terminal A, with all arrows pointing to the BKSX. Terminal B allows for better self selection of lanes - or at least it did a few months ago. As a primarily AA person, I narrowly dodged having to opt-out in December during a window where the machine was roped off. (I saw it get roped off while I was getting in line to the TDC, and it was in use again when I walked by 15 minutes later.)

In SJC can you pass between Terminals without rescreening?
I haven't been in the new Terminal.

thanks for the info. Pretty labor intensive and slow. I wonder if opt-out may be a thing of the past once ATR is deployed, just to reduce this...

I am. I have been in SJC by last year and it was 1 backscatter machines at terminals A. I was there during same-day trip. My friend & I went through at checkpoints with an escorted badge. I saw huge new security checkpoints while they renovated it the entire Terminals A. Other temrinals B will have go through at security and its exactly go through the same concourse where you go to another terminals A without rescreening at security. You have to stays in security.

Yes, the two terminals are connected, but it's a bit of a walk. I haven't tried entering through terminal B to walk to terminal A though; I've only walked the length of entire airport by entering through my ticketed terminal. I imagine the TDC doesn't care as long as the departing city on the boarding pass says "San Jose"

For time consideration:
Elite A security line + Opt-out << General (or even elite) B security line + B security (opt-out potential) + walk to terminal A

Yes you can.