I recently flew to Mexico and on entering security at departure airport FAT was told my bags and clothes tested positive. I was asked to step aside and asked could they go through my handbag. I said yes and they pulled everything in the bag out, which contained only a wallet, Ipod, camera, pen, and car keys and said it all tested positive. I was then escorted into a room and had the strip search after which I was told to wait. I watched them and they ran some kind of rag over everything started up the camera and ran it over the lens, ditto the glass of the Ipod, pen etc. When I asked what it tested positive for I was told the next officer would talk to me. I got redressed, he came in asked where I was going and why, handed me back my bag and said everything was ok. I again asked what it tested positive for and he turned and walked out the door.

So what would make a handbag and clothes test positive? I am just on the sunny side of 70, not into drugs and have used this same small handbag for plane travel for years.

Strip searched, as in they actually made you take your clothes off? ...? I didn't think even the TSA did that - sounds like grounds for a lawsuit.

Excuse me ... are you saying you submitted to an ACTUAL strip search? Who was present, and how were you represented during that process?

Call a lawyer, contact ACLU and request tapes ASAP from the airport under FOIA. That is so not acceptable!

Please follow as the thread moves to the Travel Safety and Security forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.

Could you describe in more detail what you mean by a strip search? What did they make you take off? Was this the TSA?

OP...I am sorry you had to go through this. It disturbs me deeply that you were coerced into removing your clothing...and clarification on that would be of interest to many here, as most of us would refuse to go into a private room with the TSA without a witness of our choosing.

It is also odd that you never got an explanation, or apparently, an apology for this treatment.

(Making sure this thread stays on the first page a while longer, so maybe someone could answer your questions, or provide any further info on who to report this to, because it should be reported.)

Had you taken/handled/packed any nitroglycerin for angina? That is one possibility. Glycerin lotions are another possibility.

I'm still trying to digest the part where you made to remove your clothing....

Fresno airport..

On American soil and they didn't tell you why, how and where?

This is mind-bogglingly unusual for FAT where the TSOs are normally among the most friendly and laid back of any I have experienced. FAT is my home airport and I pass through many times per year.

I too would love to know what the false positive was for.

Must have been enough of a reason for the TSA to proceed with due diligence..

and the secrecy is sometimes their policy in all fairness.. But OBL is dead now.. TSA could change the way they conduct security checks post terror era..

Secret rules and intrusive searches are not something any reasonable person should tolerate in a so-called free society.

If you hold your breath waiting for the TSA to change for the better from within, you'll probably end up the same color as their uniforms.

I agree with you a 100% that it doesn't seem right..

The law isn't perfect.. so hopefully the Obama administration can affect some changes with TSA

The only acceptable change for the TSA is 100% de-funding. Disband it. It's a failed experiment, and has done nothing but waste time and money allowing untrained thugs to perform security theatre to show the sheeple how much their government "cares" about them.

The OP's post is prima facie evidence of this.

That would be a wish come true.. They have the strip search machines standard for Canadians to be scanned when going through Customs now.. sort of like every Canadian passing through is stripped searched.. or can opt for a pat down..

A total invasion of privacy.. but our family wants to vacation in the US.. so yes.. 100% in agreement.. but don't see this happening anytime soon..

Post what???? Are you kidding? This .... has just started ramping up, it's going to be worse in twelve months once whatever retaliation strike(s) for the kill are put into action. Not sure how they can get anymore invasive but I am unfortunately confident that TSA will find a way