Travel Tip: Don't Tape Your Cell Phone to a Container of Paste-Like Substance
Aug 9, 2011, 5:54 am
#16
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As much as I think TSA is the most useless agency conceived by man, I have to say that, this time, they have, apparently done their job (shocking as it may seem). The woman may, indeed, be an idiot (along with, apparently, two accomplices). Perhaps there's something more, here. At least, for once, TSA detected a credible simulation of a bomb (and without groping or nude photography).
Aug 9, 2011, 7:26 am
#17
Join Date: Jul 2006
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Aug 9, 2011, 8:04 am
#18
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Houston
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Guess what: the TSA did their job. The lesson here is that they actually accomplished something useful and it did not involve grabing anyone's "junk" or seeing anyone naked.
If only TSA would take this "victory" to heart and continue with what works and drop all the other unnecessary and appalling crap.
If only TSA would take this "victory" to heart and continue with what works and drop all the other unnecessary and appalling crap.
Aug 9, 2011, 8:37 am
#19
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 616
The TSA did their job on this one and like others have said, they did it without groping or the NoS. They caught the soldier earlier with the C4 using the ETD testing. It seems like they catch more people with the xray machines, the WTMD, and the ETD swabbing than the NoS or the patdowns.
Aug 9, 2011, 9:41 am
#20
Join Date: Apr 2003
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Are you seriously saying that what she did was not stupid nor should go unpunished?
Can you say honestly with a straight face that someone from another country with no fixed U.S. address and a stated desire to test airport security is someone that should be given a pat on the back and let go?
Can you say honestly with a straight face that someone from another country with no fixed U.S. address and a stated desire to test airport security is someone that should be given a pat on the back and let go?
Her only mistake would be openly admitting that she was trying to test the system. Let TSA levy an administrative fine through their kangaroo court, and let her be on her way.
Aug 9, 2011, 9:42 am
#21
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: DEN
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The TSA did their job on this one and like others have said, they did it without groping or the NoS. They caught the soldier earlier with the C4 using the ETD testing. It seems like they catch more people with the xray machines, the WTMD, and the ETD swabbing than the NoS or the patdowns.
So yes - TSA was successful in this instance - however they still have not proven that they are more successful than what was previously in place. TSA apologists tend to forget that the point is not "is screening effective" - the point is "is screening more effective to a degree that justifies the increased costs".
I unfortunately have to disagree with this. I believe that the risk, as stated many times by others on this forum, is that smart terrorists will learn how to bypass the system. Learning how to bypass the system involves testing, probing, and fully understanding what you can and can't get away with. While it appears fairly obvious that this one idiot is not involved in an organized attempt to determine how to beat the system, letting it be known that you can "test the system" without penalty is just asking for trouble.
Aug 9, 2011, 10:24 am
#22
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 302
The thing that bothers me about this is that the contents of my carry on could conceivably be described as "a credible simulation of a bomb" if one wanted to ascribe to their own definition of "credible simulation."
9V batteries, multiples thereof. Check.
Little electronic boxes that look like they could be detonators, each powered by 2 9V batteries. Check.
Mysterious electronics with scary sounding names like Data Physics, Mechanalysis, PCB and Connection Technologies. Check.
A Monarch strobe light. (Has a pistol grip and a trigger) Check.
Lots of wire and cables. Check.
Lot's of Velcro holding things together. Check.
Small tools and gages. Check.
A single cake of nice smelling soap to knock the edge off the industrial smell. Oops. May look like explosive. Better trash the soap.
9V batteries, multiples thereof. Check.
Little electronic boxes that look like they could be detonators, each powered by 2 9V batteries. Check.
Mysterious electronics with scary sounding names like Data Physics, Mechanalysis, PCB and Connection Technologies. Check.
A Monarch strobe light. (Has a pistol grip and a trigger) Check.
Lots of wire and cables. Check.
Lot's of Velcro holding things together. Check.
Small tools and gages. Check.
A single cake of nice smelling soap to knock the edge off the industrial smell. Oops. May look like explosive. Better trash the soap.
What we had in this instance is something seen quite regularly, cell phones, watches wires and a solid mass (paste, gel, whatever) duct taped together - often using enough tape to damage the items.
A common explanation is "I'm taking those things to a relative in xyz country.
I'm sure the relative will appreciate getting a US only cellphone with half of the finish removed when the duct tape is pulled off.
Me, I usually leave the items packaged and don't ever think of duct taping stuff together.
If you duct tape all the stuff you've identified together then you'll have a problem.
Aug 9, 2011, 11:29 am
#24
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Aug 9, 2011, 11:33 am
#25
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,702
The article concludes with this sentence: "Daman is facing a charge of knowingly giving a false impression."
When did it become TSA's job to catch people who give a false impression?
(In other TS/S threads, TSOs have stated that TSA's only job is to keep prohibited items off of planes.)
When did it become TSA's job to catch people who give a false impression?
(In other TS/S threads, TSOs have stated that TSA's only job is to keep prohibited items off of planes.)
However, consider that this caused people to miss their connecting flights, delayed planes - it cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. She should be held accountable.
Aug 9, 2011, 12:58 pm
#28
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Police: Woman Tries to Bring Fake Bomb on Plane - Claims she was testing airport security
Aug 9, 2011, 1:21 pm
#30
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