Interesting point. If I remember correctly, in the early days of the age of fear a Frenchman disrobed (in MIA?) and was arrested. It was definitely public.

I suspect that the private room would still be called a public place, legally.

Screeners really have no clue what they do for a living do they?

Repeating myself just to be clear, I would undress in a private area, not at the checkpoint itself and certainly not in public view. I would not be disruptive.

My question is really not that difficult: Would TSA screeners be content to look at my obviously bare skin and not touch me? That's it. Can somebody answer this question?

Bruce

Bruce, I think you already have your answer. Since it's not SOP for passengers to take off their clothes (unless you're a woman and they drag you into a stairwell, apparently), and since it is an SOP requirement that they do a pat-down with secondary, they will pat you down. Whether they fine you, have you arrested, and/or make you put on your clothes before the pat-down is another question entirely.

I was going to post a link to the post from October where a guy reported having the police called on him in SEA by TSA for taking his shirt off, but then I realized it was you.

Personally I think it is more (hypothetically) interesting to consider approaching the checkpoint in a minimum state of dress. It would be perfectly legal, although somewhat cold, for a male in the USA to approach a checkpoint wearing nothing but swimtrunks/boxers. Some screeners (maybe LEOs too?) might claim it's disruptive, but it's not obscene or public exposure or anything so I think the claim is baseless. If said pax had SSSS, would TSA still wand their torso or pat them down?

(In some but not all USA locales it would be legal for a female to do the same as there have been cases regarding discrimination/equality when it comes to required clothing and also clarifying that mothers nursing in public are not breaking the law.)

I've tested this concept over the past three weeks, and during that time been selected twice for SSSS (I haven't gone out of my way to get selected) FWIW, I'm male, 29, a business traveler and usually pass through airport security about 4 times a week.

In MKE I asked for a supervisor and explained that I wanted to not be touched at all by any TSA employee, and offered to got to their private area and remove any clothing in areas that they wanted a closer look at. He agreed, and asked not only for the usual witness TSA employee, but also a LEO to accompany us to the private area where I removed my shirt - kept the pants on. They also had no problem when I asked they change gloves before that felt around in my bags.

In DEC I was flatly refused, and the supervisor immediately called over the LEO because I was a disruptive passenger. When I restated my request to the LEO he told me in a kindly voice "why don't you just comply and you'll be able to fly today?"

YMMV

For those keeping a list, it was BOS where I was refused the chance to exchange a flash for a grope.

I know what you are getting at. IF you approach the cp barechested, you will not get patted down in the cp. If you approach the cp with a shirt on and take it off there and run it through the xray, you wont get patted down. You might encounter security in LEO or private form at this point. If you approach the CP and walk through with a shirt on and get sent to secondary screening, you may not take it off. You will get patted down.

Even if I request a private screening and get undressed there? Does that make sense?

Bruce

even if you request private screening. you start to show skin and the fun stops. They will call a leo. You can call their bluff on it and try.

Can I ask the LEO to screen me? Seriously!

I just don't like strangers touching me. They can look all they want. Is this so unusual?

Bruce

There was an incident in DEN about two years ago where this exact thing happened. The man said that we could not touch him. The screener called a lead, who called a supervisor. The man kept saying that we could not touch him. (as he ate his ice cream seated in a chair at the cp) The leo came over and the man said that he did not want to be touched. He further stated that he would strip for the search. The leo took him into a private room and the man stipped totally naked. The clothes and shoes were x-rayed and the man was allowed to go after he got dressed. There are some other details that I wont go into. Suffice it to say that the LEO ate it big time in a IA investigation. Since the rules say that we dictate the screening process, the rules are now standing that no one is allowed to show private areas. Therefore it is not your option to strip. It is not ours either. I know that it sucks. I dont agree with it. But you have to be patted. I appreciate your concern and candor on the issue.

What about wrapping yourself in bubble wrap? I have thought about doing this just for fun, and see what they would do as you walked thru the check point? I am also trying to locate some of the bins so I can make a backpack out of them, and find a smaller bin that will fit inside so I can put my laptop in its own bin.

Ideas?


~icorproadie

I have to admit that I've not flown since early in the summer, pre-Chechnea. Although I did see a FA being wanded, and only her, no one was touched by a screener. Maybe I just happened to hit a time when no one set off an alarm. I do recall the line being very short.

So, are you saying that screeners DON'T change gloves between patdowns?

If that is true, it would be another great way to tie up the lines - demand that gloves be changed.

Prehaps a TSA employee could comment on if there is or is not any policy that states how often gloves are changed, but even if there is, I know it's just human nature to not change the gloves EACH time. After all the screeners wear gloves to protect them, not us.

I would guess I've had my carry-on bags hand searched in SSSS 8-10 times in the past few years, and the only place that gave me any attitude about change gloves before they touched my bags was EWR

FWIW I'm the type of person who would ask my Doctor or Dentist to change gloves in front of me if I hadn't seen them do it(knowing that they should have just from force of habit) the point is I want to watch the doctor or screener or sandwich maker at the sub shop do it where I can see them so I know it's done.