PHL Shoe Incident - UPDATE TSA called pg 4
 

Anyone know who else at TSA I should send the following email and what email addresses to use?

email

On May 25 in PHL, checkpoint A (near the low numbered domestic gates), I experienced improper and impolite TSA conduct. This was the direct result of TSA screening personnel not communicating with each other. at approximately 7:30-8 am I went through security, told the person at the WTMD I had ortho shoes and he correctly directed me to the glass door for the shoe swab. He did not say anything to the male assist person (Danny 95013) who came to the door of the glass room. Danny asked me why I was there. I replied, "for a shoe swab."

Rather than ask the WTMD person why I was there Danny proceded to insist I remove my shoes. When I refused and told him they were ortho, he proceeded to berate me. And told me the magic words - "If you want to fly today you have to remove your shoes."

I asked for a supervisor after Tarik came and also insisted I remove my shoes - the supervisor (Rhonda) also told me that I wasn't going to fly unless I removed my shoes. At that point I reminded her that your own web site and blog state that ortho shoes do not have to be removed and maybe it was time to get someone higher up as well as someone from the airline. after a lot of conversation between us, Rhonda told Danny that I had a medical reason and just swab my shoes. The statement that she should have made when she first can into the situation.

At the end of this, I asked for a comment card. At first I was told they did not have any. Then a women in plain clothes said I had to give her my photo ID to get the card. I told her that your blog regularly addresses this issue and that comment cards are supposed to be readily available at all checkpoints. She still would not give me a card, asserting that,'if a police officer asked for ID I would have to show it." Of course, I reminded her she was not a police officer, and I that because the cards dangling from her lanyard, were turned around and not readable, I had no idea who or what she was. After more conversation including her telling me it was none of my business who she was, she told me her name was Lisa. But she never turned her ID so it was visible.

The persons involved in this incident were all unprofessional, nasty and did not follow the procedures posted on your web site and blog. None of their actions, except for swabbing my shoes enhanced security in any way.

I briefly outlined these events on the comment card I was given and turned it back in. I am concerned that one of the participants in the incident "deep sixed" my comments, so now that I have returned home, I am sending this follow up email.

I may be contacted at

I plan to send copies to my Congressman, the candidates running to replace him and my Senators.

It was interesting that several pax came up to me and to discuss what happened and why I spent the time to deal with the screeners. I basically stuck to they didn't communicate with each other and they didn't follow procedures. It was clear to all the pax that I was really hassled when I tried to get a comment card.

Ya think ?

Include your local media outlets as well.

repeat after me
I will not fly through PHL, I will not fly through PHL

Typical PHL attitude.

Me? or THEM?
They kept my shoes once, made me fly home in my socks!:eek:

This should be sent to both the PHL Airport Director and the FSD responsible for PHL.

(emphasis mine)

Just an FYI - Pennsylvania does not have a Stop & Identify statute in place. Therefore, the plainclothes individual is incorrect in her assertion that you would have been required to show an ID to a LEO.

Sounds like you have a valid complaint.

However, all could have been avoided if you just removed your shoes. Sometimes insisting on your "rights" just begs for more grief. You don't sleep in your shoes, do you?

While the OP probably does not sleep with shoes on, ortho shoes are not always easy to get on/off. I have transported people in the past (my life as an EMT) who told me that it was incredibly painful and slow process to get the shoes on or off. It all depends on the medical condition that called for the shoes in the first place.

The OP was well within the TSA-published guidelines to keeping ortho shoes on. There is no justification for the actions of the TSOs in this case.

Sounds like BWI....

Were you able to convince any of those who approached you that this is something they should also do when procedures are not followed?

I thought that as well. However, I prefer dealing with BWI and all of its issues over the 60 mile drive and the pain in the ... C/P at IAD.

Even in a stop & identify state, the requirement can be fulfilled with an oral statement. No only that, but the requirement is that the LEO believes that a crime has been, is or is about to be committed before the statute comes into play.

And it could have been avoided if the TSO's has just followed SOP. :(

I would post the complaint on the Gripes & Grin section of the TSA Blog.