Dealing with being SPOTed
 

So what are one's options if they are SPOTed? This is of course for people who aren't doing anything naughty, but just want to get on to their flight ASAP?

If you are SPOTted do you have to speak with an LEO?

What if you just don't say anything?

One word answers.

Answering all questions with questions is a nice strategy also.

What does "being SPOTed" mean?
 

Inquiring minds want to know.

To the TSO or the LEO?

I don't talk to TSA. If a police officer is summoned. I will explain that I'm just following Mom's advice:

"If you don't have something nice to say, say nothing."

Perjoratives and biologically obscene suggestions aren't usually considered "nice". ;)

At BWI last week:

SPOT: "How you doing?"

Me: "Not in the mood to talk to Spot, thanks."

SPOT: "Where are you off to?

Me: "Since you are going to do it anyway, go look at my BP when I get to your parter there checking them."

That ended it, I got a retaliatory secondary out of it.

hahaha. i love this

the language game works best here at SJU

SPOT: Hola
me: What?
SPOT: Hi
me: ¿Que?

I'll get a secondary, but at least I'll laugh the whole way there.

Wirelessly posted (bb: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.0) BlackBerry8310/4.2.2 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102)

How about going into a hacking cough fit and mumbling something about hoping you're not still contagious.

"Behavioral Detection Officers" aren't LEOs. They're TSOs who attended a 3-hour class that made them experts on detecting terrorists through subtle behavioral clues. If I'm confronted with one during my trip through the security checkpoint, they'll get one-word answers until I can collect my stuff and leave. If it's post-checkpoint, "I've got better things to do -- go read the Constitution" might be appropriate, but "piss off" should be equally effective. Regardless of the courts' rulings on "administrative searches," there is still a First and Fifth Amendment in this country.

How about suggesting a physically impossible act?

3 hours for a training class? :rolleyes: You need FBI and CIA agents in training with soft skills to be staffing these kind of positions.

Think one-word answers are a great suggestion.

RE: What does "being SPOTed" mean?
 

here is a description of it, even if it be a liberal take...
http://www.talkleft.com/story/2007/4/23/131755/141

Operation Spot: Airport Passenger Behavior Screening
By Jeralyn, Section Civil Liberties
Posted on Mon Apr 23, 2007 at 12:17:55 PM EST


What will they think of next?

A Transportation Security Administration effort to screen air travelers for suspicious behavior is on track to come to Denver International Airport this year, subjecting passengers to observation and small talk from agents looking for signs of deception.

The SPOT program - short for "screening passengers by observation technique" - is modeled after Israeli security measures that pick up on facial expressions, body language and other involuntary reactions that occur when people lie. TSA officials won't list which behaviors raise concerns or say how many screeners are involved, citing security concerns.

What are they looking for?

"We're not just looking for people who seem suspicious, TSA spokeswoman Ann Davis said. "We're looking for behaviors that have been proven by scientific research to indicate that an individual is suppressing high levels of stress or fear or deception. People who are up to something, basically."

So what happens when you're flagged?

Travelers who raise behavioral flags or give evasive answers to casual questions about their trips can be taken aside and searched or turned over to law enforcement.

And, they have the nerve to call it science.

"We're looking for behaviors that have been proven by scientific research to indicate that an individual is suppressing high levels of stress or fear or deception. People who are up to something, basically."

This sounds like a revamped version of the drug courier profile.

What are they looking for?

"We're not just looking for people who seem suspicious, TSA spokeswoman Ann Davis said. "We're looking for behaviors that have been proven by scientific research to indicate that an individual is suppressing high levels of stress or fear or deception. People who are up to something, basically."

I have to suppress high levels of stress and fear every time I go through security. SPOTs are fun.

Mike