Puffer protocol?
 

I just went through "security" at MIA, and the guy in front of me was selected to go through the puffer machine. He did NOT set off the metal detector (and the TSO running the puffer asked the WTMD operator if he had), so I'm wondering why they made him go through the puffer machine.

Furthermore, they made him raise his hands while he was in the machine. This struck me as somewhat degrading - were it me, I'd have felt like I was being arrested or something.

Anyone care to comment? I'm sure you do... :)

Could the machine have been one of the new MMW Whole Body Imagers? In one of those you raise your arms away from the body to provide unobstructed view.

It is my understanding that most if not all puffers have been removed from service for various reason but mostly they were costly to operated.

If you care the TSA Blog did a piece on the MMW "virtual strip search machines" a couple of months back.

Ah, good call. Could very well have been. I didn't look too closely. I had to get to the gate so I could plug in my laptop and play Whiteboard Tower Defense.

http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=34595

Don't click the link unless you want to get hooked...

I guess the person in question wasn't aware they could refuse the scan. Hope he enjoyed his x-ray.

Oh, my god, you weren't lying!