Of course, on the arrest warrant that would read "threatening a federal officer."

SPOT: How are you today?

N965VJ: У меня есть склонность к сыру.

I had hoped to gather some information of use to some of us (especially me!) but as BART points out, we have rather strayed off-topic.

Any other good answers before I ask the moderator to close the thread?

I heard one little old lady ask a spotnick the other day if he was holding up the wall. Very funny.

Try to remember the topic and keep your posts relevant to that topic.

I really don't want to do another round of clean-up on this thread.

Thanks

scoow
Moderator-in-Training, TS/S

My suggestion is "I prefer not to talk to you." Then, don't say anything if you don't want to talk.

Just wait until they finish screening you and your property. If you walk away before screening is done, there may be consequences.

And I thought that guy who wanted to discuss the technical specs of the transporters was just being friendly....


I've had this happen before. We're in the news/press releases enough, I don't think this should actually throw a BDO off his game.

^ I like your suggestion.

"Say, in your whole life, have you ever once SPOTted. . . a place in your heart for Geesus*?"

* substitute "Krishna" for That 70's airport adventure.

Why do I get an image in my mind of Super Troopers... maybe I should play the 'meow' game

Can always ask them how long ago it was they transferred in from FNJ ...

Thanks, Spotnik. I assume this is if they approach you while you are in the screening line.

What about after you have gone through, been approved, and are gathering your things. Can you just walk away then?

And what about when you are putting sugar in your double-tall latte? Can you just walk away then (without consequences)?

Thanks!

Correct.

This one gets a bit trickier, as you are through screening, but still in the checkpoint area. I think the end result would depend on the totality of circumstances. If you decide to challenge the BDO's decision to do extra screening with you in this circumstance, decide in advance how far you are willing to go with such a challenge.

Remember, if you just decide to pick up your things and walk away, TSA can call law enforcement, and the inspectors could issue a civil fine. If we call law enforcement, we need to have an articulable reason for the law enforcement officer to actually do anything to you. Even in airports where law enforcement if friendly to TSA, I have heard of few cases where they are willing to put their careers in jeopardy to help out TSA.

For this one, it depends a bit on whether you are in the public or sterile area. In the public area, to my knowledge, you can walk away without risk or any severe potential consequence. To my knowledge, on the sterile side of the checkpoint, you are subject to search at any time. Again, if you refuse to cooperate, the BDO would either have to let it go, or call law enforcement. In this circumstance, away from the screening checkpoint, I would think the BDO would need some pretty compelling reasons to have law enforcement get involved.

I'm sorry but, not only is that incorrect, it's unconstitutional. The courts' reasoning for holding the checkpoint search at airports legal is because it is an administrative search of limited duration to which everyone submits. Random searches in the sterile area based on, "He is acting suspiciously," would not pass constitutional muster based on the current state of the law.

Call civil law enforcement for what? Do you really think, "refusing to talk to a BDO," violates any law?

I would agree -- merely refusing to speak to a BDO is hardly sufficient grounds to justify detaining someone.

I believe we've had this conversation before.

Personal feelings aside, I still have to deal with TSA policies and procedures as they are currently written. They will get changed via a test case, or via a new set of bosses who decide to change the current policies and procedures.

Again, I don't know how much more clear I can be on this board. "Refusing to talk to a BDO," in my opinion, means nothing, one way or another.

That's pretty clear.

You can walk "away" towards the checkpoint; all the spotnik can do is make the secret sign to ensure you get the full treatment as you go through.

Spotniks are about as inconspicuous as a herpe on your lip. And as useful and desirable.