They are illegal in Texas. And as others pointed out, the stopping can't be arbitrary. Has to be all or some random number depending on the standards set in each state. And some states do require pre-announcements.

And lastly, driving is a privilege and not a right. As such, more constrictions can be placed.

They are likely to give you a hassle over that.

On the other hand, if you're talking on your cellphone, they don't know which buttons you're hitting.

They were just playing cops and robbers. Makes them feel grown up. Secondary, selective gate check is back, but not for every flight. It has been for a while. On a DTW-DCA flight last year, they set up shop at the gate. I was returning from SIN and had shorts on, although it was a cold time of the year in DTW. I wore a knee brace. As they called the FC boarding, I got up, bracing myself with my hands, and walked leisurely towards the gate, so as not to be the first one to reach the GA. Lucky me. Perfect disguise for a terrorist. Shorts in freezing weather and a conspicuous knee brace. :D

"Sir,, would step over here please?" I was tired and in no mood to play. Against my better judgment, I said "You have got be kidding! Not again! Every time". The TSA lady was in a good mood. "Oh come one! Not every time?" I was calm but annoyed and replied. "Yes, Every time!", shaking my head. She wasn't about to be talked down. She took my shoulder bag, unzipped it, and zipped it back wihout even looking in. I guess they have learnt something.

According to TSA freely traveling is a privilege and not a right!

Must be something about that word "free" that TSA doesn't like.

You also have to remember what TSA really stands for...."Too Stupid for Arby's"!!!

I think this is just a new psychological tactic to get people with something to hide to reveal themselves. Personally, I've never had any problems with the TSA despite being a bearded Muslim male. They're always polite.

Customs, on the other hand...actually they're pretty good too. But only after 3 years, when my name was finally cleared off a list.

OMG! N965VJ... had to close my office door. Made a miserable day much brighter. Thanks! :D

Your ability to forgive is very admirable.

Isn't stationing TSO's at departure gates an implicit admission that their security measures at the moat aren't effective?

A logical person would see it that way. TSA's public answer, OTOH, is likely to involve the word "layers." :rolleyes:

Edit: TSA's internal justification is likely to involve the words "job security." ;)

Of course they are polite to you, if they give you any hassle you can claim they profiled you.

If you get SSSS every time you fly out of the US can you claim to be profiled? Is there any redress for non-US citizens?

I think I know why we are subjected to such security - my wife managed to fly to the US on a passport that was in fact cancelled in error by the UKPA a few years ago and now on leaving the US (every single time) we have the manual bag search, gate grope and explosives puffer.

I don't have any great issue with the searches except that they aren't random in any way. I worry that if anybody might be trying to smuggle something untoward aboard then all they need do is go through security as I do when attention will be diverted on a young(ish) white middle-class British couple with no aspirations to create airborne mayhem...

The one thing I will say is that the guys doing the searches tend to be fairly polite, unlike the cretins who check the documents on the way through... If America no longer wishes people to visit could they send an email or something (it's not you, it's me...) rather than try to irritate us into not travelling any more.

Having grown up during a fairly brutal and bitter terrorist campaign in a high-security environment in the UK and overseas I do have respect for the requirements to prevent problems (and lock the stable door long after the horse of course) but this just seems lazy and pointless and leaves a nagging doubt as to the likely efficacy of the measures in place.

You admit that there is a "reason" they check every time, so
that would not be a valid claim of profiling.

My suggestion is grow a beard and make your wife wear a burka.

Claim to whom ? What you can do is accuse the TSA drone to his/her face of discrimination and watch how they try to deny or wriggle out of it.

Remember this is all just a game of scoring "points". It's not about security.

Diversionary Tactic
 

Perhaps I'm overthinking this, but maybe they were so obvioous because they were doing covert surveillance on someone and were trying to see if they could scare up a reaction. Nahh, just giving unearned credit.

It'd be fair enough had the passport in question not been replaced a couple of years ago (at the expense of the UKPA - a clearer admission of guilt you will not find!).

I'm just bored of it. I'm no threat, of this I am sure, but the fella who doesn't get checked because yeat again I am may be.

Perhaps the beard/burka combo is worth trying next time for a laugh :D

From TSA manual 1002.456 subsection 2.3a:

Identifying Valuable Items.
A. Hand Signals.
1. Agents shall use selected signals (Section 1002.456) to identify passengers wearing Rolex watches, gold jewelry, diamonds, and other expensive items to allow agents in the screening process to perform a national security despoilment.

That's classified information you just revealed.

What is a "national security despoilment"? Sounds like TSAese for "theft." Since I assume it's not, what in the world is the significance of someone wearing a Rolex? Is the idea that terrorists don't? Or that they do? Or the people who are more well-off are able to afford a lawyer and might sue?

More TSA stupidity.

Umm.. satire sensor on the blink ?

I found it rather entertaining.:p

I think it says something (maybe just about me) when over-the-top satire about TSA seems to me plausibly factual. ;)

That's why it's so funny, being so close to the truth!

I read about one case much like that.

A TSA agent stole from a suitcase. The victim was friends with the local sheriff, who somehow got a tape of the inspection/theft, clearly showing the theft. He filed charges.

The TSA went to the judge and told him that the tape would reveal their "secret" methods of searching suitcases, and they wanted it suppressed. The judge refused to allow it as evidence, and ordered it returned to the TSA. Without it, the crook couldn't be convicted. Nor did the TSA reimburse the victim (since he couldn't get his stuff back from the crook).

Of course, the TSA's claim was nonsense; their "secret" methods were known to at least one crook, who would doubtless be willing to sell them for a very small price.

(Had I been involved, there would have been a copy of the tape on YouTube before the trial, so that the judge would have had no reason to suppress it.)

So much for TSA's "zero tolerance" for employee theft:rolleyes:.

They did fire him, after preventing him from being convicted.

Source?