Posted on 11/17/2010 11:22:37 AM PST by Mike Evers
Very unpleasant experience today with TSA employees on a mission from God to conduct full body pat-downs whenever they could. You’ve heard about it. You’ve seen it on television. Well, it actually happened to me this morning and I almost went to jail over it.
I was attempting to fly out of Sarasota, Florida to Atlanta, Georgia today. I cleared security and got out to my gate only to discover the flight was delayed for another hour and a half. So I exited the boarding area and went to one of the restaurants in the main terminal. When I attempted to go back through security I was detained and told to sit in a Plexiglas cubical. I was now separated from my carry-on bag, my shoes, wallet, cell phone, watch and belt. Eventually a TSA employee entered and began to describe the procedures he was going to use to pat-down my entire body. I declined, and said I wanted to go back through the scanner. After all, I had cleared it earlier in the morning, and there was nothing new on my person. Perhaps it was just a misreading.
Well, they would have none of that. A very pompous little supervisor came over and asked me if I wanted to fly today. I informed him that was my intention. Otherwise, why would I be in his little plexiglass cubical. I told him I did not wish to submit to the full body pat-down because I believe it is unwarranted and potentially an unconstitutional invasion of my right to privacy—you know, the privacy right the Supreme Court says is in the Constitution even though there are no such words to that effect. Not persuaded by my argument, the supervisor told me to submit or he would have me arrested. I asked what law I was allegedly violating. He said refusal to submit to federal authority. I replied that I thought there were less intrusive alternatives. He said “No,” and once again demanded that I submit. I declined, so he brought over his superior and three Sheriff’s deputies. Now it was getting interesting.
So much time was taken up with all this nonsense that I missed my flight. When I informed them that I wished to leave the screening area so I could see about another flight I was advised that I was not allowed to leave. Now that I had tripped into their briar patch I either submitted to their search or face arrest. I contemplated the arrest scenario in earnest. When I was in law school 30 years ago, I don’t recall things being like this. Certainly there have been some changes, especially after 9-11, but full body pat-downs and groping of genitalia? When did all this come about Janet Napolitano? Last week? Well, I don’t think it will be around six months from now, so enjoy it while you can.
Facing certain arrest if I refused to submit to their police tactics, I agreed to the search and was led to a private cubical with frosted glass to keep things a bit more private. A Sheriff’s deputy stood inside because I said I did not wish to be without witnesses should the TSA employee get a bit too frisky while feeling every inch of my body, and I do mean “every inch!” Ladies, you are going to love this new procedure when you get singled out for “special” treatment. And guys, you are not going to like it one bit. No happy ending!
Naturally, the extraordinary feel-down didn’t produce anything explosive, or otherwise. Nevertheless, I was informed that the contents of my carry-on bag needed to be searched. Once again, I protested, informing them that it had already passed through screening on the x-ray conveyor belt. Well, now things were different. Now that I was getting the “special” treatment, the entire contents of my bag were laid out on the table for all to see. About 13 local and federal agents gathered around for this little training exercise, or as our beloved President Obama would call it, a “teachable moment.” Fortunately, I wasn’t carrying any sexy lingerie or other items that could cause one to blush. And the extra look-through didn’t produce anything explosive or dangerous, even though I mentioned that my house key could be used to poke out someone’s eye. They failed to see the humor in that observation and stuffed my belongings back into the bag and escorted me out of the screening area and into the ticketing terminal. I got booked on a late afternoon flight, rented a car for three hours ($18 is a lot cheaper than a taxi), and came home to catch on some work before returning to the brave new world of TSA dominance.
As a Million Miler with Delta, I have a little bit of experience with this whole flying thing. I was flying long before 9-11 brought about all this beefed up security and intrusiveness. I’ve faced plenty of airport security issues about the decade, had valuable items stolen from my checked bags by TSA employees, and now this arrogant display of unbridled assault and battery on my body, all in the name of protecting the American public. I publish this missive and add my voice to the growing tide of rebellion over this unprecedented intrusion against our personal freedom.
Now, it’s time to head back to the airport and pray that there has been a shift change in the screening area. If not, please come visit me wherever they decide to lock me up.
Good point. Profiling already exists in airports. Just not the correct kind.
Not enough. We need our TEA Party people to express order “Don’t Touch My Junk” t-shirts and visit their local airport- shop, eat, visit the news stand, etc. for a bit of civil disobedience that is perfectly legal. If the t-shirts take to long to arrive, plenty of cities have places that can make them.
Bush deserves a lot of blame for this. Previously, if you argued with the screeners you were arguing with a rent-a-cop. When the real cops were called it was rent-a-cop vs. citizen.
Now, as the TSA thugs so clearly explained to you they are “Federal Security Employees”, and the local Police are in the position of backing up fellow LEOs, not rent a cops.
I know this is easy for me to say, but you should have insisted they arrest you. It would greatly have clarified things all around. Someone else will have the opportunity soon, I’m sure.
Right after 9/11, they instituted the second check, at the boarding gate, just before pax got aboard the flight.
On a BWI to TPA flight, they pulled 17 of out of line for the “Secondary Screening.” 17 middle-age White males.
I asked the TSA leader why us. I got the standard “the computer selected you” answer.
I pressed him, and he asked “You military?” I answered, “Two tours ‘Nam.”
He said, “Desert Storm for me. The real answer? You guys don’t bitch.”
Might I say that you may a cause for legal relief.
Your paid ticket, confirmed by the boarding pass you showed the TSA, is a binding contract between you and the carrier. A third-party cannot nullify that contract by its independent actions. (or am I incorrect in the Age of Obamugabe?)
What will you do if it or similar happens again? Would you do anything different, or you don’t quite know yet?
Call Bill and John Mica too!
Did you ping Stephan?
He is in Gitmo.
Amendment 9
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Make Nov 24 the “drive through the airport real slow” day, even if you have no other reason to go to the a/p.
bring plenty of dollars with you....for tips
That is the next logical step. Someone will have to force their hand and be arrested before anything will change.
We have to see what the entire arrest process looks like. How will TSA handle the arrest? What will be the charge? How will the media cover it? Will this be a felony? Will being arrested for "refusal to obey a federal officer" result in someone losing their voting rights over some TSA punk in an airport?
Don't just Cloward-Piven the pat-down areas by refusing the scanners, refuse the aggressive pat-downs and Cloward-Piven the arrest process and holding areas, too.
Nobody should be compelled by the federal government to give up their rights or be arrested, for any reason.
-PJ
bflr— and will look for an update here to see whether you make it through uneventfully this afternoon.
Best to you...
(CRAZY) Dem Sen: Pat downs are just ‘love pats’...
“I’m wildly excited that I can walk through a machine instead of getting my dose of love pats,” Sen. (Claire) McCaskill said.
******
Leader of TSA offers pat downs to senators...
The head of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) offered on Wednesday to have airport screeners come to Capitol Hill to give senators a pat-down so they could fully understand the mechanics of the newly deployed, controversial technique.
John Pistole told senators on the Senate Science, Commerce and Transportation Committee that he “insisted” on receiving the pat-down to “experience what that involves so that we would know before we rolled it out,” and added that Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has gotten a pat-down as well.
“Honestly, any member who has not experienced that pat-down [and] who would like to do that — I would not offer it — but an experienced qualified security officer would be glad to do that,” Pistole said.
Interesting theory.
Tortious interference with contract would do, but I suppose there is some fine print in my ticket that subjugates me to the TSA rules.
This pat-down controversy is not going to die down. I plan to pursue this issue until it is recinded. I figure a couple of weeks and it will be history.
Don’t believe the TSA website. Tyner said San Diego wasn’t listed and they did have them.
I am assuming that somewhere in the small print on your ticketing agreement that you have forfeited that fourth amendment.
It seems to me that the DHS generally, and TSA specifically, need to be reminded that We the People are the sovereign, and when WE say no, then the behaviors that caused us to utter that negative must stop. That "long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism" that this government has decided to embark upon must be stopped, lest the next portion of that sentence be enacted. "it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."
That document created this country, and never has been 'revoked'. The US Constitution merely created a form of government, and can be changed by us whenever we decide.
Again, it is time to remind them that WE are the rulers here, not them. This last election didn't seem to convince them of that fact.
What is TSA going to do when instead of trying to get explosives on an aircraft, terrorist just detonate one in the crowded lines waiting to be inspected?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.