Amazing story. Thank you for posting.
Sheeeeeeeeeees!
Or maybe over-worked.
It wasn’t an attempted “frame up.” It was gross incompetence.
Frighteningly, the latter can be FAR worse as the incompetent pukes such as those who infest TSA build a case to cover their butts. Why worse? Because there is no prior malfeasance involved, so it’s harder to prove.
Scary!
I’ve heard of seismic crews testing positive due to handling explosives a day or two before a flight.
Pardon me, but “frame up” is just a ridiculous interpretation. They repeated the procedure and found nothing worth further investigation. our delicate sensitivities may have been offended, but there was no harm.
I just tell them I am gay and demand a female to pat me down...
You ascribe unto them evil intent, when you missed the real reason: They are freaking idiots who, were it not for the TSA, would not even be able to get a job that requires the phrase “want fries with that?”
I have over 2 million miles under my belt and am still amazed at the idiocy I encounter weekly.
Not sure if you are aware of the “Flyer Talk” forums...but your story is perfect for the “Security” section. I have seen a few stories like yours over there (no glove change after handling multiple test strips, same strip twice, and no glove change after going down past waistband during “enhanced pat down”). The forum is here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-safety-security-222/
Test strip? Like women use to see if they are pregnant? Sorry, I have not flown since 2005 so I have no idea what is going on here.
I simply refuse to fly. Period. The TSA system is pure tyranny.
TAS: Too Stupid for Arbys.
Then the supervisor asked me if I take medications and I told him yes. He told some medications will give false readings. Explosives? Yes. Anyway after, a few more minutes, I asked what they wanted me to do? They looked at each other and told me I could leave.
While waiting, another agent came over and whispered to me that if I had gone through the naked body scanner, then none of this would have happened. I took this to mean that this was all a ruse, to get me to play along in the future. I have not and I still refuse to give in to the tsa goons!
We drive everywhere, including from California to Texas.
Interesting stuff. Thanks for posting.
As for me, I took my final plane flight in February 2001.
wow...just...damn!
A.A.C.
Very seriously doubt it was a ruse as much as incompetence or a plain old mistake. Test strip A was most likely a true “test strip” that is used to calibrate the machine on a regular basis. These strips are deliberately designed to cause a positive result so that screeners can ensure the machine is functioning properly. After using one of these to calibrate the machine at the beginning of shift, the screener performing the calibration simply forgot to throw it away and your screener picked it up and used it on you.
One has to wonder why they would choose to attempt to frame you, an innocent, random stranger.
The TSA at LAX seems to be especially aggressive and vicious. I try to fly out of Burbank or Long Beach.
Three words: Executive Jet Services.
Another straw added to the proverbial camels back as to why I will not fly.
Good on ya for being so observant.