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Posted on 05/02/2011 8:52:01 PM PDT by Jubal Harshaw
Today I was the victim of an attempted frame-up by the TSA. Here's my story; I present it as a warning. I suppose the only take-home message is that one should insist on an independent witness, such as a police officer in my case, during TSA “searches.” Thing is, I don't know how independent most police officers are likely to be.
This morning, I went through LAX, and refused to go through the radiation scanner. I went through a manual search instead. During this process, I was “patted down.” During the “pat down” process, the screener announced what he was doing: “I'm putting my hand in your collar … I'm going to move my hand side to side ...” etc. After the “pat down” process, the screener who patted me down grabbed a test strip that had nothing to do with me, and was sitting on top of the test strip reader, apparently before I'd gotten to the “pat down” area. I will designate that as “test strip A.” He continued with his description of what he was doing, though by this time he was talking to his supervisor. “I handled the test strip that was on the machine before I put his [referring to me] strip in the machine.” The supervisor, who had apparently not expected this apparent rookie to continue his self-descriptive monologue during an obviously inappropriate part of the testing procedure told the screener to get on with the test. The screener then swabbed the same gloves with which he had:
(1) “patted me down” and (2) handled test strip A
with an apparently fresh test strip, which I will designate “test strip B.” The screener then put test strip B in the reader. The reader then reported “explosives.”
I pointed out to both the supervisor and the screener than this was invalid test, since the screener (knowingly, since he'd described to his supervisor what he'd done) had contaminated his gloves with test strip A before handling test strip B. Upon hearing me point this out, the screener then picked up test strip A, which he had previously placed on top of the reader after handling it (apparently to be ready for the next person) and threw it out.
By this time, the police had been called. I explained what had happened to the officer, and asked officer him to investigate. I pointed out that there were cameras everywhere in this area, including two camera emplacements almost immediately above the reader. The police officer apparently called whoever was monitoring those cameras, and told me that those cameras were not working, and had not captured any of these events. I asked for an investigation, and the Officer told me that I could take it up with the TSA.
I was then told by the TSA personnel that I would have to undergo further screening away from the public. I did not refuse, but pointed out that I did not want to go to some back room for some unknown purpose, especially based on a knowingly adulterated chemical test. The police officer offered to accompany me as a witness, and I eventually went to a closed room, where I was again “patted down.” This time, in the presence of the police officer, I was again patted down, with largely the same procedure. This time, however, with the police officer watching, the new test read negative for explosives. I shudder to think what the second screening, in an isolated area, would have “found” if the police officer had not been present.
I pointed out again that I wanted an investigation, and stated that the test strip A was sitting on top of the garbage container where the first screener had thrown it. Having apparently heard that the video cameras covering the first test area were nonfunctional, the first screener (the one who had rubbed his gloves with a test strip from the top of the test machine) piped up at this point, and stated that he had thrown away nothing except his gloves.
There was a TSA supervisor there at this point, and I advised that supervisor that the screener had lied about this process, and asked the supervisor point blank how to formally request an investigation into this event. The supervisor told me that I could call the TSA 800 number.
I then went on to my flight.
There's a warning here to everyone who flies. The TSA is apparently in the process of mastering “throw down” evidence, though they don't seem to be particularly good at it yet. Beware, and ask for a police officer or independent witness when you are searched by the TSA.
Interesting theory and characterization. Do you have any evidence at all to back up that characterization, or did you just make it up? (as if I didn’t know). The reality is that I have been civil and polite, have broken no laws, and have not resisted. I have, as stated, filed police reports where appropriate and possible, complained to my congressman, etc. To exactly what part of my actions — those which you have not made up — do you object?
No, I’m stone cold serious.
To exactly what part of my actions — those which you have not made up — do you object?
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I don’t object to any part of it. Feel free to respond as you see fit.
But why would you be surprised that filing a police report for an TSA security check makes you appear just a tad off kilter?
And the suggestion that this was a frame up directed specifically at you? Again, you are really surprised that one might look at that and think - dude has gone off the deep end.
Sorry, but just as you have, I call ‘em like I see ‘em.
Characterize me how you will. I believe that the TSA is a threat to the Constitution (which still includes the 4th amendment), and thus to liberty. Further, the indiscriminate use of novel radiation scanners is a likely threat to life and the pursuit of happiness. In my opinion, the peaceful actions I have taken to oppose the TSA, in defence of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are no vice.
Thanks for your pointer to the flyertalk forums. I started a thread on the topic, which got locked at 61 responses and (so far) has just over 3 1/2 thousand views. The thread is here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-safety-security/1212455-attempted-frame-up-lax.html
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