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.
Post of the Day. Heck, that's Post of the Week!
So, is there anything, legally, the citizens can do?
They believe the virtual strip search to be less demeaning and less of an invasion of privacy (or rights) than a formal strip search.
mE EITHER!!!
He IS a lawyer!
I gotta tell you that the DUers aren’t any too happy about this police state.
One even said -even Bush didn’t go this far.
Don’t you mean NO CONTROLLING ILLEGAL AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY!!!
Airports need to sell nicotine gum.
Mike where is the ACLU in this for you?
Let us know if we can help...
Maybe guys just need to all take does of Viagara before flying...I wonder how long before TSA employees opt out themselves from the pat down!
Cue: Chickens coming home to roost.
I am so sorry that you had to go through this garbage. DHS seems to think that the cattle will eventually get used to this new “prod” and all be well in the pasture again. Apparently “Jan the Man” was not paying attention on 11/2.
I was in the Dr’s office today with The View blaring in the waiting room. The ladies were debating this subject with regard to small children and the mixed message about strangers touching them. I almost threw up when they came to the conclusion that you would have to explain that this man is touching you in order to “protect you from terrorists”.
Or in malls during Christmas shopping..
Or football stadiums,
or Disney World.
This is crazy. Groping Granny isn’t going to stop them. They are rolling on the floor of thier caves laughing at us.
No, not surprising at all. . .
I KNOW that people are objecting to the procedure, but take a moment to think about how refusing to comply causes heightened suspicion. I read your story...only in place of you I imagined it to be a muslim woman with a burka. If she got half way through the screening process and then refused to continue, I’d wonder what she was concealing and NO, at that point, I would not let her leave to go anywhere! Fact is, the ‘invasive’ pat down is no different than what law enforcement uses and it’s not like we didn’t know this was coming. I’m ticked off too, I’d rather see blatant profiling, but I don’t get why everyone is so shocked by the new procedure. Sorry to hear you had such a difficult time.
Could be worth the price of a ticket just to get to the inspection area to video all of this nonsense. BTW, as I understand it, one can carry a gun, concealed of course, up to the gate/security/boarding or streile area of an airport, but, not beyond.
LOL/ Just don't write 'Atom Bomb'. . .am doubting even a 'happy face' would not be considered provative/sigh.
Applying what is suspicious for a Muslim woman in a burka, to a non-Middle Eastern male wearing traditional western clothing is a fallacy.
Good idea. Maybe a slight misspelling would provide plausible deniability. ;-)
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.