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Opinions/Editorials Title: TSA Encounter At SAN DIEGO (We may have our Rosa Parks- Videos) TSA Encounter At SAN DIEGO (We may have our Rosa Parks) [These events took place roughly between 5:30 and 6:30 AM, November 13th in Terminal 2 of the San Diego International Airport. I'm writing this approximately 2 1/2 hours after the events transpired, and they are correct to the best of my recollection. I will admit to being particularly fuzzy on the exact order of events when dealing with the agents after getting my ticket refunded; however, all of the events described did occur. I had my phone recording audio and video of much of these events. It can be viewed below. Please spread this story as far and wide as possible. I will make no claims to copyright or otherwise.] This morning, I tried to fly out of San Diego International Airport but was refused by the TSA. I had been somewhat prepared for this eventuality. I have been reading about the millimeter wave and backscatter x-ray machines and the possible harm to health as well as the vivid pictures they create of people's naked bodies. Not wanting to go through them, I had done my research on the TSA's website prior to traveling to see if SAN had them. From all indications, they did not. When I arrived at the security line, I found that the TSA's website was out of date. SAN does in fact utilize backscatter x-ray machines. I made my way through the line toward the first line of "defense": the TSA ID checker. This agent looked over my boarding pass, looked over my ID, looked at me and then back at my ID. After that, he waved me through. SAN is still operating metal detectors, so I walked over to one of the lines for them. After removing my shoes and making my way toward the metal detector, the person in front of me in line was pulled out to go through the backscatter machine. After asking what it was and being told, he opted out. This left the machine free, and before I could go through the metal detector, I was pulled out of line to go through the backscatter machine. When asked, I half-chuckled and said, "I don't think so." At this point, I was informed that I would be subject to a pat down, and I waited for another agent. A male agent (it was a female who had directed me to the backscatter machine in the first place), came and waited for me to get my bags and then directed me over to the far corner of the area for screening. After setting my things on a table, he turned to me and began to explain that he was going to do a "standard" pat down. (I thought to myself, "great, not one of those gropings like I've been reading about".) After he described, the pat down, I realized that he intended to touch my groin. After he finished his description but before he started the pat down, I looked him straight in the eye and said, "if you touch my junk, I'll have you arrested." He, a bit taken aback, informed me that he would have to involve his supervisor because of my comment. We both stood there for no more than probably two minutes before a female TSA agent (apparently, the supervisor) arrived. She described to me that because I had opted out of the backscatter screening, I would now be patted down, and that involved running hands up the inside of my legs until they felt my groin. I stated that I would not allow myself to be subject to a molestation as a condition of getting on my flight. The supervisor informed me that it was a standard administrative security check and that they were authorized to do it. I repeated that I felt what they were doing was a sexual assault, and that if they were anyone but the government, the act would be illegal. I believe that I was then informed that if I did not submit to the inspection, I would not be getting on my flight. I again stated that I thought the search was illegal. I told her that I would be willing to submit to a walk through the metal detector as over 80% of the rest of the people were doing, but I would not be groped. The supervisor, then offered to go get her supervisor. I took a seat in a tiny metal chair next to the table with my belongings and waited. While waiting, I asked the original agent (who was supposed to do the pat down) if he had many people opt out to which he replied, none (or almost none, I don't remember exactly). He said that I gave up a lot of rights when I bought my ticket. I replied that the government took them away after September 11th. There was silence until the next supervisor arrived. A few minutes later, the female agent/supervisor arrived with a man in a suit (not a uniform). He gave me a business card identifying him as David Silva, Transportation Security Manager, San Diego International Airport. At this point, more TSA agents as well as what I assume was a local police officer arrived on the scene and surrounded the area where I was being detained. The female supervisor explained the situation to Mr. Silva. After some quick back and forth (that I didn't understand/hear), I could overhear Mr. Silva say something to the effect of, "then escort him from the airport." I again offered to submit to the metal detector, and my father-in-law, who was near by also tried to plead for some reasonableness on the TSA's part. The female supervisor took my ID at this point and began taking some kind of report with which I cooperated. Once she had finished, I asked if I could put my shoes back on. I was allowed to put my shoes back on and gather my belongs. I asked, "are we done here" (it was clear at this point that I was going to be escorted out), and the local police officer said, "follow me". I followed him around the side of the screening area and back out to the ticketing area. I said apologized to him for the hassle, to which he replied that it was not a problem. I made my way over to the American Airlines counter, explained the situation, and asked if my ticket could be refunded. The woman behind the counter furiously typed away for about 30 seconds before letting me know that she would need a supervisor. She went to the other end of the counter. When she returned, she informed me that the ticket was non-refundable, but that she was still trying to find a supervisor. After a few more minutes, she was able to refund my ticket. I told her that I had previously had a bad experience with American Airlines and had sworn never to fly with them again (I rationalized this trip since my father-in-law had paid for the ticket), but that after her helpfulness, I would once again be willing to use their carrier again. At this point, I thought it was all over. I began to make my way to the stairs to exit the airport, when I was approached by another man in slacks and a sport coat. He was accompanied by the officer that had escorted me to the ticketing area and Mr. Silva. He informed me that I could not leave the airport. He said that once I start the screening in the secure area, I could not leave until it was completed. Having left the area, he stated, I would be subject to a civil suit and a $10,000 fine. I asked him if he was also going to fine the 6 TSA agents and the local police officer who escorted me from the secure area. After all, I did exactly what I was told. He said that they didn't know the rules, and that he would deal with them later. They would not be subject to civil penalties. I then pointed to Mr. Silva and asked if he would be subject to any penalties. He is the agents' supervisor, and he directed them to escort me out. The man informed me that Mr. Silva was new and he would not be subject to penalties, either. He again asserted the necessity that I return to the screening area. When I asked why, he explained that I may have an incendiary device and whether or not that was true needed to be determined. I told him that I would submit to a walk through the metal detector, but that was it; I would not be groped. He told me that their procedures are on their website, and therefore, I was fully informed before I entered the airport; I had implicitly agreed to whatever screening they deemed appropriate. I told him that San Diego was not listed on the TSA's website as an airport using Advanced Imaging Technology, and I believed that I would only be subject to the metal detector. He replied that he was not a webmaster, and I asked then why he was referring me to the TSA's website if he didn't know anything about it. I again refused to re-enter the screening area. The man asked me to stay put while he walked off to confer with the officer and Mr. Silva. They went about 20 feet away and began talking amongst themselves while I waited. I couldn't over hear anything, but I got the impression that the police officer was recounting his version of the events that had transpired in the screening area (my initial refusal to be patted down). After a few minutes, I asked loudly across the distance if I was free to leave. The man dismissively held up a finger and said, "hold on". I waited. After another minute or so, he returned and asked for my name. I asked why he needed it, and reminded him that the female supervisor/agent had already taken a report. He said that he was trying to be friendly and help me out. I asked to what end. He reminded me that I could be sued civilly and face a $10,000 fine and that my cooperation could help mitigate the penalties I was facing. I replied that he already had my information in the report that was taken and I asked if I was free to leave. I reminded him that he was now illegally detaining me and that I would not be subject to screening as a condition of leaving the airport. He told me that he was only trying to help (I should note that his demeanor never suggested that he was trying to help. I was clearly being interrogated.), and that no one was forcing me to stay. I asked if tried to leave if he would have the officer arrest me. He again said that no one was forcing me to stay. I looked him in the eye, and said, "then I'm leaving". He replied, "then we'll bring a civil suit against you", to which I said, "you bring that suit" and walked out of the airport. This video starts with my bag and belongings going through the x-ray machine.They're kind of long, and they don't show much, but the audio is really good. I was in the middle of telling someone that if I was going to be felt up, I wanted it done in public so that everyone could see what it is that the TSA does. Here is the rest of that video. After I was escorted out to the ticketing area, I went to have my ticket refunded. I didn't have the opportunity or the presence of mind to turn the camera back on until everyone walked away from me.
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#3. To: All (#0)
A Concerned Teacher on the TSA by Lew Rockwell, LRC Blog Writes Matt Allen: I’m a world history teacher in a small town in Illinois and I wrote the following letter last night and sent it to a tour company that I will be using to take a group of my high school students to Europe. I have flown quite a lot over the years and have some very real concerns about subjecting my students to the TSA’s harsh and totally inappropriate behavior. As I point out in the letter, I’m a mandated reporter. This means that by law I must report to the police any physical abuse or sexual abuse I even suspect any of my students have experienced. If any of my students opt out of the body scanner when we are at the airport and are groped during a pat down, how does this not qualify? Am I not required by law to report this sexual molestation of a minor? I guess it’s just that special government uniform that makes it all okay. My reason for sending this to a private business instead of the TSA is that I’m hopeful that if enough private businesses start standing up to the TSA they will have more influence. Perhaps not, but surely they have more pull than I do. Dear EJ Tours, I’m writing about a concern that has arisen among students and parents. In talking to students in class this has come up, and it came up in my meeting with the parents. And this is the TSA. I’ve flown quite a lot both in and out of the country. By far our security personnel are the most rude and pushy of all security I’ve encountered. It’s not even close. The worst part of my trips have always been dealing with them. Well, lately they seem to be getting worse. The rules have changed again (as they seem to constantly). There are now these x-ray scanners. Two points of concern here. One, we have teenagers - - underage minors -- who are not interested in being scanned so someone can see what’s beneath their clothing regardless of how accurate the image may or may not be. The other concern is that it is an x-ray. Some media and many pilots have voiced concern over health issues. And while no one is saying that going through one once will cause cancer, it doesn’t help--especially for those who may have a family history of cancer. To them it seems a needless danger. For those that feel this way, they can opt out. Opting out of the scanner would be fine except that we’ve been hearing of some really unpleasant stories from people who have opted out. The stories we have heard begin with hostile workers intimidating and sometimes humiliating the traveler almost as a way of sending a warning to the others not to opt out and just go along. Then from there the stories range from a brief pat down with the back of the hand to many many stories that are surfacing of what can only be called full-on groping that would land a person in prison if they did that anywhere but in an airport while wearing a government uniform. Again, I’ll be traveling with under-age minors, and as a teacher I’m a mandated reporter. What this means is that I’m actually required by law to report anything of the sort and would most definitely lose my job if I didn’t report it. That is if it were anyone but a government official doing this. So why am I bothering EF with this? Well I think you need to be aware that your business is very likely being negatively affected. How many of our kids won’t go because of this? Honestly, I don’t think that will be too high of a number. Maybe no one. But it is being discussed. Some of the kids don’t care at all, but a few do quite a lot. This is surely the same across the country. If one kid per school pulled out of going because of the TSA, I suspect that would make quite a dent in your profits. I don’t have a source handy to back this number up, but I believe I heard recently that tourism to the U.S. is down by 1/3 since 9-11 and this was a result of how much more difficult we have made it to get into our country. It’s a real hassle. Now it’s becoming a real hassle to leave our country. This is certainly going to hurt your bottom line. The TSA doesn’t care at all what I think, my students, or their parents. As a business that relies on working with the airline industry, maybe you have a touch more influence than we do. This might be an instance where EF and your competitors should stand together. The economy is already tight; this can’t be helping any of you.
#4. To: Murron (#3)
Your a good writer. Thanks for this. Needs to be said. TSA only has our safety in mind. We need to obey them. They can really screw up someone who is not coprative3 and Im all for that. We need obediants. Can you imagine if theyd unionize?
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