More fun with the TSA

[Abby_Normal]

While going through security in dc my boyfriend was tagged SSSS and pulled. Like the last time his PA set off the wand. Now accourding to the tsa site you have the right to request a private search in cases like this, but they refused. After a bit of argueing he got a pat down (yes, they fondled the family jewels again). and was sent on his way.

What bothered me is they told him that if you can't remove body jewerly you will not be allowed to fly! I have many piercings that can't be removed with out tools. And anyway I wouldn't start taking them out with out a proper clean and steril area to clean and replace them.

What can I do about this? Can you get a doctors note like you get for surgical pins and plates?

We are going to be making a pain in the ass of ourselves over this, I'll keep people informed.

I do plan on printing out all the tsa rules and keeping them on my when flying from now on. I always try to be nice, but this is getting to be a bit much.

[renderman]

Personally I fly with:

- A copy of the rules on searches (both Canada and the US)
- Prohibited items lists (what's allowed)
- A copy of the UN declaration of human rights
- The phone numbers for the TSA office of human rights and the nearest Canadian embassy to my destination

I also sharpy the the embassy phone number to my arm just in case they won't let me near my gear before they disappear me

Have'nt needed any of these yet, but I feel safer knowing I have them and can use them to smooth my way past any idiotic power trips that might occur.

[bascule]

To me Defcon wouldn't be Defcon without the accompanying road trip, and here's yet another reason why it rules.

[TheCotMan]

To me Defcon wouldn't be Defcon without the accompanying road trip, and here's yet another reason why it rules.

Well Hawaii has Interstate Highways, so there must be a way to drive to another state from Hawaii. ]:>

I try to eliminate any kinds of things that the TSA could complain about from my carry-on. This includes shoes with metal, and everything that could even closely resemble an item on the list, or flag in articles (book title/pictures for example.)

I don't even joke about stuff like I occasionally did before the September 11 attacks.

[rot_link]

I try to eliminate any kinds of things that the TSA could complain about from my carry-on.

Having flown several times in the last 6 months, I can tell you that trying to avoid items that will upset TSA is becoming harder. The ban on lighers has been in effect for a little over two months now...god only knows what they will ban next.

This is looking better all the time...

[Abby_Normal]

Having flown several times in the last 6 months, I can tell you that trying to avoid items that will upset TSA is becoming harder. The ban on lighers has been in effect for a little over two months now...god only knows what they will ban next.

This is looking better all the time...

Part of the problem seems to be that what is/isn't allowed is decided by whatever tsa chimp is screening you. I have accidently brought many "bad" things through only to find them later.

Also, I have seen male screeners back off/cut slack to women wearing low cut shirts. Makes ya feel real safe. They suggest not wearing underwire bras, but as long as cleavage is an advantage I'll hold on to mine.

What bothers me here is they claim the will not let my fly over something I can't really do much about. The rings won't out with out tools, and I'm not gonna do that anyway. I'd sooner just show a screener than be fondled.

What are they going to want next? Will they want me to remove my surgial pins and plates?

[AlxRogan]

I don't even joke about stuff like I occasionally did before the September 11 attacks.

http://blog.lewrockwell.com/lewrw/archives/004792.html

"I heard announced every ten minutes when I was recently in the Houston airport: "Any inappropriate jokes or remarks about security may result in your arrest.""

The first time I flew after 9/11 I heard this, and thought it was so unusual. Since then, it's just become another bit of background noise. Oh, and for the Spanish-speaking travelers, it is repeated en Espanol.

Welcome to Houston.

[allentrace]

A copy of the UN declaration of human rights

Thats good considering you are flying into the UNITED STATES of America not the failed corrupt world government otherwise known as the UN. Next time try the US Constitution as it would be more relvant and actually be a constituted authority for things such as civil rights in th US.

[Abby_Normal]

Thats good considering you are flying into the UNITED STATES of America not the failed corrupt world government otherwise known as the UN. Next time try the US Constitution as it would be more relvant and actually be a constituted authority for things such as civil rights in th US.

Um, I was going to point out what was wrong with that statement, but I don't think I'm gonna bother.

[allentrace]

Um, I was going to point out what was wrong with that statement, but I don't think I'm gonna bother.

Cute. But ignorant. Other than my Biased Sample (look it up) I was correct in stating that the laws of the UN hold no relevance in this country nor should they. I was a little off topic though so to keep with the thread I find that a little annoyance while flying our friendly skies worth it. I mean, “An ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure.” I mean I fly more than most people, and have found that the American TSA is not so nearly as bad as their equivalents in foreign countries. Ever flown into China? I have and I spent 6 hours in customs waiting for clearance and I only spent two days there before heading back too Japan. So personally I do not find that complaining about matters helps makes things faster and for all intents and purposes makes them slower. That is just my opinion on the matter and admitedly I get upset at the idiocy of government regulations some times but I try and take it in stride.

[erehwon]

While going through security in dc my boyfriend was tagged SSSS and pulled. Like the last time his PA set off the wand. Now accourding to the tsa site you have the right to request a private search in cases like this, but they refused. After a bit of argueing he got a pat down (yes, they fondled the family jewels again). and was sent on his way.

What bothered me is they told him that if you can't remove body jewerly you will not be allowed to fly! I have many piercings that can't be removed with out tools. And anyway I wouldn't start taking them out with out a proper clean and steril area to clean and replace them.

Scuse me while I whip this out...

Its in your best interest to always have a fresh copy from the TSA website, the list of stuff you can and can't bring on an airliner, I consult with it every so often. Nowhere on that list do I see anything about piercings.

As I so lovingly put it, you got a TSA Golden Retriever, really cute in their uniforms, but dumb as a bag of hammers, face it, the airport Taco Bell was completely staffed when Bucky got kicked out of his mom's basement and had to come home with some menial job to cover her Lotto fund.

What can I do about this? Can you get a doctors note like you get for surgical pins and plates?

We are going to be making a pain in the ass of ourselves over this, I'll keep people informed.

Honestly, I'd make a stink about it, there are a number of frequent flyer forums on the Internet, find the TSA bitch forum, and post your experiences. One site I like is The Travel Insider. David Rowell has a section every week on the stupidiest security story, you have the makings for one of them right there. Stupid Security would be another site to send your boyfriend's story to!

I'd also drop a note off to Declan McCullagh's list, and maybe Boing Boing, with any luck you'll get a nice story out of it, and more people (besides the frequent flyers) might begin to wonder what their tax dollars are really being spent on.

I do plan on printing out all the tsa rules and keeping them on my when flying from now on. I always try to be nice, but this is getting to be a bit much.

Its all BULL$HIT, if the cabin doors are as secure as they are leading us to belive, there should be no reason why I shouldn't be allowed to pack a three inch knife in my carry-on, nor can I understand why knives and nosehair clippers are banned, but knitting and crochet needles are OK.

I really can't belive the idiots the TSA hired in Cleveland.

[Quiet]

As I so lovingly put it, you got a TSA Golden Retriever, really cute in their uniforms, but dumb as a bag of hammers, face it, the airport Taco Bell was completely staffed when Bucky got kicked out of his mom's basement and had to come home with some menial job to cover her Lotto fund.

So, true.

Little story about TSA at Ontario Airport in California.
When TSA first started their mass hiring after 9/11, they picked up some dumbasses that my work kicked loose. When we heared they applied to TSA, we contacted TSA and informed them of the paticulars of the dumbasses. But, TSA decided to hire them. Approximately 8 months later, all the dumbasses got fired from TSA for multiple policy violations involving sexual harrassment and theft.


Going back off-tpic.

I was correct in stating that the laws of the UN hold no relevance in this country nor should they.

Recently, the US Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in striking down the death penalty for juveniles. The majority of the high court based it's decison on what Justice Anthony Kennedy called "The overwhelming weight of international opinion."

It is known that 3 Justices will be retiring soon (next few years) and the political fight to replace them is on. Since, all of the "progresive" (media termed "moderate") Justices abide by the "overwhelming weight of international opinion" line of thinking. US law will eventually be changed by the high court to reflect international (UN) laws. That is if, one more progresive/moderate Justice in placed onto the US Supreme Court.

[allentrace]

Recently, the US Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in striking down the death penalty for juveniles. The majority of the high court based it's decison on what Justice Anthony Kennedy called "The overwhelming weight of international opinion."

"The age of 18 is the point where society draws the line for many purposes between childhood and adulthood," Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in his majority opinion in the 5-4 ruling. "It is, we conclude, the age at which the line for death eligibility ought to rest." In a caustic dissent, Justice Antonin Scalia said that, far from reflecting a national consensus against executing minors, the majority opinion was only "the subjective views of five members of this court and like-minded foreigners."

It was Scalie in his dissent that criticized certain foreign countries "moral" outrage at the death penalty which they have long since abandoned because of their "moral" superiority. Which in many cases is a farce as those countries have greater crimes rates than us namely France (who abolished it in 1981). And in the decision of this case Roper v. Simmons the little bastard Christopher Simmons a 17-year-old junior in high school burglarized Shirley Crook's house with a friend. When Simmons realized Mrs. Crook had recognized him, he and his friend tied her up, and threw her off a bridge to her death. The little bastard deserves death in my opinion and screw the world’s opinion on the matter. Clearly there will always be extenuating circumstances but this time it was not that time. The boy clearly knew what he was doing and killed the women so she would not "tell on him," clearly a non verbal admission of conscience and guilt.

It is known that 3 Justices will be retiring soon (next few years) and the political fight to replace them is on. Since, all of the "progresive" (media termed "moderate") Justices abide by the "overwhelming weight of international opinion" line of thinking. US law will eventually be changed by the high court to reflect international (UN) laws. That is if, one more progresive/moderate Justice in placed onto the US Supreme Court.

Progressive was always a good term for liberal just like Fundamentalist a good term for conservative. In this case we can only hope for Justices who realize American interests come first and not the "worlds." Even the vaunted EU is on the verge of collapse what with country after country soundly defeating the EU constitution putting a lie to the concept of World Unity. I assert that the only reasonable measure of authority in the United States is the U.S Constitution, Declaration of Independence and U.S. Bureaucracy.

[bascule]

Thats good considering you are flying into the UNITED STATES of America not the failed corrupt world government otherwise known as the UN.

As opposed to the failed corrupt government otherwise known as the Bush Administration? Failure and corruption kind of go hand in hand with any government.

Next time try the US Constitution as it would be more relvant and actually be a constituted authority for things such as civil rights in th US.

What, like black people count as 3/5ths of a person?

[ndex]

OK, we're starting to head into "Politics and Religion" territory here.

Not a place we want to go for so many reasons that I won't go into it here. Just remember that, as long as our congress is in a constitution revising and reinterpreting mood, what you speak freely today may come back to haunt you later... but I'm not paranoid, much.