TSA, Nudity and an Act of Protest

With the recent trip I took, I had another TSA experience and I'm happy to report that overall, things went fine. Happy to give credit where credit is due, as I have done in the past.

So a 3 Year Old with a Broken Leg in a Wheelchair is a Terrorist?!?

Chicago O'Hare International Airport (pictured above); the second busiest airport in the United States. Last year, I flew out of ORD, did not experience a problem and commended the TSA here. However, it looks as if they don't have a perfect record.

TSA and Breast Pumps

It seems that the antics at the airports get crazier and crazier every day! Now, the government agency known as the TSA, which, as we know is tasked to oversee airline security, forced a woman to prove her breast pump was real, making her go into a public restroom to produce the evidence.

Body Scanners Cause Cancer?

Good news out of Washington! Members of the Senate are pushing a bill to force an examination of whether or not the airport body scanners cause cancer. For someone who flies a few times each year, I dread ever having to go through these things and while I came close once, TSA thought the magnetometer was good enough for me the rest of the times. Friends who have gone through these things have complained of various heath issues such as the "feeling of sunburn" lasting for days after and hot sweats a few days after. TSA and Homeland Security pushed these machines upon fliers very quickly and have consistently argued that radiation exposure is at a minimum.

Rand Paul and the TSA

Earlier this week, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, son of Presidential Candidate Ron Paul, was detained by the TSA at Nashville Airport after refusing a pat-down, which was demanded by the TSA, as a result of a "body scanner anomaly." Throughout this inconvenience, Senator Paul acted in a classy manner, and for that, should be commended. Last night on Hannity, he spoke of his TSA encounter:



Sometimes the TSA does their job and sometimes they do not. This inconsistency cannot stand and as I have stated on many occasions, Congress examine the safety of the equipment used and reform how they implement their screening procedures.

Until Congress attempts TSA reform, be sure to read my helpful tips if you find yourself needing to fly. Following these tips will definitely save you a headache and an inconvenience at the airport.

Travel Day and a Recent TSA Experience

If you've been reading "The 'Right' Solutions," you know that we are critics of the TSA and their screening tactics. While we'll readily point out the bad, we'll also point out the good. I recently traveled to Atlanta and in my time at Newark International Aiport and Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, I had very good experiences with the TSA. At EWR, I'm starting to think that it's a Terminal A thing, as they seem to be less intrusive in the quieter Continental Terminal, as opposed to the main Continental Terminal (C). At Hartsfield, the largest and busiest airport in the US, TSA staff I encountered were friendly, easy-going and very unintrusive to this average traveler.

On this busy day of travel, we would like to provide you with some tips in reducing TSA headaches:

- If flying with children, be sure to ask the airline that their boarding pass will not be tagged as a spot search.

- Fly early! Not only will delays, especially at an airport as busy and overcrowded as Newark, be reduced, but there will be no waits at the security checkpoints.

- Be prepared before entering that line. Find a chair pr a bare corner, and take out your drivers license, your boarding pass and your Ziploc bags with liquids and electronics. If you do not separate the electronics through the machine, your bag will likely be opened and searched.

- Scan the lines and if you have an aversion to the body scanner, choose a line without it.

- Wear socks! You will be taking your shoes off and putting them through the machine. You can't necessarily eat off an airport floor, so why expose your feet to it!

- Do not wear cargo shorts. You will be frisked in the vicinity of the extra pockets.

- Look as if you know what you are doing and do not wait for the TSA to tell you where to go. Go through that magnetometer before they direct you elsewhere.

- If they do ask you to go through the body scanner, it is your right to opt out for a pat-down. Be firm and if they refuse, tell them you want to speak with a supervisor or you will report their badge number.

- If you are patted down, make sure it is in public and person doing the patting down is the same sex. This is imperative with children! Also ask the agent to change their gloves.

We wish you safe and quick travels on the way to your holiday destination!

The Airport Body Scanners Back in the News

The DC Court of Appeals ruled that while the body scanners used in American airports are constitutional, they were rolled out too fast and public comment must be solicited by the TSA. There have been some ugly scenes created as a result of these machines and many still refuse to go through them. Constitutional issues aside, there is the health risk of going through these machines that emit a larger than normal amount of radiation.

In my recent travels this month, I was finally asked to go through the body scanner and refused. Unfortunately, the TSA individual did not know the law that travelers can refuse and opt for a pat down. After educating this individual and threatening to report his badge number to the Governor's Office, as well as Congressman John Mica, who happens to be the Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, he relented and allowed the pat down to take place. The TSA individual who did the pat down, to his credit, was very professional in his actions. And to further credit the offices of John Mica and Governor Fortuno, I was pleased with their attempts at following up my complaint!

As citizens, we play a role in this conflict. If any readers feel they have been wronged or mistreated by the TSA as a result of their refusal to go thorough the airport body scanners, it is imperative to not only contact your local Congressman, but also Congressman John Mica's office, who is the Chairman of the House Committee on Tranportation and Infrastructure. His contact info is as follows:

Congressman John Mica
2187 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4035
Fax: (202) 226-0821
email page

TSA Screenings Back in the News

With the coverage of Egypt, the 25 year Anniversary of the Challenger Explosion, the State of the Union and Gabrille Giffords, some stories have fallen under the cracks, as did the one I will momentarily discuss.

Not much of a surprise here, but the TSA is back in the news. They are now banning new applications for airports to hire private screeners in lieu of TSA agents. In response to this directive, Florida Representative John Mica, who is now the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and who has Orlando-Sanford Airport in his district, has rightly called for hearings regarding this matter to learn more. I would also hope Mica or another related committee, down the road, examine why the TSA has not adopted the Israeli system of security, considering its effectiveness over the years.

In my recent experience with flying, I had a positive experience with the TSA at Newark-Liberty and Orlando International Airports and while the directive is under discussion, I hope for the same professionalism and courtesy extended to me, to be extended to all airline passengers in the United States.

Credit Where Credit Is Due

Last month, I have been quite critical of the TSA, and rightly so, and after reading the news, I admit, I was apprehensive about flying. In the end, I must give them a tip of the cap as I saw they did a revamping of customer service since the last time I flew.

Both times, it was a pleasant experience. Departing from EWR, the only additional methods (in addition to the magnetometer and putting baggage and other materials through the x-ray machine) they used were the following: an upper body backhand patdown, and a search of my small bag as I had a myriad of chargers and portable electronics (e.g. GPS, iPod, BlackBerry, etc) in the bag. They explained in both cases what they were doing and apologized for delaying me. The female agent who searched my bag even offered to assist me in repacking it. I will make every effort to fly out of there early again (not just because of my TSA experience, but a drop in flight delays as EWR is infamous for delays due to traffic) In departing MCO, there were no additional methods used and I was able to quickly pass through before heading to the airside shuttle. Their infamous security lines were also not exceedingly long. The TSA at MCO were also rather friendly.

Both airports were using the body scanners, but in both cases, I was not required to go through them and did not have to opt-out for a public patdown, which I intended to do.

Again, this was a positive experience and I hope it continues for when I travel in 2011 and beyond.

Get Away Day

The day before Thanksgiving has gained notoriety as being the day to get away and on this day, citizens called for a National Opt Out Day. Apparently, things at the major airports have been running smoothly as a result of fewer opt-outs of the body scanners, as well as more TSA agents on duty. I've even been receiving reports from various sources that the scanners were not in full use last night and today.

As Americans, we still must be concerned with the searches being done, the health risks and ineffectiveness of the body scanners and the invasive nature of the pat downs. Fortunately, some in our government are beginning to appropriately respond. I still believe America would best benefit by implementing the system used in Israel as an alternative, as it has a better track record to stop terrorists in their path. Unfortunately, the government does not want to lead on this very important issue and instead, wishes to act in a politically correct manner they view as the most expedient, even though it may not provide the most protection.

"The 'Right' Solutions" wishes its readers a safe traveling and hassle-free experience as they take the roads, skies and rails to get to their destinations!

Airport Security Continued

Last weekend, "The 'Right' Solutions" touched on the issue of Airline Security, as it is a major part of our battle in the War on Terror, then updated the entry with the "Don't Touch My Junk" guy.

Since this week began, we have been bombarded with stories about searches, lawsuits and yesterday's news that TSA Agents at San Francisco International Airport will be prosecuted for inappropriate touching. Video recently resurfaced of a TSA Agent searching A THREE YEAR OLD and the child's reaction (WARNING: This video is upsetting to view)



Mind you, this video is two years old, but it is still very unsettling.

Despite these images and complaints, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano simply responds comply or don't fly. Her unwillingness to change on this issue and endorse behavioral analysis in lieu of the body scans and invasive pat-downs could have deleterious effects on tourism, the airline industry and our freedoms, as Napolitano will view it as reason to expand the use of these machines and techniques.

In New Jersey, Newark International Airport, the first New York area airport to receive the body scanners, doesn't have the best security track record, between the goodbye kiss lockdown, in the Continental Airlines Terminal (EWR is a major Continental Hub), that delayed flights worldwide, as well as the act of missing of a hunting knife. This is probably the reason why Homeland Security decided EWR received them early. New Jerseyans have mixed reviews, but Senator Mike Doherty is leading a bi-partisan effort to ask Congress to stop the use of the body scanners. In his press conference, Republicans, Democrats, the medical community and ACLU all come together to speak against these machines and techniques. Knowing he can take an issue to the forefront of a debate, is is hopeful that Governor Christie will support this effort and speak loudly against these changes.

Having traveled to Europe and used major airports such as Fiumicino (Rome), Schiphol (Amsterdam) and Keflavik (Iceland), I have witnessed dogs used to search and many believe they are more effective. And again, it would be most effective if Homeland Security implements changes to their security process that analyze behavior, similar to what is done at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport.

Americans will be watching, and if the Federal Government ignores these complaints, we may be seeing more Opt-Out Days, as well as average American citizens speaking out in similar fashion to those in the TEA Party.

Airline Security Questions

On September 11, 2001, we learned that our world was forever changed. When we woke up the next day, it was to a new, scary and unknown world. Commercial airliners were used as weapons to kill Americans and destroy our sites and symbols of commerce, military and government.

A little over nine years later, the Federal Government is still making changes to how we fly. Over time, Americans have gracefully accepted these new procedures from the TSA, to the checkpoint lines (notoriously long at Denver, Orlando and during rush hour at Newark), to the toiletry/carry-on regulations. Their latest change has people who fly very unnerved and that is the radiation body scanner, which are being used in addition to the magnetometers, which are currently used in the nation's airports, as well as at various landmarks, and in some schools.

When an individual uses these machines, they stand in the area with hands up and the X-Ray radiation beams with which you are zapped, scans the user's body and the images are shown to the TSA employee operating the machine who can determine if there are any banned substances and/or weapons on the person.

There are great reservations among people who fly in response to the increasing service of these devices. First, many are uncomfortable with their naked bodies being scanned to a computer and viewed by someone who isn't a family member or a doctor. The privacy issue is very troubling. Being zapped with radiation, raising a risk of being diagnosed with cancer, is an even larger reservation. We must ask ourselves if this use of technology is appropriate. I do not believe it is and others agree with me. Pilot unions, flight attendants, Islamic Organizations, along with tourism groups and grassroots organizations are speaking out against the scanners; some even going as far to declare a National Opt-Out Day. An option, which I will be undertaking next time I fly, will be to "Opt Out," if the airport(s) I use will have them in service. When one does, they are patted down by a TSA Employee. Unfortunately, these pat downs are not uniform, as there have been complaints, one of which, is explained by Alex Jones and a member of his staff:



The pat down is just as intrusive, but at least travelers are not risking cancer in this fashion. If going for the opt-out, it is recommended to have a woman TSA agent frisk children and other women, and to have the pat-down in public. It would be a good idea if Homeland Security develops and practices uniform methods of pat downs, so as to assuage the reservations of travelers.

Now the question many ask is what to do in lieu of the body scanners. Homeland Security must look at how security is handled at Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport and should listen to the advice of former El Al Head of Security,Isaac Yeffet, who clearly explains that behavioral analysis and behavioral recognition have been integral in stopping hijackings and preventing terrorist attacks that may have roots in the airport. It is a viable option to consider and brings in the human factor, as we have seen many times that while technology can give our side an advantage, that advantage is not always a given.

Behavioral analysis will not only benefit the airline industry and travel/tourism, but it will not put civil liberties and health at risk, and will keep those who fly safe from the threat of terrorism.

UPDATE, 11/14/10: An incident occurred yesterday at San Diego International Airport where a man who was randomly selected to submit to the body scan or "more intrusive pat-down." He refused, claiming it was a violation of his rights, as well as the fact that he observed TSA employees let a traveler pass who set off the magnetometer. After a few minutes and confrontations with management and police, he was escorted from the airport and denied boarding of his flight. The incident was caught on video and posted to YouTube and the individual's blog.