And yes, I am sure the majority of TSA workers do their job very efficiently, professionally and courteously. But there are way too many TSA scandals of an intrusive TSA. Far too many. And those that defy comprehension. If I'm going to be critical of something, I also think it requires me to have answers to what I'm bitching about. And I don't know these are THE answers or solutions, but I think they are worth consideration.
* Once the TSA worker's gloves have examined my shoes, the pat-down is over. I do not want them touching any other part of my body with the same gloves that just were on my shoes and soles. If TSA wants to pat me down again after examining my shoes, they need to put on a new pair of their fancy little blue gloves.
* I want to personally see the TSA worker put on a new pair of gloves before they touch me. While TSA policy may say they require their "pat-down" people to change gloves with each person, I want to see them put on fresh gloves before they touch me. [T]he more intimate the contact, the germier it gets and the increased infection risks at airport pat-downs.
* TWICE IS ENOUGH: Unless during the pat-down some anomaly is suspected or out of the ordinary, two pat-downs are enough. Some TSA workers run their hands over a part of the body five, six, nine, or more times. This is ridiculous. Twice is enough. If something seems amiss, then a different TSA worker should check out the specific area. If everything seems legit, end the pat-down and let the person leave. If something doesn't seem right, take additional steps for making a determination.
* Either screen, inspect and swab every wheelchair, "walker", cane, crutch, etc or screen none of them. It's senseless to check a "random wheelchair" and not the next seven.
* Establish a defined process for the least invasive pat-down for children under, say age 10. And there is no valid reason why the parent or adult companion of a child cannot be with or near the child during the process, PERIOD.
* Establish a defined process for the least invasive pat-down for the elderly and any person with special needs. Again, in these cases, there is no reason to deny an adult to be near or with an infirm person during the procedure. Imagine someone with Alzheimer's or other cognitive loss or physical disability (spine issues, unable to stand, lift their arms up,etc) being detained for a 5 or 6 minute pat-down. The intrusive and prolonged "pat-down" experience that happened to a 96 year -old woman should never happen to anyone. It is disrespectful and undignified.
* Any flyer who passes the defined pat down procedure should never be denied boarding their flight because they refuse to allow TSA to see their colostomy bag , prosthesis or other devices that some people depend on to live. The people who have these devices can help themselves by having a letter from their physician, stating simply so-and-so has a medical condition. For medical privacy, the specific condition does not need to be stated.
"Okay, Dave, but a letter from a doctor can be faked." Yep, it sure can, as can many other documents, passports or other items and devices. How far do you want to carry this? These are colostomy bags, prosthetics, pace makers and other medical devices, not, "We suspect you're concealing a howitzer." If the goal is completely eliminating 100% of all risk in flying, the only alternative is to never get on a plane.
* An alternative to hands: What else could be used to perform the pat-down that isn't a pair of human hands? Something similar to a ruler, perhaps? An oval rolling pin? Something other than a pair of hands groping and frisking?
* The TSA worker needs to describe the reason for additional or more intimate pat-downs. "There appears to be a secret compartment in your shoe heel." "Please allow us to confirm you're carrying an actual portable oxygen concentrator."
* Absolutely no secret watch-list of Americans asserting their Constitutional Rights.
* Names and titles/positions of the TSA need to be provided in reports or any TSA response. No more, "The TSA says...", "The TSA replied..." - The TSA can't verbalize anything. It is an inorganic structure. Names and titles need to be included in all TSA responses and replies.
* We are also part of this problem. Parents, guardians...we have accepted and acquiesced in allowing the intrusive nature in all pat-downs, but especially those of children and the elderly. If you witnessed any other person touching your child in the same manner of the TSA, you'd be correctly screaming, "child molester." Yet, parents sit passively while their children are groped. We can end this, but we must speak out and take action.
* It must be mandatory that after a TSA worker puts on their blue gloves, before the pat-down begins, they hand you a business card with the following information: their first and last name, TSA ID Employee Number and both a regional TSA location, address and phone number as well as the national TSA location, phone number, address and email addresses. Police officers give out a card. So does the sheriff. FBI agents give out a card. So why not the TSA?
These incidents of intrusive or OVERKILL pat-downs that go viral makes me wonder if TSA workers aren't doing this deliberately, some sort of contest, to see who can go further than the other in dehumanizing and demeaning another individual in some sort of sick and perverted game.
A little over a year ago, the TSA warned police agencies of the latest intrusive pat-down procedures. If you're informing police agencies nationwide that, "Hey, you might be receiving phone calls from people claiming sexual harassment, attempted rape, child molestation and elder abuse, don't worry, it's just us TSA," then the invasiveness must be pretty unsavory and humiliating. How much more leverage do you want these people to have?
Is the TSA effective? You be the judge.
This is not something that, over time, will become less intrusive on its own.
Additional reading:
Your Rights at airport screenings and checkpoints.
Does your doctor choose radiation scans or "pat downs"?
What the TSA won't tell you.
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