The Cheap Thrill-Airport Security Measures run Wild

[MasterBlaster]

Oh pat me down ! Puleeez. yeah right there !

Scanners and pat-downs upset airline passengers - Yahoo! News-

 

[harley]

Here's the video of the process the TSA goes through for the strip searches. As it says in the article, "The video makes for extremely uncomfortable watching and viewer discretion—and outrage—is advised."

Reason.tv: Coming Soon to an Airport Near You:*Prison-style strip searches? - Hit & Run : Reason Magazine

 

[calmloki]

ComPost - TSA and John Tyner -- usually, this sort of thing is preceded by dinner

TSA - Glove, no love

"I got a free hand job from the TSA"

Fact Sheet on U.S. "Constitution Free Zone" | American Civil Liberties Union

Among the 2/3 of Americans free of the burden of full constitutional rights?

Constitution Free Zone - Map | American Civil Liberties Union

Nobody likes the fourth ammendment being violated, but the truth of the matter is we're going to have to do it: quote at end of clip

We should be bigger than this - fear ill besuits Americans.

 

[dex]

I think Osama and the boys are in their caves laughing and saying - look we made them sexually abuse their men, women and children in public.

 

[Bestwifeever]

So many things are wrong about this new procedure imho.

I read something this morning about an 8 yr. old boy who was randomly chosen after going through the scanner to then go through the extensive pat down.

 

[freebird5825]

I am familiar with the technology used for full body scans. Yes, it may make some folks uncomfortable, but to me, it is preferable to know ALL passengers have gone through the scanner than continuing the real risk of being blown to smithereens at 35,000 feet.

I can always choose not to fly, which removes both situations - invasion of privacy for the sake of security and the risk of being turned into human confetti.

Go ahead and throw the tomatoes.

Added later...my appearance has often been mistaken for a person from regions that have been known for...um...violent human behavior. When I was traveling for my j*b, I always got a real kick out of being randomly chosen, going through the scan/search process, and then presenting my credentials. I was never touched inappropriately nor made to feel like I was less than a person. YMMV

 

[W2R]

I am familiar with the technology used for full body scans. Yes, it may make some folks uncomfortable, but to me, it is preferable to know ALL passengers have gone through the scanner than continuing the real risk of being blown to smithereens at 35,000 feet.

I can always choose not to fly, which removes both situations - invasion of privacy for the sake of security and the risk of being turned into human confetti.

Go ahead and throw the tomatoes.

OK. Grrr Grumble Grrr

 

[dex]

I am familiar with the technology used for full body scans. Yes, it may make some folks uncomfortable, but to me, it is preferable to know ALL passengers have gone through the scanner than continuing the real risk of being blown to smithereens at 35,000 feet.

Is the altitude the threshold for the procedures or do other means of transportation qualify - trains (including subways), ships and buses?

 

[Bestwifeever]

I went through the scanner a couple of times this summer--that didn't bother me too much as I'm past the modesty stage. I'm sure they save the images, no matter what they say, in case they're needed down the road for an individual case. But having a TSA employee get to third base with me if I got pulled out as the random patdown? That would definitely bother me. Having kids' crotches patted down? That's just too creepy, imho.

I like a good road trip, but hard to drive to Europe or South America, so not flying is not always an option.

 

[Bestwifeever]

Is the altitude the threshold for the procedures or do other means of transportation qualify - trains (including subways), ships and buses?

+1. And high rise office buildings, and shopping centers, and big urban high schools--aren't they also at risk for getting blown to smithereens? Couldn't you make the argument that all of those places also warrant the same procedures as airplanes?

 

[M Paquette]

In chasing through the radiation exposure levels for the backscatter systems, I ran across some interesting numbers, and even more interesting ways the calculations were done.

The manufacturer for the units at a local airport claims an exposure level of 3 microREM, which is certainly small. The absorption calculation, though, assumed the dose was absorbed through the entire body, and not in the 1/10 inch of skin that actually is penetrated by the soft X-ray dose.

The actual skin dose is higher, 56 microREM, per FDA & NIST Assessment of the Rapiscan Secure 1000® Body Scanner for Conformance with Radiological Safety Standards - July 21, 2006. Low level radiation exposure studies (BEIR VII report - NAS/NRC 2006) show that each 1 μrem of effective dose received is considered to contribute 5 × 10^–10 (one chance in two billion) to an individual's risk of contracting a fatal cancer during his or her lifetime.

At 56 microREM, each exposure has about a 1 in 35,000,000 chance of producing a fatal cancer over a lifetime. The odds of dying in a terrorist attack on an American commercial plane ran at 1 in 25,000,000 last decade, roughly similar.

If this screening method is 100% effective in blocking all terrorist attacks on American commercial flights, it would appear that people are trading death by cancer for death by terrorist. If the screening method turns out to be less effective, then people are simply adding additional risk. The overall level of risk is small compared to other causes, such as tornado, lightning strike, or the ubiquitous automobile accident.

The risk compared to the risk that is trying to be avoided shows this is not a particularly effective bet, and it is quite expensive. It also remains to be seen if a $10/hour operator can correctly operate and maintain a device whose improper adjustment and use poses a radiation risk to the operator and traveling public. Exposure to low levels of radiation appears to be linearly additive to the lifetime cancer risk, so 'dialing it up' to get a better image might have a negative impact.

 

[easysurfer]

I know it's for the sake of security, but there is definitely something wrong with the principle of these pat downs.

At the very least, the passengers should be able to choose who will do the "goosing"

I'm waiting for when as part of the proceedure, they'll require all of us to cough twice.

 

[Koolau]

I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it again: Anything that can be used can be misused. Anything that can be misused will be misused.

I think it's just a matter of time until some celeb will see his/her scan on the net. Some $10/hour TSA "voyeur" would gladly risk a $1K fine (and maybe(?)) the loss of his/her job to make $XXK for scans of (insert your fav. celeb.)

Suggesting that "you don't have to fly" is ridiculous as it's the only practical way to get to most distant locations - even if it's theoretically possible to travel by some other means. Maybe you could actually travel from London to Tokyo without ever boarding a plane, but it could take the ingenuity (and means) of a Philleas Fogg - not to mention the better part of 80 days. Oh, and i wouldn't try using a balloon as someone would certainly shoot you down for violating their air space. Of course, YMMV.

 

[WhoDaresWins]

PIT has these new full body scanners which I will experience for the first time next month when I go to FL. I would rather they scan me than touch me in any way. My retired cousin on the other side of Pittsburgh that I do a lot with can give me the heads up. She leaves Sat. for a two-week guided tour of Ethiopia.

 

[HFWR]

I was never touched inappropriately...

Define "inappropriate"?

 

[Ronstar]

I went through a pat-down last year when I had a broken ankle in a boot cast. It wasn't too bad, but the tsa guy felt everything to within millimeters of private parts. Hopefully they aren't getting more aggressive than that.

 

[easysurfer]

I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it again: Anything that can be used can be misused. Anything that can be misused will be misused.

I think it's just a matter of time until some celeb will see his/her scan on the net. Some $10/hour TSA "voyeur" would gladly risk a $1K fine (and maybe(?)) the loss of his/her job to make $XXK for scans of (insert your fav. celeb.)....QUOTE]

They say no record is kept.

So, what happens if a TSA worker gets too liberal during the scan or pat down? The passenger has no recourse at all since it will only be passenger said, TSA worker said with no record?

Ironic, one time there were cases of flight attendants being taken advantage of by obnoxious passengers but now it's the passengers being searched virtually or physically. Something wrong with this picture?

 

[haha]

In chasing through the radiation exposure levels for the backscatter systems, I ran across some interesting numbers, and even more interesting ways the calculations were done.

The manufacturer for the units at a local airport claims an exposure level of 3 microREM, which is certainly small. The absorption calculation, though, assumed the dose was absorbed through the entire body, and not in the 1/10 inch of skin that actually is penetrated by the soft X-ray dose.

The actual skin dose is higher, 56 microREM, per FDA & NIST Assessment of the Rapiscan Secure 1000® Body Scanner for Conformance with Radiological Safety Standards - July 21, 2006. Low level radiation exposure studies (BEIR VII report - NAS/NRC 2006) show that each 1 μrem of effective dose received is considered to contribute 5 × 10^–10 (one chance in two billion) to an individual's risk of contracting a fatal cancer during his or her lifetime.

At 56 microREM, each exposure has about a 1 in 35,000,000 chance of producing a fatal cancer over a lifetime. The odds of dying in a terrorist attack on an American commercial plane ran at 1 in 25,000,000 last decade, roughly similar.

If this screening method is 100% effective in blocking all terrorist attacks on American commercial flights, it would appear that people are trading death by cancer for death by terrorist. If the screening method turns out to be less effective, then people are simply adding additional risk. The overall level of risk is small compared to other causes, such as tornado, lightning strike, or the ubiquitous automobile accident.

The risk compared to the risk that is trying to be avoided shows this is not a particularly effective bet, and it is quite expensive. It also remains to be seen if a $10/hour operator can correctly operate and maintain a device whose improper adjustment and use poses a radiation risk to the operator and traveling public. Exposure to low levels of radiation appears to be linearly additive to the lifetime cancer risk, so 'dialing it up' to get a better image might have a negative impact.

Thank you M Paquette for this careful assessment.

I won't even get dental x-rays unless I have a symptom, and only then of that region. They can feel away, I am more comfortable with idiots than with radiation.

My guess is that this issue will not easily blow over. Perhaps 50% of traverlers are women, women are both health conscious and also have a pretty clear sense of personal space violations. I can imagine some mother who shows up with her 13 year old daughter. The girl has needed radiation for medical treatment recently, so her cumulative dose is climbing. What will Mom do?

Stay tuned.
Ha

 

[M Paquette]

My guess is that this issue will not easily blow over. Perhaps 50% of traverlers are women, women are both health conscious and also have a pretty clear sense of personal space violations. I can imagine some mother who shows up with her 13 year old daughter. The girl has needed radiation for medical treatment recently, so her cumulative dose is climbing. What will Mom do?

If available, the terahertz/millimeter wave system should be selected, I think. There's no ionizing radiation involved, just very low levels of radio energy at a short wavelength. There are still some questions of possible cellular damage from these frequencies, but compared to the certainty of ionizing radiation damage, I'd take it.

However, Michael Chertoff, former director of Homeland Security, now represents Rapiscan (via Chertoff Group), a maker of X-ray whole body scanners, so I'd expect to see very few of the terahertz scanners installed.

 

[ls99]

Here is a method for good Public Relations and confidence building for scanning and crotchal pat-downs by TSA.

Big sis, head of homeland security, head of TSA, Speaker of the House etc. were all shown to be publicly scanned and subjected to extremely familiar hand searches each and every time they attempt to board an air transport. Oh, and do have the media present videotaping each event.

Should do it for the President and his traveling companions. Just to instill confidence and comfort in the process.

 

[rescueme]

I've been trying to get my DW to do a "security patdown" on me, every time I enter the house, enter the room, enter whatever.

She must have X-Ray vision, since she's always declined my invitation ...

 

[HFWR]

...Rapiscan...

Short for "rape or scan"...

You do have a choice!

 

[calmloki]

The 'Israelification' of airports: High security, little bother - thestar.com

Of course guns are evil and we don't like them showing, but these folks are in far greater peril and manage not to get their airplanes blown up....

And I hope Sela damps his outrage rather than dampening it. but that's just me.

 

[EllisWyatt]

With the increased security measures, delays due to screenings, etc., what used to be a 3 hour weekly commute by air (1 hour to airport, 1/2 hr checkin, 1 hr flight, 1/2hr to the office) has now stretched into a (minimum) 5 hour commute (extra time neccesary to check-in, go through screening and leave sufficient margin of error for the inevitible delays)(that doesn't include the year I had to put up with incredible hassles because, having worked in Suadi, I was put on the No-fly list. Such fun.....).

When the alternative is a 5 1/2 hour drive, on my own schedule and without the stress and hassle-factor, it doesn't make sense to travel by air. My minimun cut-off used to be air trael for more than a 3 hour drive; now its 8.

As an aside - I had to reprimand an employee once for "inappropiate behavior" when a female co-worker complained that he touched her shoulder in passing; he was put on notice that he could be terminated for sexual harrassment if it should ever happen again. Can I file a sexually harrasment claim against a TSA employee if they touch me? Nah, didn't think so......

 

[haha]

The 'Israelification' of airports: High security, little bother - thestar.com

Of course guns are evil and we don't like them showing, but these folks are in far greater peril and manage not to get their airplanes blown up....

And I hope Sela damps his outrage rather than dampening it. but that's just me.

My favorite part:
"Israelis, unlike Canadians and Americans, don't take s--- from anybody. When the security agency in Israel (the ISA) started to tighten security and we had to wait in line for — not for hours — but 30 or 40 minutes, all hell broke loose here. We said, 'We're not going to do this. You're going to find a way that will take care of security without touching the efficiency of the airport."

I also like the way he dismissed the "profiling" carnard. Only a moron does not do profiling all day long. We are just afraid of anyone calling us non-PC, in any of its many forms.

Ha