Detained by TSA

[paulhailes]

Its too bad you didnt get your phone cam recording. TSA youtube videos are getting a lot of attention

I'm pretty sure that the OP would have been over the barrel on this. The Youtube recordings are almost always made by a third party because TSA separates you from everything to go through the metal detector. If they deem that you need to be searched further, as I have been several times at several different airports, you are not permitted to touch anything while the search is conducted. I'll admit that it has been a year or more since my last search (because it has been that long since I flown) so policies may have changed.

I would agree that it was probably not the best strategy to press the "hurry up" button. I would have gone into my best Drama Queen routine and claimed that I was in pain and might collapse on the floor if I couldn't sit down. A little "the doctor told me not to try to stand this long" might have punctuated the routine. My experience with all government types is that the more in a hurry you are, the less in a hurry they are. DMV, IRS, etc. Anyone who doesn't believe that many of these types of people love squashing the little bugs under their toes must have have dealt with different bureacrats that I have. I would never dream of asking an LEO to hurry with anything. I don't see the TSA any differently in that regard.

From what I understand the OP was talking about how the TSA has set up a table out side the terminal and while people are boarding the plane they "randomly" select people. I find this strange because this happens after you have already gone through the metal detectors, although after watching my camera bag go through the x-ray machine without a second look I am skeptical of how efficient they actually are. I watched the back of the x-ray screen and it looked like two huge solid boxes connected by a bunch of wires surrounded by smaller solid objects.

Now while the OP didn't do as well of a job as he could have of explain his medical problem the TSA guy had no reason to detain him as he found nothing, I mean how many business men and women are in a hurry while in the airport? And I know that since I am 6'2" I don't want to get stuck in a middle seat so I would want him to go faster as well.

[SewTexas]

make sure you copy Strauss(?) on that letter! and whichever of the reps that are starting to look iffy

[DONT TREAD ON ME]

Just to show that this group is not unanimous here, if I were a TSA agent with the statutory auhority this person no doubt had, and a passenger approached me with the attitude you have admitted to, I would have done exactly the same thing as was done to you. No question in my mind about this. You would not have gotten on that airplane without a thorough inspection and clearance by an LEO, and perhaps not in any event. The attitude you demonstrated had undoubtedly been a part of his training. You fit the classic picture of a potential serious problem, and in my opinion he did his duty.

Lots of luck with any appeal.

Elmo

Wow!!! Maybe you should go work for TSA. Seems like you would fit right in.

[Dave2]

Its too bad you didnt get your phone cam recording. TSA youtube videos are getting a lot of attention

They might have tried to file interference with official duties charges. That seems to be the trend now. We can watch you, but you cannot watch us. No, I don't think I'm paranoid. I know I am.

It's only paranoia if you're wrong.

[TexasGal]

Unless you have some outward appearance of being disabled, the TSA agent would have no idea you were disabled, unless you told him. You did tell him your legs were hurting, so you did somewhat give him a clue you were disabled, but sometimes you need to use the right words.

Sounds reasonable to me.

And why are the disabled given protection like this under the law? Because they insisted on it. Because they kept complaining about no sidewalks, no ramps, no assistant animals, and no consideration, until they got laws passed--and rightfully so. I think we all need to realize it is the squeaky hinge that gets the oil. I would add your own story to the mounting complaints on youtube, write your representative, etc.

[i8godzilla]

Logan Airport--Boston. In the People's Republic of MA? Says enough for me to understand...............

[jimlongley]

Logan Airport--Boston. In the People's Republic of MA? Says enough for me to understand...............

And me too, when I was a TSA screener, that sort of tactic was frowned on and could earn you a day off without pay.

Should have asked to see a supervisor, immediately.

[sjfcontrol]

Is it common knowledge, now, that there are "random" searches AT THE GATE? This is after the strip-search and groping, once you're in the secure area? I don't fly that much, but have never even seen this happen, much less been subject to it. Doesn't seem justifiable, to me. I think I'd be a bit put off, myself, if it happened to me. Especially if I lost my place in line because of it.

[Kythas]

Logan Airport--Boston. In the People's Republic of MA? Says enough for me to understand...............

And me too, when I was a TSA screener, that sort of tactic was frowned on and could earn you a day off without pay.

Should have asked to see a supervisor, immediately.

Before he got on the radio he said he was calling his supervisor, and I said "Good, I'd like to speak with him". He instead called the Massachusetts State Police.

And I would have inquired with the police as to filing charges against him at that time, but by the time the police got there all passengers had boarded except for me and the gate was calling my name over the loudspeaker. My conversation with the Trooper lasted all of 30 seconds and he told me to get my things and get on the plane. Had I had time to inquire about charges against the TSA agent I would have done so, but my flight was about to leave and I didn't want to spend another minute there.

I currently have letters in the mail to the Mass. chapter of the ACLU, Sen. Cornyn, Sen. Hutchison, Rep. Sam Johnson, and Jennifer Carmichael, Director of the TSA Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties explaining what happened.

[OldCannon]

A better tact for you rather than to ask the TSA agent to hurry up, would be to say "I am disabled, can someone get a chair for me to sit in" (this tact would also work better with a custom's agent too)

This would absolutely have nailed it on the head. I'm sure the TSA gets LOTS of people that tell them to hurry up. Some for legitimate reasons, like yourself, but I've seen WAY too many self-important people try to bully the TSA (and prior to TSA - hired security) when they're in a hurry. Security people immediately take this as a clue that you would want them to concede to your demands because you have something you don't want them to discover.

If you're late for a plane, tell the TSA people if they can contact the gate agent to help you.
If you're disabled/hurt, let them know that you need accommodations.
If you have your hands full with small children, ask if there's a place you can stand aside with your kids while they conduct their business.

Suggesting/Demanding that they not do their job is going to get you introduced to the term "malicious compliance."

[mamabearCali]

A better tact for you rather than to ask the TSA agent to hurry up, would be to say "I am disabled, can someone get a chair for me to sit in" (this tact would also work better with a custom's agent too)

This would absolutely have nailed it on the head. I'm sure the TSA gets LOTS of people that tell them to hurry up. Some for legitimate reasons, like yourself, but I've seen WAY too many self-important people try to bully the TSA (and prior to TSA - hired security) when they're in a hurry. Security people immediately take this as a clue that you would want them to concede to your demands because you have something you don't want them to discover.

If you're late for a plane, tell the TSA people if they can contact the gate agent to help you.
If you're disabled/hurt, let them know that you need accommodations.
If you have your hands full with small children, ask if there's a place you can stand aside with your kids while they conduct their business.

Suggesting/Demanding that they not do their job is going to get you introduced to the term "malicious compliance."

You seem to have alot of hope that the TSA will help you. The last time I flew with small children the TSA went out of their way to make my life more difficult (pre-groping season), they got all interested in my hat--it is a cowboy hat and it has a metal piece on the front--I put it through the conveyor belt and so it and all my carry on's had to be checked and the were what I call less than helpful. Even when I asked for something as reasonable as can we do this on the side so I can keep my kids with me. My three year old and one year old were wandering around the area and I was not permitted to get them, I luckily called out to my sister who was ahead of me to come back and get the kids (earning more growling and slowness from the TSA). What was I supposed to do let my 3 year old wander down the terminal? What if my sister had not been there and it was just me? Nope I have had far too many experiences with the TSA to be under any impression that they wish to help me in the least, they wish to do their job in such a way as to show everyone there just who is the boss.

[baldeagle]

Ask an attorney. Only an attorney is qualified to assess your case and determine if you have just cause to sue and what the likelihood of success in the suit might be.

[OldCannon]

A better tact for you rather than to ask the TSA agent to hurry up, would be to say "I am disabled, can someone get a chair for me to sit in" (this tact would also work better with a custom's agent too)

This would absolutely have nailed it on the head. ...

Suggesting/Demanding that they not do their job is going to get you introduced to the term "malicious compliance."

You seem to have alot of hope that the TSA will help you. The last time I flew with small children the TSA went out of their way to make my life more difficult (pre-groping season), they got all interested in my hat--it is a cowboy hat and it has a metal piece on the front--I put it through the conveyor belt and so it and all my carry on's had to be checked and the were what I call less than helpful. Even when I asked for something as reasonable as can we do this on the side so I can keep my kids with me. My three year old and one year old were wandering around the area and I was not permitted to get them, I luckily called out to my sister who was ahead of me to come back and get the kids (earning more growling and slowness from the TSA). What was I supposed to do let my 3 year old wander down the terminal? What if my sister had not been there and it was just me? Nope I have had far too many experiences with the TSA to be under any impression that they wish to help me in the least, they wish to do their job in such a way as to show everyone there just who is the boss.

Actually, you're precisely right. I'd say TSA's motto is "Comply Or Else". The worst part is that you are generally powerless to do things once you're in their "jurisdiction." It's part of the reason why I choose not to fly unless I absolutely cannot travel any other way. When I do fly though, I try not to take actions to (figuratively) punch the TSA in the nose, in spite of my overwhelming desires

[baldeagle]

If you think your experience was bad, check this out. http://www.newsherald.com/news/mother-9 ... adult.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[OldSchool]

Is it common knowledge, now, that there are "random" searches AT THE GATE? This is after the strip-search and groping, once you're in the secure area? I don't fly that much, but have never even seen this happen, much less been subject to it. Doesn't seem justifiable, to me. I think I'd be a bit put off, myself, if it happened to me. Especially if I lost my place in line because of it.

We've found gate inspections at all international flights back to the U.S. They have taken away bottles of soda that we've bought in the secure area!! This sounds as if TSA is moving to prepare us for more screening.