Tsa

[cdiver2]

WASHINGTON (CNN) The Transportation Security Administration announced late Wednesday that it is modifying pat-down procedures at airports -- a decision that comes after hundreds of complaints, most of them from women, that the procedure is too intrusive.

Under the new guidelines, screeners will not be able to pat-down a passenger's breast area unless the handheld metal detector goes off or if there is an irregularity in the passenger's clothing outline, said TSA spokesman Dave Steigman.

Steigman said that under the new policy, passengers will have their sides patted down. Once that is done, there will be a limited torso pat-down from front to back, from a line below the chest area to the waist. Screeners will pat the entire back.

He also said people in wheelchairs will not have to get out of their wheelchairs for the pat-downs. The screening will be done while they are seated, using the wand and explosive trace detection machines, he said.

However, he said other passengers who cannot walk through the metal detector, including people with walkers, will have to undergo the full body pat-down.

The new procedures take effect Thursday, Steigman said.

He would not say what prompted the change. He said criticism to the agency of the pat-downs has amounted to a few hundred complaints out of an estimated 50 million passengers who have flown since the procedure was implemented.

The TSA began conducting the full body pat-downs in August after female suicide bombers downed two Russian airliners, killing 89 people.

Many of the complaints about the pat-downs have come from women who said they felt violated by them.

Helen Chenoweth-Hage, a former Republican congresswoman from Idaho, said screeners at the Boise airport refused to reveal the regulations allowing them to pat her down -- angering her so much she drove the more than 300 miles from Boise to Reno, Nevada.

"I was absolutely astounded at the fact that they thought they could violate my Fourth Amendment rights, violate my privacy, violate my body because of some secret law," she said.


WE may as well just give up and let the terrorist do what they want

 

[DORSETBOY]

not wanting to get my head bitten off but to me what they are suggesting is sensible, I do not think it is realistic for example to expect someone whom is wheelchair bound to get out of their chair for obvious reasons in the vast majority of cases.

Equally, it's vital that when dealing with the pat down, it's dealt with sensitively, esp when it's a man checking a woman. It's essential that any such security checks have the support of the law abiding majority.

Not trying to be anti-american so I hope I can avoid any suggestions as such but we've had to endure far more rigorous security checks in the UK and most other countries than across the pond for many years. It seems (and I appologise if I'm wrong) that there's been a bit of a knee jerk reaction in the U.S and it's gone from almost non-existent security to being too far the other way.

 

[cdiver2]

not wanting to get my head bitten off but to me what they are suggesting is sensible, I do not think it is realistic for example to expect someone whom is wheelchair bound to get out of their chair for obvious reasons in the vast majority of cases.

Equally, it's vital that when dealing with the pat down, it's dealt with sensitively, esp when it's a man checking a woman. It's essential that any such security checks have the support of the law abiding majority.

Not trying to be anti-american so I hope I can avoid any suggestions as such but we've had to endure far more rigorous security checks in the UK and most other countries than across the pond for many years. It seems (and I appologise if I'm wrong) that there's been a bit of a knee jerk reaction in the U.S and it's gone from almost non-existent security to being too far the other way.

I think !. I don't agree with stopping the pat down it has always been female/female and male/male for pat downs (I even asked one time for the good looking blond to pat me down, he said sorry no ). I don't agree with making wheelchair bound people stand up. My mother-in-law was made to stand after I told the agent she can stand with help thinking I would be allowed to help, wrong the agent got her up then left her to stand unaided whilst she ran the wand over her (big argument on that one ).
But the rules should be posted and any questions answered in a civil manner.

 

[Quarrior]

I 1968 the first hijacking of an American airline happened. At that point, the FAA authorized Pilots to be responsible for settling issues in the cabin of the plane.

If the FAA had put common sense rules in place that require the Pilot to park their butt in the cockpit and keep it there, behind a bullet proof door, 9/11 would not have happened and we would not be going through this crap.

Bottom line, hijacking rules should be very simple.

In case of hijack, land the damn plane wherever it will fit. Period, end of story.

 

[Doc]

Under the new guidelines, screeners will not be able to pat-down a passenger's breast area unless there is an irregularity in the passenger's clothing outline, said TSA spokesman

The above would include, assumably, Pam Anderson.

But, if everyone were forced to fly naked.......

 

[cdiver2]

The above would include, assumably, Pam Anderson.

But, if everyone were forced to fly naked.......

Im with you on this. Actually I did see Pam Anderson come through Cleveland airport every screener and all the boss's were trying to get on that concourse that day.

 

[BigJetDriver]

If the FAA had put common sense rules in place that require the Pilot to park their butt in the cockpit and keep it there, behind a bullet proof door, 9/11 would not have happened and we would not be going through this crap.

Quarrior,

I generally like what you have to say, but, as the guy who would be locked into that cramped cockpit for 10 to 18 hours at a stretch, I gotta ask: "Have heart, man!"

You want to put a bucket in with us for---well---you know? You want to put a little slit in the door to push a tray of gruel in once in a while?

If we get hypoglycemic and pass out, you'll be all right until the fuel is exhausted. Then, KYAG!!! :11:

 

[BigJetDriver]

(I even asked one time for the good looking blond to pat me down, he said sorry no ).

Why, was he already in a stable relationship??

 

[Quarrior]

Quarrior,

I generally like what you have to say, but, as the guy who would be locked into that cramped cockpit for 10 to 18 hours at a stretch, I gotta ask: "Have heart, man!"

You want to put a bucket in with us for---well---you know? You want to put a little slit in the door to push a tray of gruel in once in a while?

If we get hypoglycemic and pass out, you'll be all right until the fuel is exhausted. Then, KYAG!!! :11:

What do you use with your dry suit, huh? :rofl:

Besides, we all know the planes can take off and land by themselves anyway, you're just there to make the passengers feel good about riding in an automated plane by thinking a human is actually in control.

 

[BigJetDriver]

What do you use with your dry suit, huh? :rofl:

Besides, we all know the planes can take off and land by themselves anyway, you're just there to make the passengers feel good about riding in an automated plane by thinking a human is actually in control.

Quarrior,

I have two DUI CF-200X suits and both have "P" valves, but, honestly, I have never had to do the other during a dive. I sincerely hope that things continue that way!

As for the computers, while they are working, they are superb aids to precise flying. Perhaps we should leave man out of the equation altogether. Inevitably, however, that would shortly lend a whole new meaning to: "The Blue Screen of Death"!!! :11:

Rob