TSA - I'm sick of this crap

NousDefionsDoc · 10-13-2004, 13:32

UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
October 10, 2004

A new layer of security at the nation's airports last month caught a Mira Mesa woman by surprise. Now Ava Kingsford wants other women to know just how uncomfortable the "secondary screening" process can become.

Kingsford, 36, was traveling back to San Diego from Denver International Airport with her 3-month-old son when she was flagged for a pat-down search, possibly because of an expired driver's license.

She took the procedure in stride until the female Transportation Security Administration screener announced, "I'm going to feel your breasts now."

Kingsford, wearing a snug-fitting tank top, objected to what she considered an unduly invasive search. More security agents arrived, warned her that she couldn't board her flight without submitting to the final step of the search, and the situation escalated.

"I was crying; I was shaking," she said. And just after she tugged down the top of her shirt just a bit to show that she wasn't hiding anything, the agents told her she wasn't going anywhere. She ended up renting a car for a two-day drive home.
"It was unbelievable," Kingsford said. "I think there is a line they cannot cross."

But Transportation Security Administration officials say their screeners did nothing wrong and that Kingsford's experience reflects a brutal new reality in passenger checkpoint screening.

The agency announced the extra security measures Sept. 16, just a few weeks after two Russian jetliners exploded in midair, killing all aboard. Authorities believe two women ***ggled explosives onto the aircraft, possibly in "torso packs" underneath their clothing.

Bob Kapp, customer service manager for the TSA in Denver, said that to conduct a thorough pat-down search of women, "it does require going beneath, between and above the breasts."

In these first few weeks of the procedure, Kapp said, "a few people have been a little bit alarmed" by the touching. But he called it "a sign of the times" that is probably here to stay. Screeners are coached to try to minimize the discomfort by explaining each step as they go along.

Kingsford, however, thinks there ought to be some common sense to the approach and that the TSA is going to get a lot more complaints.

"There is nothing that I could possibly have been hiding there," she said.

Huey14 · 10-13-2004, 13:50

I can't see how a decent visual check couldn't do the same thing. Or get the women to lift her breasts so the underneath can be seen.

No body should be touched at all with security screening unless it's 100% they've got something hidden.

NousDefionsDoc · 10-13-2004, 14:01

The problem I have with it is from what I hear, they can only search two MEs per flight without some kind of specific cause. They put our citizens through this to avoid doing what they know has to be done and to be PC. I don't blame the workers, they are no doubt simply following directives. Searching old ladies and women with 3 year-old kids under their mama boobies ain't going to get it done.

**Team Sergeant** · 10-13-2004, 17:18

Based in Okinawa we frequently went on missions via civilian A/C. I always enjoyed going through airport security and hearing a tiny little Japanese woman ask (very timidly):

“May I touch you?”

Used to make me laugh every time.

TS

Guy · 10-13-2004, 17:47

I've been doing a little flying lately, there has not been "one time" I've made it straight thru. The last time was my fault, even though I was still directed to the "your ass is getting" search line.

Folding knives...clipped to pocket...will set off alarm!

Old white lady...barely can walk...ain't never blew up shit! I tried explaining that to the TSA while being searched and she's standing next to me at the time.

I was just trying to be humorous at the time...will not do that again.

Guy · 10-14-2004, 16:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Harsey

I resent the implication that us "XY's" only think of one thing. We like beer too.

I may look however...I ain't touching.

Dating is entirely too "time" consuming. I'll stick with what I have.

FS:
These math equations are killing me, especially when you equate them to dating....DAMN! When I was younger it was much more easier...

X=amount I had to spend on a date.
Y=type of woman I was dating at the time.
Z=sum of what I spent, subtract that from, EOM pay and the outcome of the date...

Did you get that? Anyways...I was one "broke ass" private that needed guidance.

LMMFAO!

Orchid · 10-15-2004, 14:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Huey14

I can't see how a decent visual check couldn't do the same thing. Or get the women to lift her breasts so the underneath can be seen.

No body should be touched at all with security screening unless it's 100% they've got something hidden.

I'm always getting patted down but never obnoxiously. The female screener simply uses the outsides of her hands to pat modestly, all along, around, between and under the breasts - usually while I stand in front of ALL the people awaiting screening and hold my arms out...UGH! And no, I'm not a Playmate, but either my jewelry or my underwired undies trigger it at some airports. Maybe I've been lucky to get good female screeners. I would never allow a male screener to do it. Hopefully, women will realize they have to speak up and request a female screener.

BTW, it's fun reading these threads and seeing the "high test" side that is rarely shown when I'm around. (I get the charmer stuff...nice, but not usually enlightening.)

SP5IC · 10-16-2004, 07:49

As bad as TSA is, they are a huge improvement over ITS. Don't get me started. I wear a Donjoy knee brace, so I am immediately frisked. In Atlanta, the ITS guy was stacking the trays and did not notice my watch, money clip or car keys. When I objected, I was singled out and had to go back thru security with all those objects in my carry on. Live and learn.

**Bill Harsey** · 10-16-2004, 08:14

I suppose my designer socks idea with "TSA SUCKS" logo on the top of the instep would cause problems. May have already...oh well.

**The Reaper** · 10-16-2004, 08:43

Another member of this board has already come up with one of the best lines to describe the TSA.

"Thousands Standing Around"

Has anyone else noticed that of the many screening positions open, only about half are usually open, and that of all the TSA employees there, only a few are actually involved in the screening process? The rest seem to be on break, or standing around chatting.

TR

flyboy1 · 10-16-2004, 11:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Reaper

Another member of this board has already come up with one of the best lines to describe the TSA.

"Thousands Standing Around"

Has anyone else noticed that of the many screening positions open, only about half are usually open, and that of all the TSA employees there, only a few are actually involved in the screening process? The rest seem to be on break, or standing around chatting.

TR

I believe the quality of the screeners needs to be improved along with the quantity. I flew rt from MCO to RDU recently and was very disappointed in the TSA crew. Alot of them were slugs, just like before the TSA was created.

Like stated above, many standing around, few working. Maybe they were the "managers."

NousDefionsDoc · 10-16-2004, 13:35

!. Lift the PC no profiling crap
2. pay a bonus for every terrorist caught
3. fire everybody above the grade of supervisor and start all over.

Did you guys hear about their awards dinner?

**Razor** · 10-16-2004, 15:37

Please, do tell.

Polar Bear · 10-16-2004, 16:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by NousDefionsDoc

!.
Did you guys hear about their awards dinner?

Just saw it on the national news....caviar anyone?

**The Reaper** · 10-16-2004, 17:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razor

Please, do tell.

FYI.

TR

http://www.cnn.com/2004/TRAVEL/10/14/tsa.party/

Report: TSA gave managers lavish party, generous bonuses
From Jeanne Meserve and Mike Ahlers
CNN

Thursday, October 14, 2004 Posted: 11:56 AM EDT (1556 GMT)

TSA PARTY PRICES
$3.75 per soft drink
$64 per gallon of coffee
$264 per sheet cake
$500 per cheese display

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sixty-four dollars for a gallon of coffee?

That is how much the Transportation Security Administration paid a Washington hotel to host a November 2003 awards banquet, contributing to a price tag for the party of nearly a half-million dollars, according to the Department of Homeland Security's independent investigator.

The TSA, which is in charge of airport security, also paid $3.75 for each soft drink, $1,850 for seven sheet cakes, $1,500 for three cheese displays, and more than $81,000 for awards plaques, according to the report from the department's Office of Inspector General.

The inspector general called the expenses "excessive." Although the agency followed laws and regulations, the report says, "the overall costs of the awards ceremony were unnecessarily expensive."

Some in Congress have criticized the TSA's hiring and spending practices.

Republicans say the agency has grown larger than expected after it was created after September 11, 2001, the Associated Press reported.

According to the AP, Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., said while he had not seen the full report it indicated "a colossal waste of money."

"There's something terribly wrong with that agency," Dorgan told the AP. "Of all the agencies, that's the one that's supposed to be working full-time against terrorist attacks."

The three-hour event at Washington's Grand Hyatt was followed by a reception for award recipients and guests, totaling about 1,100 attendees.

The cost of the event was approximately $461,745, including lodging, transportation and per diem allowances for award recipients.

The report also said the TSA paid higher average bonuses to its executives than every other federal agency, while slighting rank-and-file workers.

The average TSA executive bonus was $16,477, one-third more than the overall average of $12,444 for executives in other federal departments.

In addition, the TSA deemed almost all of its top managers above average. According to the report, 88 of its 116 senior managers received the bonuses, intended as incentive for executives who demonstrate extraordinary vision and leadership.

"TSA was more generous than other federal agencies," the report said. The 88 TSA managers who got bonuses represent 76 percent of all eligible managers. On average, federal departments give bonuses to 49 percent of eligible managers.

The TSA said the reason for the higher awards was that the performance cycle was the first time since the TSA came into existence that senior managers received bonuses. As a result, the bonuses represented two years' worth of recipients and awards.

The two-year period includes the time frame when the agency was set up, a TSA spokeswoman said Wednesday night. "Given the hours and productivity of the work force during this critical period, TSA believes the award expenditures were fully justified," she said.

The TSA also said its managers, unlike other federal government executives, are not eligible for Presidential Rank Awards.

The inspector general report also criticized the TSA for slighting lower-level employees. While the TSA's complicated pay structure makes exact numbers impossible to determine, fewer than three percent of the TSA's 50,878 non-executive employees received monetary bonuses; seven percent received non-monetary "time-off" awards.

"A substantial inequity exists in TSA's performance recognition program between executive and non-executive employees," the report said.

The TSA said that it is working to ensure that the upcoming award cycle is fair to all TSA employees.

The inspector general recommended the TSA solicit bids for future awards programs, ensure adequate justification for future bonuses, and provide equitable treatment for lower-grade employees when awarding bonuses.

In a statement released Wednesday night, the TSA said this year it will conduct "field focused awards ceremonies" at individual airports, while also conducting "a much smaller and less expensive headquarters awards event" in November.