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Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months
schnappycat
member
MIL was strip searched at airport
schnappycat
member
I'm pretty appalled by the whole thing. She failed the random hand swab test, which is notorious for false positives (glycerin is in most soap, hand lotion, and hand sanitizer), and then they proceeded to take her to a private room, made her pull her pants down, and touched her all up and down her legs and crotch region. I guess they were pretty rude about the whole thing, as well. She was very humiliated and doesn't want to fly again.
I did some googling last night and can't find where a search like this is ever standard protocol for a simple hand swab failure, so I think she should file a formal complaint with TSA. It just doesn't sit right with me at all. A pat down is one thing, but this is way above and beyond for a 60-something yo grandmother.
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Re: MIL was strip searched at airport
DD1, 1/5/2008 ~~~ DD2, 3/17/2010
No, they were flying here to visit. It was at Detroit.
I agree that she should file a complaint! That is terrible! I'm flying with my son in a few weeks and stories like this terrify me. I'm okay with a little awkwardness for me (although would probably be pretty ticked) but if they try to touch my son they're going to have a problem on their hands!
A search like that is ridiculous! Can you imagine asking a rape victim to submit to a search like that? This just makes me really angry!
They actually have some special allowances for victims of sexual abuse, as I discovered when researching all of this. It's right on the TSA website. So that's good at least.
I would definitely file a complaint. I'd even consider, depending on what your MIL is comfortable with, contacting local media either here or in Detroit. If TSA gets enough bad press, sometimes they do change policies -- and at least it lets agents who might overstep know that they can't just do as they please without getting some scrutiny.
I was glad to hear it's not DIA, though. I feel like at least IME, the TSA there is pretty reasonable and polite, compared with other airports I've flown through (like Orlando).
DD1, 1/5/2008 ~~~ DD2, 3/17/2010
I just don't understand why they have to be such jerks! I understand they have a job to do and they have to follow rules but don't be a jerk. They need to realize that most people are good and they need to treat people better. I think that they need an overhaul. I've heard of that hand swab test and it sounds so pointless and stupid. They only do it on random people. So if they're doing it say on 1 of every 20 people, they're likely to let the real criminal hiding drugs up his butt slip through and pick on someone completely innocent. Which is not fair at all.
I'm so sorry your MIL had to go through that.
Yeah, I had that thought, but she's not the type to go public with something like this. I think she really just wants to forget it happened. I did read some news stories of similar searches, but it makes me wonder how often this actually happens when people remain quiet.
Ive never even seen a hand swab at Detroit. Or heard of it otherwise...
How awful.
That is completely 100% against TSA policy. Your LO is allowed to travel with food, milk and juice provided the container is not opened. They tried to give me a hard time about DD's Happy Tot pouch and I showed them their own policy and I got an "oh" and they shut up.
To the OP I am so sorry your MIL was treated that way. The TSA is way out of control. It makes me scared for our country. We are supposed to be free of unreasonable search and seizure and the TSA flies right in the face of the constitution. I'm a live free or die kinda girl and I mean that.
I, for one, can sleep better at night knowing that people put their lives on the line every day at our airports to ensure our safety...
That's so awful. I hope she files a complaint.
Something similar but not nearly so violating - my husband's 92 year old grandma was flying to visit some family and she was randomly chosen for a search. I understand that they "don't profile," but the idea that searching her would be necessary is laughable. I wonder what her reaction was. "You want to pat me down where? Really, honey?"
I get that it probably felt like a violation to her but this is the world we live in now and we know this before we get on a plane. She has no basis for a lawsuit and her complaint will likely just be filed with everyone else's.
The alternative is full on racial profiling and that isn't preferable either.
Trust me, we all get that this is the world we live in. I'm always very patient and cooperative with pat downs and similar. However, AFAIK, strip searches are never standard protocol, especially for something like failing a simple swab test, especially since they know full well that it has false positives due to simple hand lotion.
I never said she wanted to sue and she actually doesn't even want to file a complaint. I was considering doing this on her behalf. At the very least, I would like an answer as to why this was done. Their website says nothing about strip searches and it would be nice to have some information.
My MIL has some PTSD from an illness she had years ago and has a huge fear of doctors and others seeing her naked (her issues are not unlike those victims of sexual abuse, I suspect), so I can only imagine how difficult this was for her. It seems she is owed some answers.
Yes it is. If the defense here is 'grandma doesn't look like a terrorist', then what does a terrorist look like? Should they only search likely suspects?
Look, I don't agree with it, and I would feel very badly for my mom if this happened and I feel particularly bad for the op's MIL given the PTSD but they're just doing their jobs. I'm sure they don't enjoy it either and I'm not surprised they're not all sunshine and roses while they do it.
That's some crazy shiit! So what happens if you tell them no? I had to be searched when I flew with DS but that's because I forgot to take out his liquid stuff and put it through security. But just a pat down search was all it was. They were very nice and professional about it all too (this did not happen at/near your airport fyi).
I understand they have to search people - but STRIP search?! Unless they do the regular search and it feels like you got a gun strapped to your leg, then hell no.
"We like nothing better than buffing our Zygoma. And imagining a horny time traveling long overcoat purple scarf wearing super sleuth nordic legend fuck fantasy. Get to work on that, internet." Benedict Cumberbatch
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The alternative is realizing that absolutely nothing that the TSA is currently doing makes us any safer at all.
When was the last time the TSA caught a terrorist on his way to a flight? Disrupted a terrorist plot? I'll tell you - in 12 years, the answer is zero. The TSA has NEVER stopped terrorists in its entire existence. And it has spent billions of dollars in the meantime.
Exactly. They've never caught one which is why there has been a huge public outcry that they aren't doing enough. It's become more of a public relations issue than a safety one.
Quesera, racial profiling will not help decrease terrorism.
The "underwear bomber" was a black African.
Mark Fidel Kools (re-christened Ason Akbar) was a black American from California.
Jose Padilla was a Latino Chicagoan.
Do you know who Lisa Halaby is? She's not a terrorist, but she is a Muslim.
And if we're talking about terrorists, don't leave this guy out.
or this guy.
Now, how does racial profiling help, again, exactly?
From what I just read on Tsa's blog they don't strip search. It isn't a policy for them. So whomever did it screwed up according to Tsa's blog. So I would start complaining.
https://blog.tsa.gov/2011/12/clarification-on-screening-of-three.html
"Since we blogged last weekend about a passenger's screening experience at JFK International Airport, some additional concerns have been raised. We want to clarify a few things but first and foremost, we wanted to ensure our readers understand this:
Her basis would be her constitutional right against unreasonable search and seizure.
40/112
This is total BS. The TSA is unconstitutional period. It is the world we live in because people like you think that anyone with a badge can do illegal things. She should speak up. If everyone who was treated badly did, things would change.
And yes, they should only search likely suspects. I don't think that means racially. It would be like someone randomly searching your home for drugs. The police don't do that without a warrant and without good reason. They also don't just search for drugs based on race. The same should go for the TSA, FFS!
No. Nobody has said they aren't doing enough. The outcry is that what they're doing doesn't work.
Exactly. It is stupid.
This is absolutely not the case. The alternative is to train our TSA agents to look for behaviors and expressions that are suspicious and to investigate those... not to randomly strip search our senior citizens. This would be significantly more effective than random searches and would allow innocent people to leave their clothes on! This is absolutely practical, but it costs a lot more to train a person to look for suspicious behavior than it does to just teach them how to grope others and purchase equipment that can look through people's clothes.
So why don't we just spend a few extra bucks? Because why spend those extra bucks when you can LOOK like you're doing something effective (even though you're not), and convince people it's necessary and reasonable (even though strip searching 60 year old women based off of proven faulty hand swabs is obviously not!) , when you can keep those extra bucks for advertising/pocketing?
I don't think putting their hands on her crotch counts as "just doing their job".
Then again, the Nazis were "just following orders".
Wait....what?
Unable to even.
********************
You don't understand the appeal of Benedict Cumberbatch / think he's fug / don't know who he is? WATCH SHERLOCK. Until you do, your negative opinion of him will not be taken seriously.
Before all of these regulations were put into place it was all 'how did this happen', 'who let these people in' blah blah blah. I realize this board is a very liberal place but lets not forget how much sway the republicans had at the time.
Heater, you misunderstood me about racial profiling. I was in no way advocating that nor do I think it does anything to decrease terrorism.
What pearl clutching? And I didn't say drug testing. I think random anything is unconstitutional, but that is another thread. I referenced the police coming around to people's homes and saying, "Hey it's time to do our random drug search, let us in." That does not happen and it would not be okay. Randomly patting people down just to get on an airplane is in the same category.
ITA. the responses would probably be different if it was 'my hippie brother failed the hand swab and was searched.'