TSA Confiscates Pregnant Woman's Insulin, Ice Packs

from the how-nice-of-them dept

Mon, Aug 8th 2011 8:42am — Mike Masnick

DogBoy alerts us to the latest in customer service niceties from your friendly TSA agents. A pregnant woman, travelling alone via Denver International Airport, had her insulin and ice packs confiscated after TSA agents claimed they were a threat. The items were properly labeled and the woman had the requisite doctor's note. When asked why they were doing this, the TSA agent claimed that such things were "a risk":

"He's like, 'Well, you're a risk.' I'm like, 'Excuse me?' And he's like, 'This is a risk ... I can't tell you why again. But this is at risk for explosives,'� the woman said.

In typical TSA denial fashion, it has issued an apology... while also suggesting the woman is lying:

�We talked to all of our people and they didn�t touch her insulin," said TSA spokeswoman Pat Ahlstrom.

Ahlstrom said ice packs are only allowed if they�re completely frozen and the woman�s were not.

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Filed Under: insulin, tsa

103 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2011 @ 8:53am

They need the ice packs for all the black eyes they're getting when groping children.
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AL, 8 Aug 2011 @ 8:56am

Ice, well erm.. melts?
Nice to know that they keep freezers at the checkin desks just to cope with this sort of terrorist sneakyness, whew -- crises averted!
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A Dan (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 8:56am

Recording
Of course, they don't want to allow recordings, because then you could prove what they did and did not say. I wish everyone would record their trips through security.
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2011 @ 9:00am

"Ahlstrom said ice packs are only allowed if they�re completely frozen and the woman�s were not."

Last time I checked Ice melts when its not in a freezer. Maybe physics/chemistry works differently for the TSA (Think these full body scanners give off no radiation...because we say so)
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That Anonymous Coward (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 9:02am

"�We talked to all of our people and they didn�t touch her insulin," said TSA spokeswoman Pat Ahlstrom. "

Because we have no cameras like we claimed in the past.

We do not have a problem with TSA agents stealing things, because we asked them and they said they wouldn't steal.

They are all honest and upright and never abuse their position in any way.

While I'd like to believe the woman and vilify the TSA, there is a huge gap in the story here.
More telling is a quote from her, that she managed to hide and sneak some insulin in anyways.

The bigger story is we are now screwing with medical supplies to avoid terrorists, and that is fing stupid.
Just when you think it can't get any more stupid... they find a way.

How far is to far, until the American people say WTF were we thinking and stop having a knee jerk reaction to we have to do this because of terrorism.
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known coward, 8 Aug 2011 @ 9:05am

but but
The terrorists are just going to pack their explosives into properly labelled insulin vials.

If you are going to have security theatre, if you are not going to do it right, why bother doing it at all.
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2011 @ 9:08am

I wish there were better statistics on this. I know there are clearly reported examples of things going wrong. I haven't flown or been in an airport in a while so maybe things have changed but I sometimes feel that although bad things are happening with TSA, could it be a mis represented sample of loud speakerS?

But is it really only a bad few of TSA agents(scattered around the world or USA) that have issues with travelers? Are they misrepresenting TSA as a whole?

I can't imagine that ALL TSA agents are hardened assholes about everything with a know it all attitude. Ive personally had fairly positive experience going through checkouts and stuff with no problems of myself and others. Including patient and understanding agents when someone didn't know what to do or did something wrong.
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John Doe, 8 Aug 2011 @ 9:09am

I feel safer now...
I will sleep a lot better and feel a lot safer now that I know diabetic terrorists will not be allowed to fly.
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The Devil's Coachman (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 9:10am

TSA sucks donkey bungholes, violently!
What a bunch of lying sacks of shit are at the TSA! Has a goddamned one of those shit-bags ever told the truth even once in their entire lives? Yeah, I didn't think so either. There's a special place in hell for the POS that committed this crime against humanity, and he should also serve some serious time in a SuperMax being some body builder's shower toy before he gets there. I hope they all burn in hell! Their typical response to every accusation against them is that the accuser is lying. They invented lying, or re-invented it, as far as I'm concerned. Douche bags and scum buckets, the lot of them! I will never, ever fly anywhere as long as these goons govern the airways. They make the Gestapo look like rank punks.
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AG Wright (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 9:10am

Defective
The woman must have gotten defective ice. You know the kind that melts.
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nelsoncruz (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 9:12am

Who is the bigger threat here?
If the woman has type 1 diabetes, it's potentially life threatening to go without insulin for many hours! So who is the bigger threat here? The woman or TSA?
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RzITex, 8 Aug 2011 @ 9:19am

Say What
Though shall not die from a lack of insulin while in the custody of federal agents, which have perfected a way of keeping ice frozen without the means of an external cooler, in the presence of no record-capable audio or video devices before attempting to get shot at by a broad aim of radiation while carrying an unborn baby inside of you.?

Its been a while since I've chiseled stone, but I think I'm gunna need a week for this one.
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2011 @ 9:22am

Re:
I flew recently. On a one way ticket. Usually I get scrutinized on a one way. They guy in front of me was having trouble getting in the proper position for the body scanner so they just called me aside and let me go through the metal detector and not the scanner.
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Chronno S. Trigger (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 9:24am

Re:
Don't compare those who were wronged with those who weren't. Compare those who were wronged against terrorists caught.

So we have:
Public citizens violated: 3 (that I can think of off the top of my head)
Terrorists caught by the TSA: 0 (the two that were caught by citizens didn't go threw a TSA checkpoint, so technically wouldn't count against the TSA)
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The eejit (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 9:24am

Re: TSA sucks donkey bungholes, violently!
I did. Then I got fired for being too honest.
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2011 @ 9:33am

Re:
What did you expect from high school dropouts?
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2011 @ 9:35am

Re:
"I can't imagine that ALL TSA agents are hardened assholes about everything with a know it all attitude."

They're all assholes. Every last one of them. If they weren't, they wouldn't be supporting terrorism by working for the TSA. (I trust you're intelligent enough to grasp why the TSA was one huge Christmas present to Al Queda; I'm sure even in their wildest dreams that they couldn't dare hope it would work out so well for them.)
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Trails (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 9:36am

A rule too far
"Ahlstrom said ice packs are only allowed if they�re completely frozen and the woman�s were not after 20 minutes of begging for her life-saving insulin back"

Fixed that for you.
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Mark C., 8 Aug 2011 @ 9:42am

In the past week I've gone through TSA security with two vials of insulin, in an ice pack container (blue plastic thing you freeze then put in an outer insulated pouch for travel) at Chicago O'Hare, Houston Intercontinental, Lambert-St. Louis and a small regional airport where I live.

Zero problem each time. I told them I had it, they looked it over, keep moving. Wonder whether this is just a left hand/right hand deal or if there's more to the story.
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2011 @ 9:45am

yea since whatever TSA people say is the undeniable truth. TSA PR people must all be like those morons from that crappy movie where nobody had heard of lying before. Get a clue idiots your TSA workers are lying.
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2011 @ 9:47am

I flew via southwest in and out of St. Louis/Lambert and Fort Myers International last week and didn't have a problem with TSA. No one was using the naked scanners and no one was getting groped.

It was kinda nice.
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2011 @ 9:48am

Re:
Mark, considering the woman is all proud of "sneaking" some on board, I am guessing that a background check would find her as part of some sort of activist group or public whining committee. The story is stupid beyond understanding, and no TSA agent would take someone's medicine away from them. That is just incredibly stupid.

Now, if she showed up with unlabeled vials, a melted ice pack, and so on, I would say that she might be setting them up to Fail. No doubt if she got on board with it, she would be crowing about how she snuck potential bomb making material past the TSA.

Sounds like one of those "anti security theater" types that Mike loves so much.
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Overcast (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 9:50am

Tyrannic Sexual Abusers - at work 'protecting'... something.

Certainly not protecting the citizens.
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mike allen (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 9:50am

I am glad this woman did not die but one day someone will, at the hands of a bunch of hard hearted kiddie fiddlers torturous job worth idiots.
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Overcast (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 9:52am

Re: Who is the bigger threat here?
If the woman has type 1 diabetes, it's potentially life threatening to go without insulin for many hours! So who is the bigger threat here? The woman or TSA?

It depends:

If you are talking in terms of reality - the TSA is *obviously* the bigger threat.

But in today's cesspool of a world, the media and government spin would indicate that the pregnant woman was the threat.
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Joe Publius (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 9:54am

Re: Re:
Usually I don't but,

Sounds like one of those "people trying to get on a plane to go somewhere" types that Mike loves so much.

FTFY
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Overcast (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 9:55am

Sad part of this whole thing is - ANY terrorist with ANY sense in his/her head would avoid the airlines like a plague.

Not only is it 'old news', but with the focus on the TSA and the failing airlines, it would quickly be clear that another target will likely be woefully unprotected.

The TSA claims to be there for our 'safety' - yet, they even fail at that.
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2011 @ 10:05am

I hate the idea of defending the TSA but....
take the vial of properly labeled insulin or bottled water and replace it with something like ammonium hydroxide also clear and will burn your lungs or better yet one member of your team carries on chemical one and the other 3 members carry on chemicals 2,3 and 4, together they make a toxic gas or flammable material. hence the ban on containers like water and colostomy bags. don't forget the adult diapers it could be a bomb. its all in the name of Just in case.

Flying is a privilege not a right. take a train/drive or call ahead and research the screening procedures.
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2011 @ 10:13am

Re:
I've never had any serious issues either as an insulin carrying diabetic. They often ask about my ice pack, and occasionally swab it, but I think they've opened the pack about 5% of the time. Most of the time they don't care and 1/2 the time it's thawed when I go through.
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Chris Rhodes (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 10:15am

Re:
take the vial of properly labeled insulin or bottled water and replace it with something like ammonium hydroxide also clear and will burn your lungs or better yet one member of your team carries on chemical one and the other 3 members carry on chemicals 2,3 and 4, together they make a toxic gas or flammable material.

Funny how they don't actually ban all liquids and gels, isn't it? I wonder how many poisonous gasses capable of killing an entire plane of people you could make with just the containers in one small ziplock bag.

Flying is a privilege not a right. take a train

The TSA is starting in on trains and buses too. Keep burying your head in the sand in the name of keeping your magic tiger rock, though. I'm sure it will all turn out well in the end as long as you keep yourself in a constant state of fear.
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Dlkj2, 8 Aug 2011 @ 10:20am

Re: Who is the bigger threat here?
IANAL, but wouldn't confiscating insulin from someone who needs it medically be a criminal offense? Knowingly taking it would (I assume) mean that you knowingly put someone at risk of dieing or at the least cause a serious medical issue.
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Bill, 8 Aug 2011 @ 10:24am

Sounds a little fishy to me.
I've been type 1 for a long time and haven't had any problems getting through security. In fact when they discover I have sharps they often move me to the front of the line.

I'm surprised she would even need an ice pack. I never use them. Most insulin only requires refrigeration while in long term storage. Once you start using a vial or pen you no longer need to keep cold. It's fine as long as it stays at room temp. Assuming you'll use it up in the next week or 2.

Not defending the TSA goons. They're all drunk on their power trip.
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Chris ODonnell (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 10:27am

She asked 7NEWS not to use her name for fear of retaliation for speaking out.

Then later in the article.

"It made me feel upset and made me feel somewhat helpless," said the woman's husband, Aaron Nieman.

Oops.

My wife is a Type I diabetic. She has had a TSA agent take her insulin vials from her, hold them up to a light, shake them, and then look at them as though he could tell anything from doing that, and them return them, having somehow magically ascertained that it was just insulin.

Security Theater indeed.
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Marc Stewart, 8 Aug 2011 @ 10:29am

Really?
Ok the ice packs were ridiculous, but her insulin? What if something happened and she needed it? Seriously America needs to grow up and realize how stupid these extra precautions really are.
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ComputerAddict (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 10:34am

" I wonder how many poisonous gasses capable of killing an entire plane of people you could make with just the containers in one small ziplock bag."
Probably a lot, which is why the restriction is useless, and annoying.
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The Devil's Coachman (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 10:38am

Re: Re: Who is the bigger threat here?
They're the TSA, and according to them, they're doing God's work, and thus are not subject to the laws that the rest of us mere mortal civilians are. They are the law! And the law is what they say it is! No more, and no less. If you don't believe them, then go ask Humpty Dumpty. That is your last avenue of appeal.
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DogBreath, 8 Aug 2011 @ 10:39am

Re:
Flying is a privilege not a right.

49 U.S.C. � 40103 : US Code - Section 40103: Sovereignty and use of airspace
(2) A citizen of the United States has a public right of transit through the navigable airspace.
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2011 @ 10:43am

Re: Re:
Careful, if you crawl out any further on that limb it might break.
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2011 @ 10:44am

TSA = The Stupid Assholes
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The eejit (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 10:50am

Re: Re:
If she's carrying insulin, it's because it's prescribed.

But no, Fuck the Poor, she doesn't deserve to live, andf all that jazz.
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Joe Publius (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 10:51am

Re: Re: Re:
Anti-Security Theater People-lover!

Wow that's gonna be an awkward term in future discussions.
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DogBreath, 8 Aug 2011 @ 10:52am

Re: Re:
But I'm sure that someone will say that US Code means that unless you can afford your own plane, or you are originally from Krypton (and therefor can fly without one), or have access to a really big slingshot, no airline has to take you anywhere.
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ltlw0lf (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 10:53am

Re: Re:
the two that were caught by citizens didn't go threw a TSA checkpoint, so technically wouldn't count against the TSA

The two who were caught, as well as the dozen or more other people causing problems aboard airplanes were caught by the people the TSA likes to abuse. I believe the TSA is just upset that the general public is better at catching terrorists than they are, and are dishing out some retribution.
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2011 @ 10:54am

Re: Re:
Even assuming they were 'set up to Fail' why would it be ok if they failed?
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2011 @ 10:56am

Re: Re: Re:
eejit, sorry, but this is where you are wrong.

Carrying something that looks like insulin isn't proof that it was prescribed, nor is it proof of what it really is. You are making the simple mistake that can cost lives.

There is no "fuck the poor she deserves to die", that is you own hyperbole bullshit that proves you don't have any good argument here.

The TSA said they didn't take her insulin, they only took her unfrozen (and therefore useless) jelpacks.

She also claims to have smuggled stuff on board. She sounds like a truly credible, law abiding citizen, right?
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Robert M, 8 Aug 2011 @ 10:59am

Re:
Same here... I've traveled with insulin, needles, finger lancets, with and without ice packs with no problems at all - as long as you "declare" them at the security check. There must be something we're not hearing about this one.
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2011 @ 10:59am

When reach for comment the TSA said they were trying out this new thing were they just make-up new rules to suit the situation at hand because they saw The US Department of Justice do it.
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Bob, 8 Aug 2011 @ 11:05am

Re: Sounds a little fishy to me.
I agree - with today's insulin compounds, the vials are good for at least 25 days at room temp. Not sure why she'd need the ice unless she's packing 6 months worth of liquids - and in that case I WOULD want TSA to look closer at her meds.
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2011 @ 11:05am

Re: Re: Re:
"You are making the simple mistake that can cost lives."

Lose the 4th amendment or people will die!
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ltlw0lf (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 11:07am

Re: Re: Re:
no airline has to take you anywhere

No airline has to take you anywhere...unless they want to lose their common carrier status. Sure, they can deny transportation to legal travelers, but if they do so, then they deserve no federal funds, no access to public terminals, and no subsidies on fuel and right-of-way. They can load and unload at a private terminal, pay full price for their jet-fuel, and we don't have to bail them out when they go out of business.
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Rikuo (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 11:17am

Re:
TSA are already screening passengers at train stations and bus depots. What form of transportation am I allowed to take now? Is a train a right or a privilege?
Do us a favour please. If you should ever meet this woman, doubtful I know, but if you do, look her in the eye and say that you honestly, 100 percent, feel safer now that the TSA take away her medication. Or do the same if you meet the old grandmothers who have cancer, and are told to hold up completely non-functional arms. Or those who have liver cancer, whose urine bags are deliberately burst open and thus have to literally sit through a flight with ruined trousers.

Thanks to the TSA, I have decided I am never travelling to the U.S.A. That's my tourism dollars you'll never see. There was even an in-depth article in a national newspaper a couple days ago about this problem.
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MGM, 8 Aug 2011 @ 11:19am

What should have happened:
"Ma'am, please step to the side." "May we call your physician to confirm this medication?" Confirmed. "Ma'am, let me walk you to the flight and hand this to the attendant. In the event you need this in flight you can obtain a dose from the attendant." "They will be able to pass your medication back to you at the end of the flight. Would this be acceptable to you?" ABSO-FREAKING-LUTELY!
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2011 @ 11:22am

Taking Ice away from a potential bomb?!!!
Okay so say it is a bomb disguised as medicine... don't you think taking the ice away from it could be catastrophic. MORONS! Talk about about idiocy blowing up in your own face.
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Killercool (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 11:23am

Re: Re: Re: Re:
Following this delightful logic, I came up with some more links for the TSA Fail Chain.

Carrying something that looks like a prescription isn't proof that it was written by a doctor, nor is it proof of what it really is. You are making the simple mistake that can cost lives.

Carrying something that looks like a medical degree isn't proof that someone is a doctor, nor is it proof of what it really is. You are making the simple mistake that can cost lives.

Et cetera, ad nauseum.
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ak, 8 Aug 2011 @ 11:39am

Re:
sure you did. not sure how is it relevant here - its like implying since i didnt die in a traffic accident today, there must be no fatal traffic accidents.
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David Liu (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 11:42am

Re: Ice, well erm.. melts?
I don't even understand it. What's the point of allowing ice to pass through but not liquids? Do they not know that ice melts and turns INTO liquids?
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jonvaljon, 8 Aug 2011 @ 11:45am

Re: Re:
based on no evedince except your un-expert opinion. Good detective work. I hear the TSA is in great need of people with your cognitive abilities.
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DogBreath, 8 Aug 2011 @ 11:52am

Re: Re: Re: Re:
But because the airlines are "to big to fail" (read: owned by banks), instead of all that, the Government will just issue a 10% off coupon for a pair of Superman or Supergirl Underoos to every citizen of the U.S. and say "problem solved". And if we still can't fly they'll say it's not their problem if we weren't born with superpowers, a rich relative, or a Member of Congress with a taxpayer paid for "private" government jet.
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bt garner, 8 Aug 2011 @ 11:59am

Re:
If it were anything but insulin, the small bottle would have blown up in the TSA agent's hands! Next time you see a TSA agent, ask if they are available for doing tricks at kid's parties .. .it's a magical experience.
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JBDragon, 8 Aug 2011 @ 12:06pm

Re:
How is Melted Ice more Dangerous then Frozen Ice? It's WATER. So now H2O is a Explosive?!?!?! I hope I don't blow up just sitting here.
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Gabriel Tane (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 12:09pm

Re: Re: Re: Re:
"Carrying something that looks like insulin isn't proof that it was prescribed"
You're right... that's what the doctor's note she had was for.
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Gabriel Tane (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 12:11pm

Good thing we're stopping terrorism...
Key part of terrorism... "terror".

"�I�ve traveled like this for a ton of my life. And now I�m scared to death," she said." - the lady getting on the plane
Nuff said.
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Bt Garner (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 12:16pm

Re: What should have happened:
This would not be acceptable. Traveling by air is stressful enough, especially for a diabetic if you have to dine on airport food (unknown carbs). I have been on international flights where I have checked my bG 10 times, and dosed up at least 4 times (thank goodness at the time I was on inhaled insulin and not injectable). In such a case having to find the right flight attendant for my medicine in unreasonable.

Besides, would not this all start falling under the ADA?
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2011 @ 12:30pm

Re:
Your reasoning is mostly correct: any sensible terrorist would avoid airPLANES, not necessarily airLINES.

After all, that crowd of people busy either (a) sexually assaulting passengers (b) stealing passenger belongings (c) being sexually assaulted (d) having their property stolen is large, stationary and predictable. Very tempting target, wouldn't you say?

Of course the gibbering baboons at the TSA like to pretend that because -- putatively -- they've made the airplanes safe, that airline travel is safe.

But it's not. Nothing has changed except that the addition of cockpit doors has made it much less likely that a plane will be used as a weapon. But that does nothing to protect the passengers, who, in the TSA's security model, are expendable whether in the air or on the ground.
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Chosen Reject (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 12:31pm

Re: Re:
I've been hit in the face with a water balloon and with a chunk of ice. Unless it's coming out of a fire hose, I'd prefer the melted ice any day.
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Chosen Reject (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 12:43pm

Re: Re: Re: Re:
She also claims to have smuggled stuff on board. She sounds like a truly credible, law abiding citizen, right?

TSA agents have stolen a lot of stuff, molested children and the elderly, broke colostomy and urostomy bags, forced a woman to remove her prosthetic breast, lied about the amount of radiation the scanners use, lied about whether the machines can even store pictures, etc. I don't consider them credible at all. I don't have any reason to consider this lady less credible just because she didn't want to have the TSA go through her stuff.
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pixelpusher220 (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 12:46pm

Re: Re: Who is the bigger threat here?
Hey now, she was clearly smuggling a 'potential' terrorist onto a plane!
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DCL, 8 Aug 2011 @ 1:06pm

Re:
Wrong.. any intelligent terrorist would continue to try the airlines AND MAKE SURE TO GET caught on the plane!

Sample Headlines...
Some type of explosive blows up plane in flight.. 300 people died. (this one is all sad and makes people angry)
vs
A terrorist was stopped trying to light a bomb hidden in their padded bra. (this one causes half the flying population to either get a more intrusive groping or to stop wearing bras on board)
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BeeAitch (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 1:24pm

Re: Re:
WHOOSH!!

That was the sound of the point going over your head.

The point is that it is all NOTHING BUT THEATER if they aren't even using the equipment all the time. The TSA (and ICE, DOJ, the government in general) KNOWS the equipment is useless as far as stopping terrorism goes.
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Prof Andy, 8 Aug 2011 @ 1:44pm

Re:
> Flying is a privilege not a right.
> take a train/drive or
> call ahead and research the screening procedures.

All the means of travel you suggested are "privileges." You can be searched getting on a train. Your car can be searched while you are driving.

As for calling ahead, that will result in someone who doesn't care lying to you.

--Prof Andy
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Prof Andy, 8 Aug 2011 @ 1:47pm

Re: Re: Who is the bigger threat here?
> IANAL, but wouldn't confiscating insulin from
> someone who needs it medically be a criminal
> offense? Knowingly taking it would (I assume)
> mean that you knowingly put someone at risk
> of dieing or at the least cause a serious
> medical issue.

As a Type 1 Diabetic, I consider it attempted murder.

--Prof Andy
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RecycledElectrons (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 1:54pm

Re: Re: Ice, well erm.. melts?
Eplosives are commonly liquids or gels. (I have a hunch that) freezing them would screw up their explosive properties, even after they thawed.

Therefore, frozen gel packs are allowed. Thawed gel packs are not.

Yes, it's absurd.
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2011 @ 1:56pm

Re: Re:
(a) Sovereignty and Public Right of Transit.--
(1) The United States Government has exclusive sovereignty of airspace of the United States.
(2) A citizen of the United States has a public right of transit through the navigable airspace.

you forgot this part....

(b) Use of Airspace.--(1) The Administrator may modify or revoke an assignment when required in the public interest.

hence its a privilege not a right irregardless of the wording.
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fb39ca4 (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 2:02pm

Why do ice packs need to be fully frozen?
You could always freeze some liquid explosive, what difference does it make if the thing is fully frozen or not?
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2011 @ 2:08pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Wow, talk about taking something to an extreme just to be an idiot.

Read closely: The TSA didn't take her insulin. They may have CHECKED her insulin, but they didn't take it. However, they did take her useless unfrozen gel pack things.

Just because you show up at the gate with prescription medication in your hand does not mean that you have it lawfully, or that it is even what the label claims it to be. There are plenty of Oxycontin addicts out there that can come up with all sorts of reasons why they have a bunch of pills under someone else's name.

So, would you like to take another swing at it there slugger, or are you willing to admit that you just sort of jumped all over something because you don't like the truth?
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2011 @ 2:15pm

Re:
"I can't imagine that ALL TSA agents are hardened assholes about everything with a know it all attitude."

The TSA should not exist at all. It doesn't matter how many "bad apples" there are when the apple tree is tearing up the foundations of your house.
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Joe Publius (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 2:22pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Read the article too. She said that the TSA did take her insulin, it's just that they didn't take all of it because of how they searched her bag.

Now I guess you can boil this down to She Said, They Said, but I don't see right now how one is more trustworthy than the other, especially considering the TSA tactics of just following orders now and evading later.
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Casey Mahoney, 8 Aug 2011 @ 2:30pm

Crazy
TSA Like that should be fired.They are worried about people bringing items on a plane.Some normal person can go nuts on a plane and cause a huge scene.

I think the lady should of brought a doctors note to backup her claim
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Jeffrey Nonken (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 2:53pm

Dangerous liquid confiscated
Today the TSA caught a woman trying to smuggle nearly 10 gallons of liquid aboard a commercial jetliner. The liquid was confiscated; the woman's dessicated remains were permitted to continue on the flight with no further delays.
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blaktron (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 2:55pm

Re: Re: Re: Re:
Since when is the TSA authoritative over the DEA? If anything, flying with unprescribed insulin is a DEA issue, not a TSA one.
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blaktron (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 2:57pm

Re: Re: Re:
Taken one step farther, if a pregnant diabetic just trying to get on a plane can easily set up the TSA to fail, while smuggling contraband on board, why would you possibly put your safety in this ineffective groups hands?
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Jeffrey Nonken (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 2:58pm

Re: Crazy
"I think the lady should of brought a doctors note to backup her claim"

Please go back and read the rest of article:

"The items were properly labeled and the woman had the requisite doctor's note."
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ltlw0lf (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 3:04pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
But because the airlines are "to big to fail" (read: owned by banks)

Way too cynical for my blood...I'm out.
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JMT (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 3:09pm

Re: Re: Re: Re:
"She also claims to have smuggled stuff on board. She sounds like a truly credible, law abiding citizen, right?"

Given the choice between keeping my potentially life-saving medication or being accused of being a non-credible, law breaking citizen by an anonymous commenter on the internet, I'd go with keeping the medication...
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Jeffrey Nonken (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 3:14pm

Re: Re:
She had everything clearly labeled and she had a doctor's note. Obviously the ONLY reason she could have been there was as a set-up to embarrass the TSA and give Mike Masnick something to write in his blog.

Because, you know, the TSA doesn't do enough crappy things as it is, so Mike needs help finding material. And because activists cannot possibly have legitimate medical conditions.
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JMT (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 3:15pm

Re:
The shaking is to test for volatile explosives. If it doesn't explode, it's safe!
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JMT (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 3:21pm

Re: Re: Re: Ice, well erm.. melts?
"Therefore, frozen gel packs are allowed. Thawed gel packs are not."

Gel packs don't "freeze" during normal use, i.e. in a typical home freezer. That's kinda the point of them.
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John Fenderson (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 4:06pm

Re: What should have happened:
I don't know what scares me more: the TSA, or people who would find this procedure absolutely acceptable.

Wait, I lied. The latter is more terrifying. Not to take anything away from the TSA, they're still right up there, well above the official terrorists.
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FuzzyDuck, 8 Aug 2011 @ 4:34pm

Re: Re: Re: Re:
She also claims to have smuggled stuff on board. She sounds like a truly credible, law abiding citizen, right?

She merely said that they didn't find 1 vial that she had somewhere else. If the TSA took all your other insulin, and that 1 vial could save your life, no person in their right mind would then tell those TSA a*holes they still had 1 vial.

And since even according to the TSA insulin is allowed, it wasn't illegal for her to carry it on a plane.
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The Old Fella, 8 Aug 2011 @ 4:45pm

Abide by the Law????
Just because a government makes a law, this does not mean that the law is good. For example, the slavery laws of the confederate south, or the race laws of nazi germany(related to the jews and gypsys), or the religious laws of sharia islam (related to kill the infidels), or the race laws found in countries in africa (you're not of my tribe then you're dead meat). These kinds of laws when judged against the highest moral law show how evil laws can come into existence and it is then up to the individual to choose whether one obeys these or the higher moral law.

Most of man-made law is a quicksand of control. As I teach my children, the only thing that is truly yours is free-will and the only right is that you have the ability and the responsibility to make a choice. After looking at this for many years, it is obvious to me (at least) that men and women in power try to take away your right to choose. God Almighty himself has made it plain that he will not take away your right to choose but also makes it plain that the responsibility of the consequences of your choices is also yours.

Be of good cheer, live long and choose well.
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Any Mouse (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 4:51pm

Re: Re: Re: Re:
'The items were properly labeled and the woman had the requisite doctor's note.'

So, either you didn't read the article, or you just like to argue. I'll let the crowd decide which it is.
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Chargone (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 6:05pm

Re: Say What
as summaries go, that's pretty good...

as 'what the FUCK is wrong with you?!' moments go, for the TSA, that one's pretty high up the list.
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nelsoncruz (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 6:22pm

Re: Re: Re: Who is the bigger threat here?
Yes, perhaps it was one of those "anchor babies" that where talked about sometime ago. xD
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Trails (profile), 8 Aug 2011 @ 6:32pm

Expected reduction
Anti-Security Theater People-lover is too awkward. The shills will no doubt need a pejorative term for people opposed to security theatre:
Anti-Security Theater Tard
AntiSecTheaTard
Astheatard

You saw it here first folks!
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DogBreath, 8 Aug 2011 @ 7:48pm

Re: Re: Re:
hence its a privilege not a right irregardless of the wording.

And if Martial Law is declared, your rights are modified and/or revoked by an "administrator" when required in the "public interest". Sure, there is a line between rights and privlidges, but that line gets thinner and thinner every day.

The real difference between rights and privileges these days? Privileges are what they allow you to do, and rights are what the cop reads to you, as he is arresting you for filming them.

Based on the way people in the U.S. get treated by their own government officials and those they empower to act on their behalf, I'd have to say that the same thing applies to the U.S. Constitutions Bill of Rights, irregardless of the wording.
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DogBreath, 8 Aug 2011 @ 7:56pm

Re: Re: Sounds a little fishy to me.
Some folks at other sites have mentioned she was flying to Phoenix, AZ (as in = Hot, not room temp) and she would rather error on the side of caution by not losing her lifesaving meds to some airport/airline delay.
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earthshoes, 8 Aug 2011 @ 9:23pm

Re:
The thing is, she'd flown many times before with her insulin without a problem. Further more TSA has a policy concerning the transportation of insulin that includes the size of the bottle, how many they can carry, and a required doctor's note--all of which she complied with. By the time this was an issue she'd already paid for her ticket. At that point she did have a right to expect to fly. This was someone's massive screw up.

And if that isn't enough to make you rethink what you just said--then there's the fact that they MISSED the bottle in the bottom of her lunch bag, allowing her to get on board with her nail polish, hair spray, and syringes (with needles).
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Anonymous Coward, 9 Aug 2011 @ 7:51am

Re: Re: Re: Re:
BINGO and why the privilege to bear arms is so important.
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Craig (profile), 9 Aug 2011 @ 7:53am

Talk is cheap
I read lots of comments that bitch and moan about all the crap handed to you by the TSA and your government, but that's it. It's not going to change until people start to actually do something about it.

We can all jump on the TSA and vilify them (rightly so IMO) but that's not going to make any changes. People have to do something, so get off the comment threads and start writing letters to your elected representatives. If that doesn't work, then you will have to organize rallies to demonstrate your collective disgust over what the TSA does. And you have to keep the protests real and under control. As soon as windows start breaking and the riot police show up, you've lost all credibility.

Bottom line is put up or shut up.
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Neuralburn, 9 Aug 2011 @ 8:40am

Re:
Oh yeah that movie, aka every movie ever where someone is framed for something stupid.
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quarterhorsgirl, 6 Sep 2011 @ 12:52pm

Re: Re:
I take offense at that remark. Not every high school drop out has a choice or doesn't go on to complete their education, much less is any less of a hard worker than graduates. Most likely most of them work harder since nothing has ever been easier. Don't judge all high school dropouts and we won't judge all you graduates!
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Parema, 15 Sep 2011 @ 4:53pm

DUH... Ice packs melt dumb asses... poor lady.
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American, 15 Sep 2011 @ 8:48pm

What a perfect example of a fascist
You are vile. Leave my country, your pathetic choice of the illusion of safety over the reality of freedom is repugnant to all Americans.
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