TSA Decides The Path To Flight Safety Runs Through A Passenger's Prosthetic Leg

from the TSA:-where-the-'A'-stands-for-'Assholes' dept

Tue, Sep 11th 2018 9:43am — Tim Cushing

Apparently, the intensive training [waits for laughter to subside] TSA agents receive before hitting security checkpoints sends them the message that the more humiliating the search is for the passenger, the safer our skies are. TSA agents can find cash, but not bombs. They can find water bottles, but not weapons. And they can damn sure search the hell out of anyone with a medical condition because those citizens are the most terroristic citizens of all.

Here's the TSA getting into a wrestling match with a 19-year-old woman with a brain tumor on her way to treatment. Here's the thuggish agency searching a three-year-old with a rare cardiovascular disorder. Here are the boys in airport blue splattering the contents of a urostomy bag all over themselves and the person wearing it. Here's the thin blue line between us and air insecurity deciding a portable defib carried by an 85-year-old must be a bomb. Here's the agency deciding agents' inability to read a card informing them about breast implants' ability to set off scanners -- handed to them by a breast cancer patient -- is just part of the TSA's proper screening processes.

And here we are now, recoiling in disgust as yet another person is humiliated and invasively searched because their body didn't fit the profile of "non-terrorist." (h/t Amy Alkon)

Heather Bowser says she travels several times a year and this is the first time she was asked to go through this type of security procedure.

[..]

She was at the Minneapolis/ St.Paul International Airport when she said she was told agents would have to swab the top part of her prosthetic leg. “They swabbed the bottom of my leg and my hands,” Bowser said. “Then they said they needed to swab the top of my socket.”

She said she told the agent no. "I said if you have to swab the top of my leg that means I have to take my pants down and I don’t want to do that,” Bowser said. “That’s part of my body. I felt that was dehumanizing.”

Under threat of arrest, Bowser complied. The TSA agents actually told her she could be arrested for their stupidity. Since they couldn't wrap their minds around the concept that a prosthetic leg is just a necessary prosthesis, rather than a weapon of plane destruction, Bowser was forced to comply with their stupid, futile "search" or face losing her liberty on top of her dignity.

Bowser has filed a complaint with the TSA's redress black hole. Meanwhile, the agency has released a defensive statement ahead of the "proper procedures were followed" statement due to arrive sometime in the near future.

TSA is aware of an allegation made by a passenger who was screened at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport over the weekend. We are looking into the matter to ensure that our screening protocols were followed. We encourage the passenger to reach out to TSA so we can work with her directly to address her concerns.

Loosely translated, the statement says two things. First, the agency will say all protocols were followed. We know this because that's the conclusion it's reached in every other screening debacle. Second, it says the TSA would prefer humiliated victims of TSA searches file complaints that can be ignored, rather than force it confront its failures in public.

Revel in your air safety, fellow Americans. All it's cost us is our freedoms and dignity.

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Filed Under: 4th amendment, heather bowser, pat downs, prosthetics, searches, security theater, tsa

45 Comments

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Anonymous Anonymous Coward (profile), 11 Sep 2018 @ 9:27am

The All Star Team
I imagine that there are some prerequisites for TSA agents hiring. Here's what I think they might be:
- Failed application for some other law enforcement agency
- Turned down by private security
- Psychological profile expressing sadistic tendencies
- Low IQ score
- Expressed desire to associate with people you learn to hate
Then the managers need these additional qualifications:
- Stubbornness
- The ability to lie with a straight face
- Proactive demonstration of behavior toeing the company line
- Poor listening skills
What more could TSA ask for in an organization committed to harassing the populace without messing up any terrorists plans, they missed the bombs after all.
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That One Guy (profile), 11 Sep 2018 @ 10:04am

'Your concerns are groundless. Our agents NEVER make mistakes.'
We encourage the passenger to reach out to TSA so we can work with her directly to address her concerns.

Whereas I'd encourage them to reach out to news agencies, journalists, basically anyone who might be interested in that sort of story, making it as public as possible. The odds of them getting any sort of actual redress would still be low, but it would sure as hell be higher than the odds of the TSA admitting to being mindless thugs again, and if you're not going to get an admission of guilt then the least you can do is leave a little egg on the other party's face.
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John85851 (profile), 11 Sep 2018 @ 10:07am

Occam's Razor
All thing being equal, which is more likely: that a 3 year-old has a cardiovascular disorder and this lady actually needs a prosthetic limb to let her live her life or both of these people are dangerous terrorists looking to smuggle bombs onto a plane.

If you immediately jumped to the conclusion that both of them are terrorists in disguise trying to sneak past security, then you too should join the TSA!
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Sep 2018 @ 10:14am

Re: Occam's Razor

which is more likely: that ... both of these people are dangerous terrorists

All these checkpoints at airports and other places... have any ever caught a terrorist?
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This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it

Mohammad Nadir Shaikh, 11 Sep 2018 @ 10:18am

Security
Crown Security Agency has been providing the security services in Mumbai for last 20 years. For more information please feel free to visit our website or call us at 810-810-7804.
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That Anonymous Coward (profile), 11 Sep 2018 @ 10:21am

The only way we will see TSA reform is to force Congress to lose their special lines & treatment, not allow the computer to alert them its a Congress person.

Our leaders are so detached from reality b/c they live in a bubble where they don't have to suffer the stupid laws they impose on us.

If they had to live like a regular person... someone might punch Pai in the face after having to deal with 'normal' comcast support.
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That One Guy (profile), 11 Sep 2018 @ 10:25am

Re: Re: Occam's Razor
None that I'm aware of, which funnily enough highlights how little they actually do for the public.

That they can be so abysmal at their stated job and yet we still don't have planes going off like fireworks in the skies on a weekly basis just highlights how much of a useless waste of money and resources the agency is.
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DOlz, 11 Sep 2018 @ 10:43am

Re: Re: Re: Occam's Razor
Person one: I have a card that protects me from a tiger attack.

Person two: There aren’t any tigers within a thousand miles of us and they're in a zoo.

Person one: True, but I’ve never been attacked by a tiger so the card is working.
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crade (profile), 11 Sep 2018 @ 10:46am

Don't worry, we looked into your complaint and it wasn't a mistake or a one off, it's out policy and we did it on purpose.
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That One Guy (profile), 11 Sep 2018 @ 10:57am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Occam's Razor
Strange, I thought tiger repellent came in rock form. New advances in the tech?
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Sok Puppette (profile), 11 Sep 2018 @ 10:58am

If you're going to search everything that could be a bomb, then you do indeed have to search a prosthetic leg. There's a lot of dead space in there that could be used for explosives. A person with a prosthetic is as likely to be carrying a bomb as anybody else, and if that person happens to want to carry one, then anyplace that's guaranteed to be unsearched is an obvious place to put it.

The mistake is in thinking that it does any good to search everything that could be a bomb in the first place. The whole exercise is pointless.
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Sep 2018 @ 11:21am

Re: The All Star Team
Last I read many years ago, TSA agents had over a 100% turnover rate (meaning the average TSA agent works for less then a year before quitting/being fired), and many made close to minimum wage. So yeah, you can see why such conditions would breed incompetent security.

Based on some quick googling the salary part no longer seems to be true, but the average salary still seems rather low to me.
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Sep 2018 @ 11:38am

Re: Security
I'm sorry Mr. Shaikh, but I most make use of the wonderful community downvote feature to flag this post.
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Sep 2018 @ 11:41am

yet again we can blame the politicians and courts for allowing this type of behavior to be conducted WHILE GIVING THOSE CARRYING OUT THE BEHAVIOR TOTAL IMMUNITY TO ANY SORT OF REDRESS SORT BY THE 'VICTIMS'!! how in God's name is this making air travel safer by any stretch of the imagination?
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David, 11 Sep 2018 @ 11:45am

Have I missed the memo?

Revel in your air safety, fellow Americans. All it's cost us is our freedoms and dignity.

Uh, wouldn't there have to be a delivery before reveling in it could start?

If not, I have a bridge to sell you.
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Sep 2018 @ 11:57am

I see Rocket Raccoon now works for the TSA.
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Sep 2018 @ 12:04pm

Re:
They have their own very special health care and their own very special retirement package. Aren't they special?
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Ninja (profile), 11 Sep 2018 @ 12:30pm

"Revel in your air safety, fellow Americans. All it's cost us is our freedoms and dignity."

I'll FIFY.

Revel in your pseudo air safety, fellow Americans. All it's cost us is our freedoms and dignity.
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Sep 2018 @ 12:31pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Occam's Razor
Well rocks ruined the lines of those sharp suites worn by the powerful, so they tried cards and found that they worked just as well.
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FedUpPassenger, 11 Sep 2018 @ 12:52pm

TSA - Let's play Simon Says!
Good afternoon TSA kiddies, we're here to play a game of Simon Says...

Are you all excited that you get to play a game instead of your so-called jobs?

(Empty-headed-head-nods abound unanimously)

Okay, here goes.

Hold your breath!

ah-ah-ah - Johnny 12, I didn't say Simon Says - go hang yourself.

Simon-Says Hold your breath!

Okay, that's it folks, thanks for playing.

Anyone that stops holding their breath must also go hang themselves, because Simon is never going to tell them to breath again.
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James Burkhardt (profile), 11 Sep 2018 @ 1:02pm

Re: Re:
Actually, that first part isn't true. They get a reimbursement for healthcare premiums to buy plans on the open market because republicans tried claiming democrats wouldn't buy their plans through Obamacare.

These premiums are in line with the heathcare compensation provided to employees in corporate headquarters of large companies. This benefit is provided to all the other staffers in congress as well.

Just because your job doesn't provide healthcare doesn't mean it wasn't and isn't an expected benefit in many areas.
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Sep 2018 @ 2:37pm

Enhanced pat downs
I wear an insulin pump and a blood glucose sensor... This gets me the enhanced pat down every time.
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Sep 2018 @ 2:40pm

We are looking into the matter to ensure that our screening protocols were followed.

They've already failed comprehension. I'm pretty sure her reason for complaint wasn't that their agents weren't following protocol, but that the protocol itself is broken/too easy to missunderstand/abuse and needs to be fixed.
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Sep 2018 @ 2:42pm

Re: Re: Re:
Interesting. I did not know that, must be new. Regardless, they get better care than the rest of us and I doubt they have huge deductibles, some are 5k - 10k per fiscal year, like most corporate minions. And I doubt they have to contribute anything from their paycheck.

People need health care, they do not need insurance. Insurance is a middleman skimming off the top and providing little to no benefit. The negotiating lower premiums for large groups is one of their talking points, but that whole method of price determination is completely arbitrary. Dont have their crappy insurance? .. you will pay more. Prices are not based upon anything.
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ECA (profile), 11 Sep 2018 @ 5:04pm

Re: The All Star Team
PLUS..
its a gov. job, spread over many locations..
and not enough in 1 spot, to get a union going..
The Wages are CRAP..but it better then Mc D..
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Sep 2018 @ 6:05pm

Re:
No you can blame the sheeple who allowed the politicians to run rough shod over them .
They who can give up essential Liberty to obtain a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.

You asked for it now you got it
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Angry Ferret, 11 Sep 2018 @ 6:20pm

Re: Revel in your air safety...
We didn't exactly vote for DHS and TSA. After the 9/11 attacks our elected officials rushed these changes through without our consent. And when exactly have we had the chance to unwind these departments? The government will see to it that we never get the opportunity. Your statement is insulting and ignores the countless lawsuits and endless FOIA requests that have been filed. The very story you commented on is itself a voice of opposition to these agencies. Stop acting as if we had a choice and be thankful there are victims and lawyers willing to challenge these vile institutions. Aside from slinging condescending insults from your safe space, what have YOU done to change the status quo? Be the change you want to see or GTFO...
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Roger W, 11 Sep 2018 @ 9:37pm

Re: Occam's Razor
Well, I'm pretty sure we can use Baye's theory here.

And arrive quickly at the conclusion that because positives are so much vastly less common than negatives, if someone is positively identified as a threat, it is at least 99.99% likely that they are not a threat.

Which is a step up from the "we haven't screened you" 99.9999% likelihood I suppose.
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Sep 2018 @ 10:28pm

Re: Re: Revel in your air safety...
Aside from slinging condescending insults from your safe space, what have YOU done to change the status quo? Be the change you want to see or GTFO...

And what the fuck have you done other than just that?
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Sep 2018 @ 10:34pm

I have flown once since 09-11-01. They took my pen knife and made me drink some Gatorade. As I live and breathe I will never fly a commercial airline again, ever.
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Sep 2018 @ 10:34pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Occam's Razor
Haven't you heard?

Paper (card) beats rock!
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That One Guy (profile), 12 Sep 2018 @ 12:15am

Re: Re: Re: Revel in your air safety...
Funny, if you're the person who left the 'it's your fault' comment above I'd ask you the same thing. Other than blaming others for things they didn't in fact ask for, what have you done about the matter?
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Charles Elliott, 12 Sep 2018 @ 2:32am

Re: Re: Re: Occam's Razor
There goal isn't protection. It's a feeling of "safety". The TSA is put in place to make us feel safer, and avoid a national panic. That's all they do
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That One Guy (profile), 12 Sep 2018 @ 3:04am

On paper maybe. According to them and in practice however...
Somehow I suspect that, were you to ask those on the receiving end of treatment like what's described in the article 'safe' would not be on the list of 'How does the TSA make you feel?'
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Anonymous Coward, 12 Sep 2018 @ 8:04am

What I wish could be said
Looking the TSA agent(s) straight in the eyes and saying "Arrest me asshole"......
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Anonymous Coward, 12 Sep 2018 @ 8:55am

Re: On paper maybe. According to them and in practice however...
Their annual budget is nearly $7.6 billion. If we spent that on road traffic safety instead—not theater, but redesigning to avoid/mitigate collisions—we'd probably save thousands of lives every year. There are effectively 11 9/11s annually on American roads (33,000 deaths), and near 0 deaths from terrorism.
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That Anonymous Coward (profile), 12 Sep 2018 @ 9:27am

Re:
Note no one has any problem with imagining Pai getting punched in the face.
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me, 12 Sep 2018 @ 10:00am

what they should have done
is beat the agents to death with the leg. They and ICE need disbanding yesterday.
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That One Guy (profile), 12 Sep 2018 @ 2:37pm

Re: Re:
I do, as tempting as I could understand it being, thanks to a mix of believing that violence should be the last resort, and because it would allow him to play the victim card and use it to claim that those that don't agree with him are obviously deranged and violent, and therefore not worth paying attention to.
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Anonymous Coward, 12 Sep 2018 @ 2:38pm

You know how people joke about how security guards were too dumb to be cops? TSA agents were too dumb to be security guards.
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Smartassicus the Roman, 12 Sep 2018 @ 7:45pm

Just Say No
If you deliberately walk into a disintegration booth knowing what's coming you can't bitch about it afterward.
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Smartassicus the Roman, 12 Sep 2018 @ 7:47pm

Re:
TSA are too dumb do be prison guards. Trust me. I have a real life example in the family. Nobody talks to it, either.
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EFF fan, 13 Sep 2018 @ 9:22am

Papers, please
It still astounds me that John Gilmore lost his court fight for anonimity (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilmore_v._Gonzales) and that the USA joined the USSR as a "papers please" society.
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EFF fan, 13 Sep 2018 @ 9:27am

Re: Papers, please
With all of the leaks over the last 11 years, it's also surprising that we STILL haven't seen the Security Directive which requires identity cards (unless I'm mistaken?). Secret laws are another meme the USA has adopted from the USSR, it seems.
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Erin B Mullin, 28 Dec 2018 @ 10:25am

Re:
If you understood the structure of a prosthetic leg you would know that the “dead space” you speak of does not exist. Even it were a fake prosthesis for purposes of smuggling, the “dead space” would have to be in the lower portion. I have been forced twice recently to pull my pants down to expose the socket of the prosthesis. The socket can clearly be felt through the pant leg so I don’t know what the purpose was other than to leave me feeling violated.
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