Pat-down searches & full body scans

[M V]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3lbnSLalWQ

Enhanced pat-down searches necessary for now - TSA Chief
[QUOTE] Enhanced security pat-downs that have been vilified by travelers as legal groping are here to stay, at least for now, the federal official in charge of transportation security told CNN on Sunday.
John Pistole, the administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, said he understood public discomfort over having a stranger touch the buttocks, breasts and genitals in trying to find possible hidden explosives, but he called the extra screening necessary.
...
Travelers who set off metal detectors at airport security are asked to undergo extra screening. If they refuse to go through an enhanced visual device that shows the body through clothing, they are required to submit to the thorough pat-down in order to fly.
[quote]Airport travelers are being told that the sometimes invasive security measures are not optional once they enter the checkpoint line – and if they refuse the procedure they may be facing a $11 thousand fine.

Choices can be tough, according to the Transportation Security Authority web site that warns people that the choice of a scanner that allows security agents to see images of the naked body or a manual search (or pat down) are part of the choices available, but being searched is not optional.

If a person refuses to be searched, not only are they not going to get on the plane, the site says, but they may find themselves unable to leave the airport and in a face-to-face meeting with law enforcement.

They may also find themselves reaching for their wallets and or being arrested.
Source
[/quote]

John Tyner's exchange with the TSA guy in the youtube video is hilarious : ) but does raise some questions:
- Is this taking security checks too far?
- Faced with the choice of enhanced pat-down or full-body scan, which of the two evils(?) would you prefer? :)

Thoughts? Ideas? It is peak travel time!

[M V]

I encountered the full body pat-down in HongKong or Singapore airport last year. The security woman didn't even give any warning. I didn't even protest or say anything -there is something about those countries airports and stories we read about their jails and justice system, that keeping quiet was easy.

In the U.S., I'd definitely prefer a full body scan. I wonder if all airports are equipped for that, or only few.

[Sid]

Its all a full circle.

We went from naked to clothes, and now slowly getting back to naked.

[returning_indian]

Pat down. If female does it then its best.

Fully body scan, they say is safe. I don't trust modern science, if I have a choice. After few yrs some will come and bring some new science into it. Don't want extra radiation if I can avoid it.
They say they will not store images. But who knows. Don't trust those employees. It is already happening in some instances.

[PeterGriffin]

- Is this taking security checks too far?
[/quote]
Some people prefer cavity checks. Not me!

- Faced with the choice of enhanced pat-down or full-body scan, which of the two evils(?) would you prefer? :)

I prefer pat-down and pat-up preferably by women too! Some bachelors might find it the only opportunity to get some action.

[rajradio]

maybe it is all a scheme, they first do the full body scan and check what you have and then do the pat down. Maybe TSA is taken over by a bunch of pervs. j/k.


I think full body scanner is better, atleast it is faster.

RK

[PeterGriffin]

They say they will not store images. But who knows. Don't trust those employees. It is already happening in some instances.

Are you scared some lady will store your scanned body image and stalk you and harass you? or do you think that they will mistake you for Salman Khan? :) j/k

[M V]

Hate to disappoint the forever-21-and-under crowd, but these are the rules for TSA:

"TSA must provide a same gender Transportation Security Officer (TSO) to carry out an enhanced pat-down on a passenger. Passenger can request for a second same gender TSO to be present. Passengers have a right for this to be done in a in a private room or area out of public view and have a companion, for example - husband/wife or bf/gf, present during this procedure."

With that cleared up, back to the questions:

Are these kind of security check measures needed for overall safety, or is it taking things too far? Both the checks (body scan and enhanced pat-down) seem equally off-putting.

[rajradio]

I think it is completely unnecessary, it is just like the 100ml of water thing that they do now. I havent seen a single sensible evidence that you can make a bomb from 101 ml of contact lens solution.

but TSA and common sense are far removed.

On another note, I lived in atlanta, most of the midtown folk would love same gender pat downs. :wink.

RK

[returning_indian]

I think it is completely unnecessary, it is just like the 100ml of water thing that they do now. I havent seen a single sensible evidence that you can make a bomb from 101 ml of contact lens solution.
RK

Did you forget this case?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/07/terrorists-plot-atlantic-liquid-bombs