Passengers are complaining about TSA's "enhanced" pat downs. One male passenger at the Ft. Lauderdale airport reported that the screener, "put his hands between my underwear and my skin, you know and did a 360 all the way around touching certain sensitive points in the back and in the front."
This photo in the Denver Post sums up what the pat-down is like.
Passengers who opt out of the whole body scanner, either a millimeter wave machine or the potentially dangerous X-ray scanner, are patted down. One X-ray specialist at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine said, "They say the risk is minimal, but statistically someone is going to get skin cancer from these X-rays." Some passengers have described the alternatives to the scans, the "enhanced" pat-downs like being "molested."
This TSA warning sign was designed by Oleg Volk. It's a fair warning.
This TSA warning sign was designed by Oleg Volk. It's a fair warning.
I think there is one question not currently being generally asked that would make politicians and the airline industry wake up: "Do current screening practices make you less likely to fly?" I know business travelers don't have a choice, but as a leisure traveler, I rarely choose air travel any more. I find myself less likely to take weekend trips by plane because of the current state of hassles and delays. I choose to travel by train or car to someplace closer, instead of flying.
ReplyDeleteA lot of people are opting out of flying, especially with this insane new policy. I won't fly anymore, I'd rather take the train or bus. Might take longer, but they're nice rides.
ReplyDeleteAnother question is the relationship between former Dept. of Homeland Security Head Michael Chertoff and Rapiscan, the company making the scanners.
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