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The Spectacle Blog

TSA: Hassling Passengers in the Name of Security

By Doug Bandow on 3.19.09 @ 7:47PM

Anyone who travels recognizes that much of what goes on in the name of airport security is designed to demonstrate activity rather than ensure safety. Show your boarding pass as you enter the security line and again as you pass through the metal detector. Boy, that makes sense!

TSA has resurrected the awful random searches of passengers at the gates as they board the aircraft. Reports the Associated Press:

Although the TSA follows a "risk-based approach" when adding security measures, TSA spokeswoman Lara Uselding told the Associated Press that the move to restore random gate checks developed "as the agency evolved," not because of a specific threat. The TSA collects intelligence from the FBI as well as state, local and national government agencies when forming new procedures.

...

Uselding said letters were sent to airlines last week informing them of the security change, although the new gate screening procedures have been in place for a couple of months. She would not say how many passengers or employees have been randomly stopped at gates, or how that figure has changed in recent years.

Because passengers at a certain gate are screened does not mean there is a specific threat to a particular plane, Uselding said.

She said signs at gates inform passengers that screening may occur. Uselding acknowledged that some passengers may see additional screening after a comprehensive search at a security checkpoint as unnecessary or annoying.

"Everything we do here at TSA is for a reason, it's not made to make travelers' lives a hassle," she said.

These random checks were perhaps the worst, most inconvenient measures instituted after September 11. They presumed that the rest of the security system had failed and meant that even after you had passed through everything else, you still could be pulled aside and forced to stand by as your personal items were spread about for everyone to look at. And experienced travelers attempted to game the system--don't board until the security personnel are busy, try to time your jump into the line to pass by before they would finish with their victim, etc.

If TSA is going to make the traveling experience markedly worse, it should explain what new threats have arisen. Or was it ignoring serious threats in recent years after abandoning the random security checks? What gives?

If the agency can't answer these questions, then it will be apparent that the TSA is again putting appearance before reality. And passengers will again pay the price through increased inconvenience.

View all comments (10) | Leave a comment

JJC| 3.19.09 @ 9:40PM

As a frequent traveler, I will tell you that a highjacking will never happen again-the rules have changed.

Binary explosives are now so small they can be sealed incredibly well and be nearly impossible to find.

If that isn't enough any fool with a SAM in the glide path can do the job, the heat source is so close, so strong, it is a can't miss.

Profiling, good undercover work, alert citizens, border security.

JJC.

wnunis| 3.19.09 @ 10:28PM

I had the unpleasant experience of being "randomly" searched at the gate when I was coming back from reserve duty in Phoenix. I was in uniform and was yanked out for a complete search. No problem; as a military member for the last 24 years I get it; the TSA guys are doing what they are told. As I was removing my boots and emptying every velcro pocket on my uniform a nice lady passenger walked right up to the counter and started giving the TSA ghoul some serious static. Her point was; the guy is in uniform and he showed you his ID so why are you perpetrating this ridiculous exercise? Well the ghoul got pretty worked up and started jawing back. At this point I told the lady that I appreciated her concern, but she was only going to get herself in a bind. She was pretty adamant and the commotion drew a "supervisor". He started giving me some guff and at that point I basically told him he needed to go get someone who knew what they were doing if he was going to pursue this line. The whole thing drew another 5 or 6 folks who started giving the TSA guys even more guff. Finally someone with some sense showed up and after speaking with the original TSA ghoul who was searching me and the woman; she told me to get my stuff and get to the gate. Same with the woman. That whole episode goes to the point that the Israelis tell us about our airport security; it is only intended to inconvenience travelers and not target the population who is more likely to be a hijacker. A guy in an Army uniform with proper ID goes through a "random" search. Real effective use of resources.

When I flew El Al in the 90s when I was on the Multinational Forces and Observers mission, there were 3 of us. Americans with short hair and real obvious. We got pulled by the security and when they saw our MFO IDs they just waved us right through. When the "supervisor" spoke with me I asked him why we were just waved through and several folks behind and in front of us were getting the 25th degree; why were you in Israel, why are you on this flight, why are you going to this final destination; how did you visit or what business did you conduct while in Israel, etc. etc.
He looked at me with a sort of dumbstruck look and said, "Why do I want to waste my time questioning you and your cohorts, when I can clearly see that you guys are US military and by the way when is the last time a US military member tried to hijack an airliner?" Point taken and remembered.

Angel| 3.19.09 @ 10:39PM

Hmmmm, maybe liberals have figured out who the conservatives are in the line. They probably have ACORN and the AFL/CIO working for them now. Wnunis, sorry for your inconvenience and thank you for your service; good for that lady who gave them flack on your behalf. I would have been there with her!

wnunis| 3.19.09 @ 11:30PM

"Hmmmm, maybe liberals have figured out who the conservatives are in the line. They probably have ACORN and the AFL/CIO working for them now. Wnunis, sorry for your inconvenience and thank you for your service; good for that lady who gave them flack on your behalf. I would have been there with her! "

I'm pretty sure there was no intent on the part of the TSA ghouls. It wasn't a major emotional experience for me, because I had plenty of time to get to my flight. I just found it ironic that a guy in uniform was "randomly" searched.

To be fair at the same security checkpoint about 3 months later I was late for my flight in uniform. I came running up to the line and a TSA ghoul saw me sprinting to the line. She asked me what time my flight was leaving and I told her my flight and it was already boarding. She looked at the board and grabbed me and walked me through the line, didn't make me take my boots off or empty my pockets. When I got through she told me to haul my fourth point of contact to my flight so I wouldn't miss it. I guess the point of that episode is it only takes someone with a little common sense to make life easier on travelers. In most cases the TSA folks are only doing what they are told and instructed. That's the problem their guidance is absolutely asinine, but since they are only minions they've got to follow their orders. That' s why I don't get too bent at the guys who are just doing their job.

Angel| 3.19.09 @ 11:50PM

I was just kidding. Dang, you're literal, boy!

wnunis| 3.20.09 @ 10:06AM

Angel, I figured as much. Thanks for your kind words.

Crusader| 3.20.09 @ 10:38AM

"Just following orders/rules" is a lame excuse. The problem we have is we don't teach people to think. There is a rule for everything. If there is no rule for something we just don't do anything until a new rule is made.

L. Ross| 3.20.09 @ 1:08PM

I know that TSA feels like they have to do "something" to improve our safety, but the simple fact is that I can think of a dozen ways to counter all our safety measures in about a minute. Want to make a crude, but effective and sharp knife in under a minute? Break a glass and tape a shard to a stick. Deadly a thousand years ago, and deadly now. At least as effective as a boxcutter, and never will show up on a metal detector. Heck, you could make one after you got through security screening. Don't get me started on the liquids limitations.

Maybe if we just acknowledged the fact that the violence we are trying to prevent is brought upon us by muslims, we could think about focusing our security measures where it could do the most good.

les grossman| 3.20.09 @ 1:40PM

As a staunch Obama opponent, he would nonetheless win lots of points with me if he scrapped the present, Bush-era airport security regime. It is off the charts dumb and has all but killed business travel and travel businesses.

I'm not advocating doing nothing for security, but I do advocate being smart.

I know, I know, its Barack Odumdum we're talking about here, so there isn't much hope for smarter anything.

Crusader| 3.20.09 @ 2:45PM

L Ross, I think you just self-identified as a domestic terrorist. Not to mention you made a politically incorrect comment. So be prepared for muslim sensitivity training at the re-education camp.