X-ray backscatter security scanners

[KnottedYet]

Did the TSA thing yesterday.

The pat-down was no problem at all. Standard pat-down just with a lot more detailed verbal explanation before each touch, and attention to the legs than usual.

The poopy part was the "Opt Out" 3-ring circus.

I was directed to the x-ray backscatter, and politely said I couldn't do it. (I did not offer to display my collection of cancer scars, but I was ready to.)

Dude running the metal detector and backscatter in my lane hollered out "WE HAVE AN OPT OUT" and that got repeated up and down the 5 lanes that were running. "SHUT DOWN THE BELT. WE HAVE AN OPT OUT."

They directed me to stand right where I was, shut down the x-ray belt my stuff was on, the TSA folks on the lanes either side of me made all the passengers pick up their stuff from my lane and duck under the lane dividers and get into new lanes, all the while saying "I'm sorry, we have to start you over because there's an Opt Out in your lane." One woman glared at me as she struggled to carry 2 bins of stuff and fold over double to duck under the divider. I told her I was sorry.

I felt like sh*t.

It took a couple minutes before a female TSA agent could come get me. She removed my stuff from the stopped belt (wouldn't let me carry it) and brought me over to the pat-down area. Once I was removed from the lane, they started the belt up and let passengers enter the lane again.

After the pat-down, I asked her what I could do in the future to prevent an entire lane from being shut-down and other passengers behind me having to pick up their stuff and move to new lanes. She told me there really wasn't anything else, and that I was fine.

Some airports I've been in have the special needs lanes/slow lanes at the TSA check point. I think in future I'll just go straight to that lane (if there is one) to avoid the total lane shut-down I cause just by asking for the frisking option.

[emily_in_nc]

Oh wow, that's too bad, Knott. I think they should just have an "opt out" lane. Maybe in time they will as it would be much more efficient for everyone.

[sundial]

"I'm sorry, we have to start you over because there's an Opt Out in your lane."

You know, I think they purposely make you feel embarrassed as punishment for not going through their porn tube. There are so many filed complaints of passengers who were belittled for opting out. I'm glad that you stood your ground and did the opt out and that your pat down was conducted in a professional manner.

Excellent source of information and links for filing a formal complaint against TSA:
http://wewontfly.com/

There's a class action lawsuit that's been filed against TSA. Hopefully it will result in the removal of the gropers and scanners from our airports.

[OakLeaf]

You know, I think they purposely make you feel embarrassed as punishment for not going through their porn tube.

I agree, and that's nothing new. It's the same reason elderly people, particularly elderly women, have been profiled all along for more intrusive searches.

But that's another thread...

[Cataboo]

I flew out of DC a couple weeks ago - there were machines but they weren't using them. Same with flying out of Fort Lauderdale yesterday.

I would have opted out if they wanted to use one. I find the entire thing ridiculous, especially since the machines can't find anything in cavities or anything - so really... what exactly are these machines doing that a metal detector & some sort of explosive sniffing dog or swiping machine couldn't do? But I love traveling too much to decide not to ever travel again because of them.

Re - motion sickness in cruises - I get motion sick, but most especially when I don't have fresh air or wind - so if I stay on deck on a cruise, I don't have much problems with it. I make sure to get an upper level room because it's down in the bowels of the ship that I really have issues.

[KnottedYet]

My mom had an interesting experience in an x-ray backscatter machine a couple weeks ago.

She has a lot of scar tissue UNDER the skin of her belly from decades of insulin injections. (no visible scars)

The backscatter radiation penetrated below the level of her skin and reflected off those subdermal scars, setting off an alert on my mom. She got a pat-down of her torso before they would let her through.

There's a bit more penetrating radiation in that procedure than we might think.

[Biciclista]

Knot
thanks for starting this thread and sharing your experiences (and those of your mom!!!)
Even though I am not an incest survivor, nor a cancer survivor, I am pretty unhappy about the aspect of getting zapped by their machines as well as getting groped by a man or a woman. I am not sure why I am supposed to be comforted because the groper is guaranteed to be the same sex as me. Why is that less intrusive?
I used to look happily towards my next flying experience, I first flew in 1957 and then intercontinentally in 1964. Sadly, I find myself wanting to avoid ever flying again.

[Becky]

My mom had an interesting experience in an x-ray backscatter machine a couple weeks ago.

She has a lot of scar tissue UNDER the skin of her belly from decades of insulin injections. (no visible scars)

The backscatter radiation penetrated below the level of her skin and reflected off those subdermal scars, setting off an alert on my mom. She got a pat-down of her torso before they would let her through.

There's a bit more penetrating radiation in that procedure than we might think.

Wow.....I never considered the scar tissue thing (and I have plenty). I guess it's just as well that my insulin pump can't go through a backscatter machine. Either way, I'm getting a pat-down :/

[jessmarimba]

Every time I fly out of Richmond (which has the wave mm machines) I end up with a secondary pat-down of my torso because of an "anomaly." Well, the machine isn't supposed to be able to penetrate skin, but the patdown always begins in the area of my back hardware.

I don't trust these things! But I can't avoid flying, either

[Owlie]

Is it bad that I'm half hoping I don't get an interview at one of the schools I'm applying to because I'd have to fly? I hated it before the backscatter machines/"enhanced pat-downs" were introduced.