X-ray backscatter security scanners

[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.

[Mr. Bloom]

Since I've got no special needs or issues, I've got no problem with the security. While I recognize that some find offense in the "pat down" alternative, I'm guessing that after a couple of hours of it, it's as unpleasant for the "patter" as it is the "pattee".

I'm glad that I'm not a TSA agent:

• No upside
• No gratitude
• Heavily regimented
• Stressful monotony
• Stereotypes galor

I'm glad we have the TSA...I'm sorry we have a world that requires a TSA.

I hate flying for plenty of reasons...but security is no where near the top of my list

[Jolt]

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.

I just got back from a couple of job interviews that I had to fly to...didn't have to go through the scanner or get patted down at all. I did initially get picked to go through the scanner in Boston but they were kind of backed up so they ended up just sending me through the regular metal detector. Then on the way back I was flying out of Duluth, MN which has a very small airport that doesn't even have the scanner. Those small airports are kind of nice...not so much crowding and chaos, and it doesn't take forever to get to the gate!

[OakLeaf]

More:

http://motherjones.com/blue-marble/2...rport-scanners

[sundial]

Oak, the article that you posted certainly raises more questions than answers. Like many here, I don't have a desire to fly--especially now that I have new hardware. What is alarming to me is this gradual desensitization of the masses to the whims of questionable security measures. What you see is not unlike how the Jews were searched prior to being sent to the camps in Nazi Germany. It has sunk that low.

[Crankin]

I still won't stop flying, but I wonder what the profile is for who gets scanned.
We flew from Logan to San Diego and back. DH got scanned both times and I was waved through.
He definitely looks "Semitic" and I got the Aryan genes.

[sundial]

Crankin, from what I've read from first hand accounts it seems that you will be TSA'd if you are 1) handicapped 2) elderly 3) woman. Arabs rarely get patted down, possibly due in part to their Sharia Law.

[TsPoet]

I still won't stop flying, but I wonder what the profile is for who gets scanned.
We flew from Logan to San Diego and back. DH got scanned both times and I was waved through.
He definitely looks "Semitic" and I got the Aryan genes.

that doesn't make any sense. I fly a lot - the lanes where you will and won't get scanned are labeled, all you have to do is move over. He must have been standing in different lines than you.
That's in the 5-6 airports in which I've flown over the last few years with the scanners.

[Crankin]

Nope, we were standing in the same line. I was behind him. He was motioned to stand in front of the scanner and when I was about to step forward, the agent waved over to the other line, to go through the regular thing. They do this all of the time at Logan and it seems rather arbitrary.
It also happened in San Diego.

[shootingstar]

I find this strange and interesting for U.S. domestic flights, the pat down.

I haven't had a pat down since 9-1-1. Or ever in my life. And I have flown since that time, well over 15 different flights with 6 flights outside of Canada into the U.S. and Europe.

I fly at least once per yr.

[NbyNW]

Last winter/spring I (and everyone taking flights to the US) was routinely getting patted down or scanned at the Edmonton airport. Seems to have eased off of late, and I have no idea why.

[channlluv]

My husband, daughter and I are flying to Oahu in a couple of weeks. I'm terrified of the pat down procedure, but I'm more scared of the radiation from the machines. I've called the TSA to ask for other options and was assured by the guy on the phone that they're not doing this to upset me - thanks - but I had a weeping anxiety attack as I sat there on the phone with him telling me I had no choice in the matter. I could either submit myself to physically dangerous radiation (skin cancer history), or to the psychologically dangerous enhanced pat down (rape and molestation survivor).

I even wrote a message to the White House about it today, but I doubt it will be taken seriously. I wrote to Barbara Boxer a few months ago and got a "thank you for your letter but there's nothing I can do for you" response.

My daughter is only 13. Except for me, the only people to even see her naked in the last ten years are her doctor and the other women changing at the Y pool locker room. She's shy about getting naked in front of people, but if everyone's doing it, it's not as big a deal. To my knowledge, there has been no touching of any kind for her.

So do we have to have an amendment to this no touching rule? Do we have to include random TSA agents?

I'm really hoping we get to just walk through the regular scanners.


What should we wear?
Knot, did the lycra thing work out well for you?
If I wear a dress, they can't check a waistband, but how far up do they go with their hands?

Can I insist on them changing their gloves before patting me down?

Any other suggestions for getting through this with a minimum of psychological trauma?

Thanks,
Roxy

[Biciclista]

wearing bike stuff does help because it's form-fitting. I really feel for you, but i have no good news because so far whenever they've been challenged, authorities are coming to the sides of TSA (like making that 90 year old woman take off her depends!!!!)
your daughter will be fine. She isn't going to see what they are seeing. And if you're lucky you will all just cruise on through there like I did the last time I flew (October, 2010)