A TSA agent in Austin physically assaulted me when doing a “hip to knee” search after being randomly selected from a TSA PRECHECK line…still looking at my options. I’d love to sue. But I know the expense.
This was a “random” search–no reason to suspect me of anything–no bells, no whistles, nada. I’d already gone through screening. I’ll admit I wasn’t happy–I didn’t go pre check to get abused or delayed.
The TSA agent was “I don’t want any attitude”…okay. That is a quote. I’m NOT happy granted–who would be? But I’m NOT a criminal. I’m someone who had precheck and already been cleared. Pat me down and go. Check me off. Kleenex in my pockets seemed a crime to her.
I was basically karate chopped between the legs. I hurt for an hour afterwards. No joke.
Not being able to haul back and land her a good one was most frustrating. Nobody would have convicted me if I had.
I immediately filed a complaint (after looking up some options on the internet) but I also know those go nowhere.
Now after reading other stories I see that I should have had someone videotape me. I could have asked for a police officer to be present. ( Wow. Now we need police presence? I didn’t know it had gotten this bad). I did know better than to do a “private room”.
It’s on some security tape I’m sure but my surprise and anger probably didn’t translate.
I need to start a # TSA Me Too movement. I know I’m not the only one.
I found quite a few cases on the internet and finally someone just this past Fall won a case in court.
I’ve never had anything like this happen before. Most every TSA search in the past has been frustrating to some degree but everyone to this point has stayed professional.
Not that they should have been doing ANY search at all but at least it was more inconvenience than lawsuit worthy.
I’d rather get over it than pursue it but this was so egregious that I’m having a hard time letting it go.
I’d sue for physical assault or better yet --one good satisfying free punch back.
I guess the question to me is why are you “frustrated” and “not happy” when they are just doing their job. You where probably the 1000th person that day to be frustrated and not happy with the search. That attitude probably didn’t help things and it was probably more aggressive then it should have been. They have a crappy job. I’d go in with a smile next time. Just my $.02. Good luck.
No one, certainly not me. But I smile and do whatever it takes to get out of there quickly, and I know how crappy their job is and try not to be “that person”.
What is a karate chop? I had the pat-down thing recently and the TSA officer used the back of her hands to do that search. She told me what she was doing each step of the way.
Did you have some kind of altercation first? Or she just karate chopped you out of nowhere? It’s not clear to me what happened between the two of you.
Oops, I thought I had posted a comment, but it’s not here.
Honestly, I don’t think a “hip to knee” search sounds random. It sounds like it could enable bad TSA agents too, like the ones who were fired for groping men’s genitals.
And here they say they’re allowed to do more “intense” screening, but say that it is to catch firearms, which would be caught by the metal detector that we all have to walk through.
I’d run it by an attorney. There is no reason for that attitude or the physicality of the way you were searched.
I have been pulled out of precheck several times (most at Ft. Lauderdale airport and irs always been to scan my hands. Don’t know what there looking for except maybe gun residue.
Funny…I flew back from Austin recently and I did not have TSA Pre. After I went through the x Ray detector thingy, I was pulled over so they could check my right leg knee to ankle. Only that.
I wasn’t even wearing socks…so I’m not sure what they expected to find.
I agree with going to twitter…and posting what happened.
I would love to know why the have to touch you at all unless there is some suspicious something between the baggage check and the scanners especially with pre-check but my H got the touch treatment in April when I was with him. The TSA said it was random and indicated on the scanner every x amount of people.
The fancy scanner always flags my groin as suspicious, leading to a thorough patdown of that area. I personally think the whole TSA thing is worthless security theater, but it’s not like the TSA agents have any more say in it (or enjoyment of it) than I do.
I get the feeling that @gouf78 Is complaining of much more than a pat down in the genital area. Using the words “karate chop” and complaining that she “hurt for an hour afterwards” sounds like definite excessive force and it sounds intentional. If I am reading this wrong, please clarify.
I would definitely report it and use social media. I would also consider contacting some form of media perhaps? Did you get this TSA agents name or badge number perchance?
request the video as the entire area is under surveillance
go to flyer talk forums because they have a whole area devoted to the excesses of the TSA. You need to file a complaint that will probably not be noticed but it is one step of several
Yes, file an official complaint and make noise on social media.
FWIW I always get patted down despite precheck. I have fake parts and so must go thru the body scanner and there is always some kind of lump that requires patting, usually around my ankles, but sometimes on my back.
Wow, if some unqualified, ill-trained thug in a position of unearned, undeserved authority (basically, that’s what the TSA is) did that to me, I would definitely demand the tape (and yes, it’s there) and talk to the ACLU. And as much as I hate the bullying side of social media, this is an ethically right choice for something like this. You could spare others from the same disgusting behavior by going as public as possible. But I completely understand if you don’t want to, and I’m really sorry this happened to you. It’s wrong.
I have opted for a personal pat down all the time before we got Global Entry and now get precheck. I have never had an agent harm me ir he anything but professional.
It does sound like you were treated very badly and gave cause for complaint. I would file a firmal written complaint, including complaining to the airlines you were flying on, as different ones gave different lines and agents.
I have never had an agent not to give me attitude and don’t understand what that would be about.
This is not unheard of, my girlfriend said she was assualted by TSA, and I remember last year Angela Rye, a tv commentator posted a video of what she get was an aggressive pat down. Lord knows I’ve had my issues with TSA and their need to touch the hair of Black women.
The TSA people always ‘inspect’ my hair if I go through wearing glasses. My hair is thick and I think the frame behind my ear doesn’t scan well. I try to remember to take the glasses off but if I forget I always get pulled aside.
I have witnessed at least a couple of times a TSA agent pawing through the hair of a black woman. Last time, they did it even though the stupid microwave device did not indicate anything was there! I was waiting for my stuff to re-emerge from the X-ray machine and saw it. Despicable.