When I worked in a library, we had a quandary about what the “last” name was of Edna St. Vincent Millay, lol.
I do think there is radomness and the TSA agent apologized to my husband as we were going through precheck and pointed to the counter on the metal detector and said when it changes color they search whomever cane through and she said sometimes it triggers 4 times in a row and sometimes it doesn’t trigger for hours. I don’t know if she was telling the truth but it seemed like an elaborate apology. But a wand, a quick frisk and the hand wipe is not being hurt like the OP is stating. If anyone got near my crotch let alone touch or hurt me, I would probably complain.
Curious, but what would happen if I yelled? Not super loud, but enough to draw attention? Like if I get a shot that really hurts
I can’t help,thinking about all those gals at UHC where the so called GYN fingered them, or the Olympic gals.
Friend just got Global Entry. Your driver’s license, social security card, and pass port ALL have to have same name on them. So no “I used middle name on passport and maiden name as middle on DL”. Same with social security card.
It will be interesting to use Global Entry on our overseas trip in a couple of months. I hope it helps!
@bookworm–If you yelled? Might land on youtube! Or nothing most likely.
Part of the crowd would say “poor you and SO glad it’s not me because all I want to do is get on my plane” and the rest probably figure you’re the first person ever that TSA actually caught with anything and aren’t we SO happy and glad that we are finally safe from old ladies/men".
What you should do though if you have a more than a “normal” negative experience is immediately get the name of the agent and request a comment card right then. Don’t do it on-line like I did. Just requesting the card is an instant response. At least it tells that agent you aren’t happy with your treatment. And from many sites it’s suggested to have someone video any screening. You can’t legally video the x-ray machines or any of that inspection part but it is legal to video in a direction away from them.
It’s true they offer private screening–my thought is that if employees are doing things out of line I want the world to see it. It shouldn’t need to be behind closed doors. Too many sheep already.
And what about all your belongings you’ve already sent through while being “extra” screened (if you aren’t traveling with friends who’ll gather up your stuff)? Your purse, wallet, passport, keys? Nobody is in charge of that. Not their job.
It’s just sitting there. Free for the taking. Hope everybody behind you (and the other TSA agents) are honest people. So let them pat you down so you can watch your stuff too. It’ll distract you from the fourth amendment.
Let it go, for your piece of mind. Unless you think you have evidence that he/she did it to others as well. I know it is hard, but I seriously doubt anyone will try to get anyone just for fun. If you can’t do it, persist on checking the video, tweet to your congressman, and use all communication means to keep the matter alive. Trust me they will be listening and you would have helped a bigger cause.
Have you thought about writing to your state representatives? I know it will not make an immediate impact (or likely any impact at all), but if more members of the public voice their concerns, maybe someone will make better training for the TSA their cause. Fat chance, but would not hurt to at least vent.
PSA–
Starting January 22, 2018, passengers with a driver’s license issued by a state that is still not compliant with the REAL ID Act (and has not been granted an extension) will need to show an alternative form of acceptable identification for domestic air travel to board their flight.
Real ID Public FAQs | Homeland Security
https://www.dhs.gov/real-id-public-faqs
So if you’re from one of those states that had a problem with federal id’s (at least 27–more than half)–you now may need a passport to fly within the US.
There are other forms of ID but most of us may only have a passport as an alternative (military ID works as an example Naturally).
Some states got extensions through OCT '18 to get in compliance–then your drivers license needs to have certain things built in to be “compliant” but for right now you can still travel with your DL.
Technically, my DL, passport, and SS card do match. But when I moved to this state, they filed me under the first initial of my maiden name, as if I were hypenating.
Rodham Clinton, Hillary. She’s not hyphenated, either. IF the ticket had said the equivalent of Clinton, Hillary Rodham, I would have been fine.
I was actually walked to a separate space or room for my check. That was scary, wondering if I would end up in trouble and alone.
I filed a complaint one time about the TSA employee who checked my son’s ID before going through security. At the time, he was 16. About 6 feet tall. He had been diagnosed with an illness that required a lot of meds, and I wanted to make sure he got through security without incident. So the airline gave me a pass to accompany him to the gate.
We got up to the TSA desk. The woman very pointedly took a long look at him and then a long look at me. She frowned and proceeded to shake her head NO the entire time she was examining our IDs and boarding passes. I explained why I was accompanying him, and she just kept shaking her head NO. I was so mad. She had no idea what my son had been through, and I had the proper pass to go with him! So I filed a report when I returned, but of course I never heard anything back.
lookingforward–“I was actually walked to a separate space or room for my check. That was scary, wondering if I would end up in trouble and alone”
Most likely they just needed a private space to sort out specifics and get away from others so they could hear and you could talk freely without interruption.
But you have the right to record the conversation. It’s not a private conversation.
In my case, one separate space was near the gates, people passing by. Friendly gal. In the others, I was walked quite a distance away from anything. A long enough walk that I wondered about making that leg.
What I’m agreeing on is that we don’t really know what to do.
@MaineLonghorn --post 50
Question: “Why are you mad about the experience?”
In no way do I mean to be flippant.
I KNOW why you are mad as both mom and caregiver. I’d be furious.
But it’s not an easy answer.
Did the agent really do something wrong?
Did the action keep us “safer”?
Was it “I don’t deserve to be treated like this”?
Wait a minute–I’ve got rights? Don’t remember what they are?
@lookingforward --the fact that you’re even weighing options is not a good sign.
@gouf78 Thanks, but for me, it’s now in the past. My concern here (other than my anecdote about the booking name) is the aggression you suffered. It’s troubling. The context may be security (I think we all get that.) But a karate chop, not.
Extended again. This has been going on since 2005.
Last I know is Oct 2018–anything further?
I see you don’t need a REAL ID until 2020, per Massachusetts.
I guess i will have a problem getting global entry. Oddly, my SS Card has my first name spelled incorrectly on it. I do have a letter from SS with all of my “alias” names…so maybe that will suffice.
My passport and DL are exactly the same. So is my Medicare card. So are my letters from SS. It’s just the card that is…wrong.
Funny I never noticed it until I was applying for SS. It had to be someone else’s typo when doing data entry…because really…I DO know how to spell my own name!
Back to TSA. My husband is randomly selected every single time we fly…every time. We can’t figure it out. He has also been selected for the random carryon bag search at the gate…and that really is a PITA because they basically dump your suitcase out…search everything…and then had you a pile of stuff to repack…all in a heap.