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As a few of you know I was in a life changing accident around the beginning of the year that cost me my left leg. Over the past few months I have had my ups and downs with my recovery. As a freelance Network Designer by trade I do a lot of traveling, but until just recently I have not had to fly anywhere. Most of the time I just drive or if needed the Amtrak. (For our overseas readers that is the train.)
Back on August, 5th my husband took me on a vacation/ second honeymoon to the United Kingdom to England and Scotland. When we first arrived at the airport everything when great, we checked in went through the security scanners made our flight to Atlanta International Airport. That’s where everything went to hell. When we got to the International section of the Airport the TSA agents there became both belligerent and obnoxious. The fools can see that I am first using a cane, and second my prosthetic leg. First they tell me I can’t have my cane on board the plane, and then I have to remove my leg so they can search it for contraband.
Now I can see having to put a cane in my luggage, it can be used for a weapon. But why in the world would they need to search my leg for contraband. Now here I am trying to remove my leg while standing up. This is not an easy thing to do. I still haven’t learned everything I need to know about having a prosthetic leg and these jerks don’t even offer me a chair so they can search my leg. They won’t even let my husband give me a hand in getting it off. He had to stand there and was forced watch as these assholes just stood there as I struggled with removing my prosthetic leg. I have always traveled in a skirt and blouse sense I transitioned ten years ago as they are more comfortable. As I was removing my leg I in advent flashed my panties. I have never been more embarrassed in my life.
After we leave the U.S. and arrive in the U.K. I could not believe the deference between the two Agencies. Where in the U.S. they were rude, nasty, and almost vulgar. In the U.K. not only were they polite but also friendly and helpful, they even went so far as to explain why they needed to search my prosthetic leg. I had no idea that people have actually used amputees to smuggle drugs and other illegal substances in their prosthetics.
Now that I know I’ll rent a wheelchair from now for when I fly, because I’m not going to give our TSA agents another free show again. Take my advice ladies and gentlemen. If you don’t have to fly drive to where ever you are going. The American TSA agents are Prevs!
Comments
I think you mean pervs, as in
I think you mean pervs, as in perverts.
As for the cane, this is the first time I've heard them denying the use of a cane on the plane. It's not on the list of banned items that I can recall.
The prosthetic leg search, maybe - but they should have allowed you to sit down and have help. You should have stopped and immediately demanded the airport supervisor - there ARE rules about what they should and shouldn't do, especially when dealing with women.
I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.
No - Jess had it right first time
No - Jess had it right first time
TSA are prevs. In other words badly educated pervs.
Remember, to get a job at the TSA you need to fail the burger flipping test at McDonalds and be able to suck the juice out of a lemon without changing expression
:)
Persephone
Non sum qualis eram
Those agents overstepped their bounds.
I just checked the TSA site, here, here, and here. To quote from the second page, "All disability-related equipment, aids, and devices are allowed through security checkpoints once cleared through screening...", and from the third page, "Passengers with prostheses can be screened without removing them."
So, yeah, if they try that again, demand their supervisor.
*hugs* Sorry you had to go through that.
don't get their supervisor
Unless you want to miss your flight.
Really.
They could see you as a threat and tie you up for hours including give you a cavity search. They don't need any excuse to detain you unless you have your Lawyer with you.
I'm not an American but I have seen people be detailed by the TSA for more then 24 hours simply because they asked a question 'in the wrong tone of voice'. It happened to my colleague in 2012 at LAX.
Samantha
Remain polite throughout
Yes you have the right to demand a supervisor but bear in mind that where people have done this in the past in some cases their card have been marked for all future travel.
It has also been my experience that when airports (along with many other means of transportation and attractions) and their procedures have been thought out they have allowed for people in wheelchairs but not for people who don't quite need one. My father doesn't need a wheelchair but we found it much easier when travelling to use one (we didn't need to rent one though, in all cases the airport provided one by prior arrangement with the airline).
-
You can't choose your relatives but you can choose your family.
Just remember
That your TSA is simply security. The UK people you met were professionals. They are the people I feature in 'Something to Declare' and 'Cold Feet'.
There is a major difference between a security guard and a Customs Officer.
The sad part is...
Our TSA are suppose to be doing the same job as a U.K. Customs Officer. They even have our Federail Gov. giving them the title of Federal Agent. So unfortunately they are not just simple security. Those pervs are actule officers of the law. Sickening ain't it.
May the peace and happiness of the Goddess keep and protect you
as always your humble outlaw
Jessie Wolf
It's even worse than that.
It's even worse than that. If they were officers of the law, they'd have to have a warrant to do the body searches. As it is, they're technically employees of the airport, under the _command_ of the TSA. It's also how they get around xraying and searching people's luggage. They're being "employed" by the airlines to do the checks, so they aren't bound by the 'search and seizure' restrictions in the Constitution.
I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.
And they get away with sexual misconduct against children
the state of Texas almost passed a bill allowing sexual molestation charges to be brought against TSA agents, especially with child passengers. Naturally, the Feds had a cow and threatened to halt all flights into and out of Texas if TSA was inhibited in any way. The state folded like a wet paper towel. So the pervert child molesters dodged a bullet and can still get away with it. If one searches for TSA molestation, the stories you find (many are pretty well documented as opposed to heresay) are shocking. F'ing brownshirts!
Imagination is more important than knowledge
A. Einstein
Not so fast
There is a loophole in the search and seizure law in the Constitution. If you give consent for the search than they don't need a warrant, and by buying a ticket that requires you to pass through security where they can require you to be searched, you are giving implicit consent. In other words if you don't want to give consent to be searched don't buy a ticket and go through security.
I believe it actually includes in the fine print on the ticket that USING the ticket gives consent to be searched.
That's not true, at least in
That's not true, at least in this case.
You're not buying the ticket from the government. You're buying the ticket from the airline. So, the _only_ people you'd be granting the right to search would be the airline, or those that the airline has a business relationship with (the airport). Government employees, by definition, are _not_ employees of the airline. So, either they are employees of the government, and thus violating search and seizure, or they are employees of the airline/airport, and have no authority to claim that they work for the government. (It's like the IRS. Long story, but the short of it is that the IRS was never created by Congress. All the tax laws were (so you can't claim that you don't owe taxes), but the IRS isn't actually supposed to exist. All congress has to do is pass a bill creating the IRS to fix the problem, but then that admits that they didn't do it 50+ years ago.)
I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.
Remain polite.
Keep Calm
and
File a complaint.
Seriously, I would send the TSA a complaint, and if they don't respond send a letter to the editor of the Atlanta newspaper.
One step ahead...
Of you on the complaint being filed. I sent it off to the TSA on the 7th of August when I landed in the U.K. Now I'm thinking of what you suggest by sending the Editor of the Atlanta newspaper of maybe even to my local tv news station. I just don't see why we as a nation continue to put up with these petty bureaucrats and dictators who think that our Constitution does not apply to them. No offince to anyone out there, but didnt the US fight a war to put a stop to this type of treatment of people?
May the peace and happiness of the Goddess keep and protect you
as always your humble outlaw
Jessie Wolf
The AJC is a joke.
Jessie:
You will have much better luck sending your complaint to the various television stations here in Atlanta. Don't bother with the AJC. Since changing management its moved from an extreme left wing race baiting rag, to a more central political position. But its still a rag, good for only lining the bottom of a bird cage.
re bird cage
Didn't Arnold use that gag in the movie Red Heat? I think he used Pravda instead of the AJC.
:-) :-) :-) :-)
re re bird cage
Yes he used that joke in RED HEAT with John Bulusish and yes the news paper was Pravda.
:-)
May the peace and happiness of the Goddess keep and protect you
as always your humble outlaw
Jessie Wolf
The Road To Hell Goes Through the Atlanta-Hartsfield Airport
We've traveled through there many times domestic and international. Coming back internationally used to be a horrible, embarrassing ordeal, but as of this last July things have much improved. First and foremost, always ask for a wheel chair assist. Let them know when you purchase your ticket. You will go to the head of the lines and both of you will be treated well. Give the pusher a nice tip. My wife uses a cane. She's never been denied its use.
By making the assistance request, you will get to board the planes early, also.
You must have hit them on a really bad day. I think of the Airports we've returned internationally, Atlanta was by far the worst, but it's gotten better.
Portia
That behaviour
from the TSA was disgraceful and very unprofessional. Complain to your congress person and the chief exec of the airport.
I hope you enjoyed your time in the UK.
Angharad