Over the weekend, a video filmed in spring of 2010 started making its way around the web and has since become viral. The child had a cast and was in a wheelchair, and as a result, alternate procedures needed to be used.
TSA has modified our screening to a risk-based approach, including modifying our screening for passengers 12 and under to reduce the amount of pat-downs that children receive. That said, certain medical conditions and other circumstances may require alternative measures to be implemented from time to time.
The recently initiated TSA Cares Helpline now serves as an additional, dedicated resource for passengers with disabilities, medical conditions or other circumstances or their loved ones who want to prepare for the screening process prior to flying.
To date, more than 3,200 people have been assisted after calling the TSA Cares Helpline.
TSA has modified our screening to a risk-based approach, including modifying our screening for passengers 12 and under to reduce the amount of pat-downs that children receive. That said, certain medical conditions and other circumstances may require alternative measures to be implemented from time to time.
The recently initiated TSA Cares Helpline now serves as an additional, dedicated resource for passengers with disabilities, medical conditions or other circumstances or their loved ones who want to prepare for the screening process prior to flying.
To date, more than 3,200 people have been assisted after calling the TSA Cares Helpline.
If you’d like to comment on an unrelated topic you can do so in our Off Topic Comments post. You can also view our blog post archives or search our blog to find a related topic to comment in. If you have a travel related issue or question that needs an immediate answer, you can contact a Customer Support Manager at the airport you traveled, or will be traveling through by using Talk to TSA.
67 comments:
The alternate procedures shown here weren't particularly compassionate. That child looks petrified of the very people you say he should rely on to protect him.
Brilliant, Bob. Since your defense is that is in an "old" video, and TSA no longer manhandles children...doesn't this mean is was wrong to have done so in 2010???
Amazing! Unresponsive Response blog post is unresponsive.
"... certain medical conditions and other circumstances may require alternative measures to be implemented from time to time."
Mr. Burns, what would be these "other circumstances"?
And are you saying that a kid will never again have to have his shirt half-lifted, as happened in this video?
Please clarify.
Thank you.
I'd like to know why that boy wasn't carried through the metal detector, his cast swabbed while held by a parent, and the wheelchair checked without him in it. As it was, you had a stranger feeling a toddler all over and putting his hand UNDER THE CHILD'S SHIRT for a swab, all apparently because the boy had a cast on his leg. How many adults have to lift their shirts to have their backs swabbed? Is that procedure?
I'd also like to know what would have been done to this child if his swab had alarmed for glycerin, as is found in most baby wipes, soaps, shampoo, lotions, and diaper creams. And what would have happened if he had been in an airport with a cast-o-scope, where TSA screeners with no formal radiology training operate actual x-rays on passengers with casts and do not supply a lead apron to protect the passenger's organs from radiation?
So demanding that children raise their clothing so they can be swabbed under it is SOP for the TSA?
I wonder if the screener on that video will be the next TSA employee indicted for possession or production of child porn, like Michael Scott Wilson, Andrew Cheever, or Thomas Gordon, Jr.
Please explain exactly how a child 12 or under but in a wheelchair would be screened by today's modified procedures. Your "passengers 12 and under" link discusses procedures such as "multiple passes through the metal detector and advanced imaging technology", but since the wheelchairs don't go through those devices, this obviously does not describe this scenario.
One more question: was it ever, or is it now, a policy of the TSA to have agents ask children to lift up their shirt?
as always people will believe what they want to believe. There was no abuse, no child in fear and crying as they say. it was a very professional officer
OK, so the child was abused - it's abuse for a stranger to touch a child while keeping his parents from providing comfort - two years ago?
FYI - a screener does not have the authority to keep a parent separated from a child, or any other relative who needs assistance. Screeners may call LEO, if they want, but screeners have no more authority to prevent a parent from coming to the aid of a child than anyone else in the airport. Should something like this happen to you, instruct the screener to summon law enforcement (or call 911 yourself). Every LEO in the country - probably the world - knows that having a stranger touch a child while preventing a parent from providing aid is a recipe for future abuse and emotional problems.
So bob....I miss in your post if this is STANDARD treatment for any child in a wheelchair Did the tsa "agent" make a mistake? Dont you think its time to let parents hold a child's hand by now?? I am sure if the dad hadnt had video, you'd call him a liar just like the 90 year olds in NY.....Keeping America safe........rrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiight
So, Bob is saying that the TSA is compassionate, and no violation of citizen rights have happened since Spring 2010. All that "re-education" "re-training" and "compassionate job relocation" being done to TSA union workers that miss the mark is really paying off.
If I, on the other hand, make a mistake while traveling, TSA brings the full power of Government upon me, and Bob makes a funny quip on his blog...
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against UNREASONABLE SEARCHES and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but UPON PROBABLE CAUSE, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." -- Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
Was the three-year old in a wheelchair really being searched because of a "probable cause"? Or, was he just in the mood for some toddler action?
What gives you the right to violate citizen's Fourth Amendment rights on a daily basis?
"Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." -- Benjamin Franklin
We Americans sure feel safer now that you're checking all the toddler "terrorists"!
Hi Bob,
What disheartens me is that when rules are relaxed or better stated; as our Constitutional freedoms are restored, the TSA never apologizes. What harm could come for showing a little bit of compassion, honesty and transparency?
I'll even write the first sentence for the TSA; "On behalf of the TSA, we apologize..."
Absolutely absurd.
I feel safer flying knowing that someone can't be checked because it might mean profiling so lets spend our resources checking children and old people!
This is why the TSA has overreached and must be disbanded. Not a single terrorist stopped, but millions of passengers inconvenienced for nothing more than theatre.
Please Bob, explain why this child was repeatedly rubbed down, including in the groin area, and all the back and forth of swabbing the child and chair.
Your first rule should be to do no evil. What you did here is evil, and you could not even justify it in your post - apparently you think this is OK.
This video and the MyFox commentary is complete BS. I like bashing the TSA as much as the next guy, but this guy Dubiel is only trying to get some attention and catch ride on the Corbett wave.
SnallaBolaget.com is also tearing up that guy and his video - I don't have a link but it's up on the front page.
"TSA has modified our screening to a risk-based approach, including modifying our screening for passengers 12 and under to reduce the amount of pat-downs that children receive."
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So what you are saying is that TSA reserves the right to feel up children.
Really?
Bob, Dad could have carried the child through WTMD and then a swab taken of both the child and the father. No explosives? End of screening.
I am certain it was scenes like this that led to the change in screening procedures for younger children.
So, 3,200 individuals have called for assistance in getting through checkpoints. How many of those actually did make it through without getting grief from screeners?
screen shot
Your agency molested a child and now your are trying to defend the action.
Seriously, do you people not know how insane you are?
The fact that the TSA EVER let one of their employees touch an innocent child during a pat-down procedure is offensive and disgusting. The video of the child's pat-down is an example of disconnected and vile government run amoke.
Nothing alternative about this one.
Same garbage different day. Certain medical conditions guarantee a non risk based screening. In other words you get the works regardless of any common sense.
Keep up the good work, the IRS appreciates your efforts.
Bob Burns said:
"That said, certain medical conditions and other circumstances may require alternative measures to be implemented from time to time."
In other words - expect this same thing to continue to happen over and over.
Your organization does more harm than good.
I don't really care when this happened. It just seems excessive and wrong. Why wouldn't you let one of the parents carry the child through the metal detector, inspect the wheelchair, and swab the cast? The patdown and lifting of the child's clothing are excessive to me. The TSA still needs to screen people, but they also need to use some common sense. Three generations of a family traveling to Disney World are not terrorists or drug mules. Swabbing the wheelchair and the cast would have been appropriate, patting down and lifting clothing on a 3 year old is not.
As far as I can tell from the video, the officer was professional and courteous the entire time. I can understand the father being slightly upset, but his child wasn't being harmed and security is security. People seem to think that the child was being treated as a terrorist. However, no one actually believes, in TSA or otherwise, that a child is going to pack their own wheelchair with C4 or any other dangerous materials. TSA does have to ensure, however, that the parents of said child aren't using their child's disability to circumvent security. We are dealing with an enemy who has no regard for human life despite the age, and to assume that we can let someone pass by security just because they are middle-class and white is ridiculous. There is no true face to terrorism. Also we should notice the strides that TSA is taking to help children and the elderly get onto planes with less hassle. Not to mention the precheck pilot going on. I am all about holding people's feet to the fire when something wrong happens, but this is being blown out of proportion by people who just want one more reason to complain.
Just my two cents. You can call me Mike on all the loving replies I am sure to receive.
What the TSA seems too thick-skulled to understand that it does not matter that the procedures have changed since this incident. What does matter is that they should have never allowed this incident to occur in the first place. If the US Government would just give us our liberties back, these stories would quit surfacing.
You check and recheck babies in wheelchairs...little old ladies diapers...baby diapers... anyone that is the least of our concern. Then you let a man on an airplane with a stolen expired ticket...with the wrong name...on a Virgin Airlines plane. You are terrible. We are not any safer with you at the helm. But keep checking those infants and grannie diapers...meanwhile people with stolen tickets and no bags just stroll up to any plane they want. Nice job. Your grade....F!
Actually, I wish to comment ON TOPIC and not off topic.
Dear Commissioner of the TSA, and employees-
This video has crossed the line. If you cannot build a search policy that would also take into account the fact that a 3-year old sitting in a wheelchair is not a security risk, you may wish to consider alternative career channels. I am going to write to my representatives in the congress and request that it would be taken into account the nex time a vote on your budget is being scheduled.
You have FAILED to provide service. Any service.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjbjTV44jMo&feature=player_embedded
Can you address concerns regarding how scared the child looks in the video? Because it would seem to me that the TSA is supposed to be about making people feel safer, not terrifying children.
I'm amazed the TSA ever has time to do actual screening. With all the different interpretations of the same rules it seems there is always some sort of re-training going on. As many problems as there are with TSA in general, one GIANT step would be establishing clear and concise standards, training ALL employees to the standard, enforcing them consistently and taking swift action against those screeners incapable of understaning their jobs. To paraphrase National Treasure, "someone's got to get fired Ben."
So what you're saying, Bob, is hat people now need to call and beg and plead in advance in order to potentially be treated like human beings when going through airport security?
And what will the punishment be, other than "retraining", when (because it will happen) passengers are mistreated despite calling in advance?
So the father was so outraged it took almost two years to post this? What I don’t get if the father knew that you people would have to check the wheelchair why didn’t he just carry his son through the metal detector? I carry my little girl but, I guess that would make it harder to videotape since my hands are full.
I hope you people are ashamed of yourselves.
Bob, you say, "TSA has modified our screening to a risk-based approach, including modifying our screening for passengers 12 and under to reduce the amount of pat-downs that children receive. That said, certain medical conditions and other circumstances may require alternative measures to be implemented from time to time."
Does this mean that kids in wheelchairs might still be subject to the disgusting treatment this boy received by one of your colleagues?
What are these "alternative measures" of which you speak?
Bob, here is a screenshot from the video --
http://oi41.tinypic.com/k7n6q.jpg
Was it policy in 2010 for a TSO to partially lift the shirt of a kid, and are you saying that this is against policy now?
1st of all, the screening occurred 2 years ago, there have been procedural changes.
2nd - that "3 minute screening of child" that the news heralded was in fact 53 seconds long. The rest of the time was spent walking to the ETD, screening the chair, etc.
3rd - The TSO was very respectful of the child who did not seem to have an issue with the procedure.
TSA is such a waste of money. Loss of our liberties is not worth this security "theatre".
Sadly I feel a little better knowing this happened in 2010, but not much. My first reaction to seeing the video was TSA promised this sort of thing would not keep happening. It shouldn't have ever happened to begin with. How many times did it happen we don't know about? There was justifiable outrage then and now because the culture of TSA allowed it to ever happen. I have no problem with the wheelchair, the cast and the boys hands being swabbed for explosives traces. There was no excuse for the screener to touch this boy as extensively as he did. The child was simply to small to conceal a weapon. A toddler underwear bomber? Well maybe but those three things above I had no problem swabbing should have revealed that. I cringe seeing the screeners hand slide around the boys leg and upper thigh. Then lifting the boys shirt in back to get a swab? Swabbing the chair behind him or where his leg was would pick up traces that might be present on his skin and clothing.
I'm tiring of TSA excuses.....
Another reason I won't fly with my kids. I don't want to end up in the news. And unlike the father in this video I will be telling my kids how illegal the search is and that if daddy does what a daddy is supposed to do in the protection of his kids, I would be in jail. The idiocy of the TSA is being shown more and more every day. I can't wait to stand by the airport doors waving so long to the DHS Blue Shirts.
"The cast made me do it!"
The child in question was three years old and the parents were not even allowed to hold his hand to help keep him calm. There has got to be a point were TSO's need to use their discretion, The same discretion that allows them to forbid passengers to travel with any item, even if it is acceptable under TSA guidelines.
It is almost 3 years now, and I'm STILL waiting to hear from TSA why I got a SKIN BURN from their "safe swab" where ever it touched, when I was pulled out simply due to a medical condition.
I don't buy that is is "only gauze" as I'm NOT allergic to gauze and have NEVER had a reaction like that to gauze before or since.
TSA Cares? About WHO?????
"The child in question was three years old and the parents were not even allowed to hold his hand to help keep him calm."
Don't fall for the screeners "allowing" certain behavior. A screener can no more deny a parent from coming to the aid of their child - or anyone else - than anyone else in the airport. My favorite is when I'm getting secondary screening and I'm told I'm not allowed to touch my belongings. I love the indignant look on the screener's face when I start to put things back in my pockets, bag, etc. On the one occasion that LEO was called, I simply said, "It's my stuff and I'm putting it away." He shrugged and turned around. Most of the screeners just get huffy as I walk away.
The first step to preventing fascism is denying power hungry people the power they crave.
"it was a very professional officer"
TSA employs neither professionals nor officers.
Reportedly some 2 million people fly each day times 365 days per year.
That is 730,000,000 people traveling each year and in over 10 years (7,300,000,000 travelers)there has not been one terrorist attack against U.S. originating commercial flights.
In simple words the likelihood of a terrorist attack is extremely low. In view of these numbers there is simply no reason for TSA to abuse anyone as they now do and that goes double for children.
TSA can claim they have been instrumental in the lack of terrorist attempts but there is ZERO evidence supporting any such claim.
TSA has clearly jumped the shark on screening procedures and needs to dial it back about 10 clicks.
There is no call to touch anyone unless cause can be demonstrated.
There is no reason to use Electronic Strip Search Machines unless cause can be demonstrated.
There is no reason to prohibit common items like water and cupcakes unless cause can be presented and TSA has certainly not made a case supporting this practice.
TSA is a failed experiment and needs to be ended now.
The cost of TSA exceeds the degree of risk and is a very poor return on America's tax dollars.
"My favorite is when I'm getting secondary screening and I'm told I'm not allowed to touch my belongings. I love the indignant look on the screener's face when I start to put things back in my pockets, bag, etc."
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Well good for you. You stood up to the man! Of course if you did this at my airport I would simply rerun all your belongings back through xray and rescreen them entirely since you handled them before your secondary screening was complete.
TSA did nothing wrong.
We now live in a world of terror. Tragedy can come from the most innocent source. The child could be used as a mule for promoting a terror attack.
Too, this experience as well as the video promotes the acceptance of the body, mind and soul of the people to the needs of the New World Order. The people must learn that their needs are to be governed by the NWO.
I doubt terrorists have so much respect for children and the elderly that they wouldn't take advantage of any less-stringent security procedures that may apply to children and the elderly. Do people really think a terrorist wouldn't put explosives in a diaper? I say screen everybody equally.
Lest others jump on me for being insensitive, I will state that a situation wherein children and the elderly have to be treated like this only illustrates the absurdity of TSA's approach.
Here's another example of the absurdity: When a terrorist evades the nude body scanners, what next? Cavity searches? How far will TSA go under the belief that the combination of technology and eroded civil rights will get the job done? The "how" of terrorism will always evolve, but not the "who" and the "why." Focus on the "who" and the "why" instead of the "how."
"Well good for you. You stood up to the man! Of course if you did this at my airport I would simply rerun all your belongings back through xray and rescreen them entirely since you handled them before your secondary screening was complete."
That's been tried. I demanded a supervisor who told the screener to return my belongings. I also demanded that LEO assist me since the only way to re-screen my belongings involves taking them out of my sight which is something I won't permit. If you're feeling lucky, give it a shot!
Or maybe I'd let you do it a couple of times. You waste me time, I'll waste yours.
"Of course if you did this at my airport I would simply rerun all your belongings back through xray and rescreen them entirely since you handled them before your secondary screening was complete."
YOUR airport? Thus, the problem. The airport is not yours.
Be careful rescreening belongings though, it's surprising how often items are no longer in bags when they are rescreened. You'd hate to have to defend yourself against theft, wouldn't you?
Looks to me that this child wasn't molested in any way. As a matter of fact the TSA agent was rather professionnal in his actions.
However, the issue IS the obscur reason why the agent kept looking at everything stubbornly as if this child was a real threat. That's the main problem really. Being smart enough to detect people at risk versus screening innocent toddlers or seniors would can't even walk without assistance.
"You stood up to the man!"
You consider yourself "the man?" Add delusions of grandeur to the screener psyche.
Tell me: Do you feel more like a "man" when you're going through people's dirty underwear for patting down a child?
And what's this about "my" airport?
"TSA has modified our screening to a risk-based approach, including modifying our screening for passengers 12 and under to reduce the amount of pat-downs that children receive. " ...to reduce the amount of pat-downs that children receive just eliminate it period. I smh at you TSA .. Common sense is dead
Anonymous said...
"it was a very professional officer"
TSA employs neither professionals nor officers.
March 21, 2012 10:25 AM
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In lieu of a like flag I award you 3 thumbs up.
"Of course if you did this at my airport I would simply rerun all your belongings back through xray and rescreen them entirely since you handled them before your secondary screening was complete."
YOUR airport? Thus, the problem. The airport is not yours.
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Yup. My airport. It's an expression. As in I work for IBM thus IBM is my company. You are being purposely obtuse if you don't see that.
"Bob. Since your defense is that is in an "old" video, and TSA no longer manhandles children...doesn't this mean is was wrong to have done so in 2010???
March 19, 2012 10:47 PM"
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So now we get chastised for changing policies for the better! Wow! Just can't win can we?
Or you could just stop harassing innocent parents and children.
Anonymous said....
So now we get chastised for changing policies for the better! Wow! Just can't win can we?
Sooo, what you're saying is that if an entity, be it an individual or a group, commits a major wrong - for example, molestation, oppression, or theft - all they then have to do is say that they've changed their policies and that makes everything ok? You really think that a simple policy change negates the unconscionable behaviors that necessitated the change in the first place?
You do realize that what you've said is essentially that "we've committed various acts that, at best, are distasteful, and at worst, shock the conscious of the public - the same public that we claim to protect- and have greatly offended members of that same public to the extent that we now must modify our policies - however, we should not be chastised
for the indignities and gross improprieties that we inflicted upon innocent travelers in the name of security" ..
As far as "Wow! We just can't win, can we?" all I can say is - now you know how a large segment the traveling public feels every time they have an encounter with the TSA. not a very good feeling, is it?
...."So now we get chastised for changing policies for the better! Wow! Just can't win can we?..."
For the better? Really? I'm STILL harassed and treated like a criminal at airports due to my handicap. How is this better?
And please don;t use the terrorist excuse. You guys are playing right into their hands through what you do to us at the airports. The terrorists don't have to do anything but spread a rumor then high five when you take away more of our dignities.
Be careful rescreening belongings though, it's surprising how often items are no longer in bags when they are rescreened. You'd hate to have to defend yourself against theft, wouldn't you?
March 21, 2012 6:44 PM
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Nope. Not worried in the least little bit. At our airport every single inch of Checked Baggage & Check Point is covered by video cameras (we have a single, 3 lane operation). We frequently use this video to HELP people find missing items (usually after they've claimed we stole them). We've seen other passengers take items that don't belong to them (sometimes by accident, sometimes not), passengers put items back in their luggage without realizing it (so they say), and we even had a passenger claim a huge wad of money was taken from the bin when we could clearly see them divest everything and never place any cash in the bin.
We had another lady claim her diamond ring went missing. We looked at video, told her she wasn't wearing one, she called home and found out that it was left in... her refrigerator! She was very happy that she was able to continue her trip without having to worry about the loss.
We have even used it to backup a passengers claim that their laptop fell off the belt when they filed a claim against us, which we paid. Yup, video is wonderful when you're honest.
Anonymous said... Nope. Not worried in the least little bit. At our airport every single inch of Checked Baggage & Check Point is covered by video cameras (we have a single, 3 lane operation). We frequently use this video to HELP people find missing items (usually after they've claimed we stole them). We've seen other passengers take items that don't belong to them (sometimes by accident, sometimes not), passengers put items back in their luggage without realizing it (so they say), and we even had a passenger claim a huge wad of money was taken from the bin when we could clearly see them divest everything and never place any cash in the bin.
We had another lady claim her diamond ring went missing. We looked at video, told her she wasn't wearing one, she called home and found out that it was left in... her refrigerator! She was very happy that she was able to continue her trip without having to worry about the loss.
We have even used it to backup a passengers claim that their laptop fell off the belt when they filed a claim against us, which we paid. Yup, video is wonderful when you're honest.
March 23, 2012 4:39 PM
I find the above post interesting in view of the fact that FLL TSA has determined that even confirming the existence of checkpoint video is SSI.
I can only hope that TSA identifies the poster of the above information and takes legal action against this person.
"I find the above post interesting in view of the fact that FLL TSA has determined that even confirming the existence of checkpoint video is SSI.
I can only hope that TSA identifies the poster of the above information and takes legal action against this person.
March 23, 2012 10:44 PM
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What are you even talking about???
Almost every airport in the country has some type of video system in place. Some have better coverage than others. Video has been talked about on this Blog site dozens (if not hundreds of times). Your comment doesn't even make sense.
What are you even talking about???
Almost every airport in the country has some type of video system in place. Some have better coverage than others. Video has been talked about on this Blog site dozens (if not hundreds of times). Your comment doesn't even make sense.
March 24, 2012 10:23 AM
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TSA SAYS CHECKPOINT VIDEO IS SSI
"TSA informed County that the subject CCTV recordings at TSA checkpoints, including the mere existence thereof, constituted Sensitive Security Information."
Anonymous said...
"I find the above post interesting in view of the fact that FLL TSA has determined that even confirming the existence of checkpoint video is SSI.
I can only hope that TSA identifies the poster of the above information and takes legal action against this person.
March 23, 2012 10:44 PM
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What are you even talking about???
Almost every airport in the country has some type of video system in place. Some have better coverage than others. Video has been talked about on this Blog site dozens (if not hundreds of times). Your comment doesn't even make sense.
March 24, 2012 10:23 AM
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Anon, I submitted a response that fully answered your question. My response did not challenge the Posting Guidelines in any manner. Apparently TSA is afraid of the truth. All I can do is suggest that you look to court filings that involve FLL TSA, Broward Sheriffs Office, and Broward County court filings.
What I stated was absolutely true.
Post Captured and forwarded to DHS OIG.
The TSA at FLL has only asserted that the video recordings are SSI. It's hard to claim that the cameras are SSI inasmuch as there are a minimum of 13 cameras visible to the public at the Gate E checkpoint.
There are many critics -- part of a very smal, noisy minority -- saying that TSOs are committing crimes. Sexual assault, molesting, groping. Things like that.
No TSO has been arrested so far. However, the critics insist TSOs are committing these crimes. the critics, then, are part of what they see as the "problem."
So, if anybody witnesses a TSO committing a crime, call the POlice. Let's see whether the TSO goes to jail, or the one filing a false claim.
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