Almost exactly a year ago, a U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that the Transportation Security Administration had, in its rush to roll out full-body scanners at airports, broken its own rules by not publishing the policy in the Federal Register and allowing the public to comment on it before putting it into action. At the time, the court expected the TSA to “act promptly” and seek public comment. It hasn’t done so, and now a new petition seeks to have the White House require the TSA to do so. [More]
airport security
Petition Calls On White House To Require TSA To Seek Public Comment On Full-Body Scanners
By 7.11.12
7 TSA Agents Fired For Paying Bribes To Pass Proficiency Tests
By 6.15.12
Pop quiz: What’s the best way to pass a proficiency test when you work for a highly scrutinized federal agency already under fire for ineptitude? If you answered “pay $200 to the instructor,” then maybe you are among those TSA agents getting the boot from Philadelphia International Airport. [More]
Homeland Security Hoping To Find Device To Replace Pat-Downs
By 6.4.12
Perhaps the Dept. of Homeland Security is actually listening to all the people who aren’t exactly thrilled with the possibility of being touched by TSA airport screeners. The department is hoping someone out there can come up with a hand-held device that would take the place of the controversial pat-downs. [More]
Three Delta Employees Charged With Smuggling At Least $600K In Drugs
By 5.3.12
Even though it could result in a life sentence and millions of dollars in fines, airline and airport staff continue to think that smuggling drugs is a good way to earn a few extra bucks on the side. [More]
Newark Airport Terminal Evacuated Over Unchecked Baby
By 4.27.12
The week of little children posing a threat to the travelers of the world concludes with this story about how officials evacuated and temporarily shut down an entire terminal at Newark International Airport because a baby didn’t receive a second screening. [More]
TSA Allows Airports To Hire People Without Finishing Background Check
By 4.26.12
While the TSA dare not let a hug-friendly 4-year-old go by without a pat-down, the agency is apparently just fine with allowing airports to hire new employees who haven’t gone through a complete background check yet. [More]
TSA Agents Accused Of Taking Bribes To Let Drugs Through LAX Checkpoints
By 4.25.12
While the TSA blog loves to brag about all the weapons the agency’s screeners have taken off travelers, this news probably won’t be posted with pride on the kitchenette bulletin board at TSA HQ. [More]
Report: TSA Has No Idea How To Screen A 7-Year-Old With Cerebral Palsy
By 4.25.12
The tiny (potential) terrorists of the world continue to wreak havoc at airport security checkpoints. We already brought you the story of the 4-year-old who dared to hug her grandmother in view of TSA screeners, and now comes the tale of a 7-year-old girl with cerebral palsy whose crutches and leg braces reportedly confounded security personnel at JFK Airport. [More]
4-Year-Old Gets TSA Pat-Down Following Hug From Grandma
By 4.23.12
Kids today. They say and do the darndest things, even under the watchful eye of the Transportation Security Administration. So who knows what happens when your 4-year-old daughter gives grandma a hug at the airport security checkpoint. In addition to that peck on the cheek, a deadly weapon may have been exchanged. [More]
Nudity Is Always A Fun Way To Protest The TSA
By 4.18.12 — Updated: 5.18.17
Perhaps the man who stripped naked at the Portland International Airport security checkpoint last night just figured he was saving the TSA the step of having to pat him down for concealed items? [More]
TSA's Expedited Precheck Program Doesn't Guarantee You'll Always Whisk Through Security
By 3.15.12
We’ve written before about the Transportation Security Administration’s Precheck program, which is intended to allow prescreened travelers to get through airport screening checkpoints in a flash without having to kick off their shoes or wait in the snaking lines of sighing passengers. But membership in the program doesn’t guarantee that you’ll always zip through with a high-five from a TSA agent. [More]
TSA To Take It Easy On Elderly Terrorists
By 3.14.12
The terror threat from septuagenarians is apparently not as high as those young whippersnappers who are merely of retirement age. At least according to the Transportation Security Administration, which next week will begin testing new, less-intrusive, screening procedures for travelers 75 years of age and older. [More]
Man Claims You Can Beat TSA Scanners By Placing Contraband Along The Side Of Your Body
By 3.7.12
Since the TSA began rolling out its full-body scanners a few years ago, much has been made about possible safety and invasion of privacy concerns, but one blogger claims the devices are completely ineffective because all you need to do to sneak something past security is to place it along the side of your body. [More]
States Making A Profit Selling Machetes, Knives, Fuzzy Handcuffs Confiscated By TSA
By 2.22.12
For all the stories we hear about people who inadvertently slip a knife or gun through airport security, there are countless other travelers whose contraband is confiscated after it shows up on the security scan. But what exactly happens to all that fun stuff? [More]
Senator: Claims Of TSA Harassment Demonstrate The Need For Passenger Advocates
By 2.14.12
Following claims by female passengers that they have been harassed while going through airport security checkpoints, Senator Chuck Schumer from New York has renewed his call for the Transportation Security Administration to place passenger advocates in every airport terminal. [More]
Thieving TSA Agent Serves As Reminder To Not Carry $5K In Your Coat
By 2.2.12
See, this is why smugglers duct tape their contraband to their chest and groin — so that a rogue TSA agent doesn’t simply swipe it from their coat as it goes through the security checkpoint. [More]
TSA Can't Tell The Difference Between A Gun & An Insulin Pump
By 1.27.12
Travelers at Los Angeles International Airport this morning were held back from boarding this morning after the brain trust at the TSA security checkpoint not only managed to mistake a passenger’s insulin pump for a gun, but also waited until after she’d passed through the checkpoint to think it might be a good idea to check out the mysterious item. [More]
Ron Paul Says Senator Son Detained By TSA For Refusing Pat-Down
By 1.23.12
Presidential candidate Ron Paul and his son, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, have been very vocal critics of the Transportation Security Administration. And it doesn’t look like the two will be thinking any more highly of the TSA as, according to the elder Paul pol, Rand was detained by the TSA this morning after refusing to submit to a pat-down. [More]
