TSA revising invasive checks for older travelers

(AP) CHICAGO - Some air travelers over the age of 75 will soon get a break at airport security checkpoints under a test program announced Wednesday that could allow them to keep their shoes and light jackets on and skip pat-downs.

The new guidelines from the Transportation Security Administration, which take effect Monday at four U.S. airports, are part of an effort to move away from its one-size-fits-all security procedures and speed lower-risk passengers through while focusing on those who may need more scrutiny. Similar changes were made last fall for travelers 12 and younger.

Since the 9/11 terror attacks that led to tighter security, air travelers have criticized what they say is a lack of common sense in screening all passengers the same way, including young children and the elderly.

That criticism grew louder in 2010 when the government began using a more invasive pat-down that involves screeners feeling a traveler's genital and breast areas through their clothing.

"By moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach to security and applying some intelligence-driven and risk-based security models, TSA is looking at how this works for passengers," said agency spokesman Jim Fotenos.

The change in guidelines will be introduced at a limited number of security lanes at Chicago's O'Hare International, Denver International, Orlando International and Portland International. Those airports were chosen because they have a higher percentage of travelers 75 and older, Fotenos said. He said the rules will be relaxed indefinitely at the four airports with the intention of expanding elsewhere if it is a success.

Two passengers in their 80s traveling separately through New York's Kennedy Airport in November complained that they were effectively strip-searched. One was made to remove a back brace so it could be X-rayed. The other said she was humiliated when two female screeners made her lower her sweat pants so they could examine her colostomy bag.

The TSA has disputed parts of their accounts while acknowledging that screeners violated rules by asking to examine their medical devices.

In another incident that sparked outrage, a 6-year-old girl was reduced to tears after screeners frisked her at New Orleans airport in March 2011 - a scene recorded on video and posted on YouTube.

To reduce the number of pat-downs given to children and the elderly, screeners in the test programs are being told to send those passengers through metal detectors or walk-through imaging machines multiple times to capture a clear picture as well as to use more explosive trace detection tools such as hand swabs, according to the TSA.

"The TSA recognizes that the vast majority of air travelers present no risk to aviation security," Fotenos said. "But it's how we identify those (travelers) and expedite the process that we're working on right now."

The agency is also expanding a program that allows vetted travelers in certain frequent flier programs to go through expedited screening, keep their shoes on and leave liquids and laptops in their bags.

Removing shoes during checkpoint screening has been a common complaint among airline travelers since security was increased after an al Qaeda operative tried to set off a bomb built into his shoe on an American Airlines flight in December 2001.

[AOCGUY]

Darn, and at my age it was one of the few opportunities I had left to be touched by someone else!

Could someone tell when the last time a pat down or x-ray resulted in the arrest of a potential terrorist? Now last summer I did experience the pleasure of a "thorough" feeling up after I forgot to remove my microfiber eyeglass cloth from my left pants pocket and it was discovered by the body scan machine. I guess I could have taken over an aircraft by threatening to clean everyones glasses. And why 75? Why not 50? Have we had any 50 year olds hijacking airplanes.

A few years back I was checking in for a flight at the Montgomery, AL airport. The gentlemen next to me was told that he would have to put his lighter in his checked baggage. Later as we boarded the very small plane a ground attendent came aboard with the man's checked bag and said there was no more romm in the baggage compartment and that he would have to place the bag under his seat. Idiocy reigns.

[omnibus66]

Several years ago, when I was forced to pick up my Alzheimer's afflicted 95 year old mother from her wheelchair and carry her through the metal detector because she couldn't stand, I decided that I would quit flying. So far, so good.

At the same time I was also threatened with arrest because she asked me why she had to take off her shoes, and I replied that they were afraid that she had a bomb in them. Actually I think the only reason they didn't arrest me is because then they would have had to have dealt with my mother. Evidently freedom of speech is suspended whenever a TSA agent is listening.

[bobea]

Easing checks for certain groups makes perfect sense. ANNOUNCING that you are easing checks for certain groups has got to be just about the stupidest thing I've heard of since Obama announced when we would be leaving Iraq.

These people are morons!

[skyowner]

The TSA, and the rest of the US, should relax the paranoia across the board. This paranoia is basically just letting the terrorists win.

Also, as some others here have noted, hard rules (i.e. don't examine medical devices, under 12 year olds or over 75 year olds) do make it really easy for people who intend to do bad things to succeed.

[Elizabeth-Conley]

But the TSA told us that the elderly were the very scariest of potential bombers. They told us terrorists would exploit the elderly by packing their Depends full of C-4 and stashing bomb materials in their walkers. The TSA stripped searched Grannies and fondled Grandpa's dangly bits, all out of an abundance of caution.

NOW they admit the obvious: that the elderly are least likely of all to be terrorists? OK, well and good. It's about time.

When will the TSA admit that none of us are likely to be terrorists, even the people on their silly lists whom the TSA selects for special abuse? When will the TSA shut down the whole scam?

[Bouillabaisse]

Security Theater presents ... new rules for searching seniors.

I can hardly wait for next week's installment.