TSA Forces Woman To Remove Nipple Rings

Passenger Asks For Apology After Being Required To Remove Body Jewelry With Aid Of Pliers

(AP)  A Texas woman who said she was forced to remove a nipple ring with pliers in order to board an airplane called Thursday for an apology by federal security agents and a civil rights investigation.

"I wouldn't wish this experience upon anyone," Mandi Hamlin said at a news conference. "My experience with TSA was a nightmare I had to endure. No one deserves to be treated this way."

Hamlin, 37, said she was trying to board a flight from Lubbock to Dallas on Feb. 24 when she was scanned by a Transportation Security Administration agent after passing through a larger metal detector without problems.

The female TSA agent used a handheld detector that beeped when it passed in front of Hamlin's chest, the Dallas-area resident said.

Hamlin said she told the woman she was wearing nipple piercings. The agent then called over her male colleagues, one of whom said she would have to remove the jewelry, Hamlin said.

Hamlin said she could not remove them and asked whether she could instead display her pierced breasts in private to the female agent. But several other male officers told her she could not board her flight until the jewelry was out, she said.

She was taken behind a curtain and managed to remove one bar-shaped piercing but had trouble with the second, a ring.

"Still crying, she informed the TSA officer that she could not remove it without the help of pliers, and the officer gave a pair to her," said Hamlin's attorney, Gloria Allred, reading from a letter she sent Thursday to the director of the TSA's Office of Civil Rights and Liberties. Allred is a well-known Los Angeles lawyer who often represents high-profile claims.

Applying pliers to the torso of a mannequin that had a peach-colored bra with the rings on it, Hamlin showed reporters at the news conference how she took off the second ring.

She said she heard male TSA agents snickering as she took out the ring. She was scanned again and was allowed to board even though she still was wearing a belly button ring.

"After nipple rings are inserted, the skin can often heal around the piercing, and the rings can be extremely difficult and painful to remove," Allred said in the letter.

TSA officials said they are investigating to see whether its policies were followed.

"Our security officers are well-trained to screen individuals with body piercings in sensitive areas with dignity and respect while ensuring a high level of security," the agency said in a statement.

On its Web site, the TSA warns that passengers "may be additionally screened because of hidden items such as body piercings, which alarmed the metal detector."

"If you are selected for additional screening, you may ask to remove your body piercing in private as an alternative to a pat-down search," the site says.

Hamlin would have accepted a "pat-down" had it been offered, Allred said.

If an alarm does sound, "until that is resolved, we're not going to let them go through the checkpoint, no matter what they're wearing or where they're wearing it," said TSA spokesman Dwayne Baird in Salt Lake City.

People routinely pass through security wearing wedding rings without problems, and it might take a larger bit of metal to trigger an alarm, Baird said.

Hamlin filed a complaint, but the TSA's customer service manager at the Lubbock airport concluded the screening was handled properly, Allred said.

Hamlin wants an apology from the TSA and an investigation by the agency's civil rights office.

Allred said she might consider legal action if the TSA does not apologize.

Hamlin was publicly humiliated and has "undergone an enormous amount of physical pain to have the nipple rings reinserted" because of scar tissue, Allred said.

Hamlin said her piercings have never set off an airport metal detector.

"The conduct of TSA was cruel and unnecessary," Allred wrote. "The last time that I checked a nipple was not a dangerous weapon."

[dakotaclark]

Hmmm...

Wow - on one hand, this is soooo far off the chart it is hard to believe!

On the other hand, yepp, this is evidence of your kinder, gentler, Bush administration at work - hiring people with very low, diminished, intelligence to screen airline passengers.

I can just see it now - Bubbajoann thinking, "whell, it dont make no nevermind, them thar nipple thangs could be some sort of gagett that cood kause trobble somehoww, somewhay..."

I hope they fire that TSA dope, and the supervisor, plus the manager, plus the regional manager.

Anyone who had anything to do with this stupid event does not deserve a job working for the taxpayers.

[jim-n-fl]

It''s time for liberty minded free spirited Americans of all walks of life to simply practice civil disobedience and say no to these absurd neo-fascists attempts to humiliate common citizens into believeing that only a police state can protect us from ourselves. I hope the woman sues them till their tongues hang out in desperation. All the while, the DOD cannot even keep track of nuclear detonators... lets make sure those dangerboobs are kept under close scrutiny. Civil disobedience wins wars, ask Ghandi, ask King Jr..

[b0ludo]

So I guess trying to go through with a c o c k ring on is out of the question? C4-filled Nipple ring weapons... Look for them on the Discovery Channel!

[feelfree1]

Now we''ve got a war on nipple rings.

Heckuva'' job to the fascistic dingbats of the TSA!

[sblake63]

What kind of mindless dumb as a box or rocks person does that to her body anyway? Isnt great how people who deviate from proper behavior & standards get pissed and whine like a baby? And then we have a small minority of liberals and "rights" oriented morons ready to defend people like this with a host of lawsuits.

There are too many "safty nets" for people who in general screw up things yet somebody''s always lurking around to provide them a way out and even correct those who were RIGHT in the first place. 20 years ago, this freak would have been laughed off the face of the planet.

[ponco seno]

Now we''''ve got a war on nipple rings.

Heckuva'''' job to the fascistic dingbats of the TSA!

Posted by FeelFree1 at 10:44 PM : Mar 27, 2008





LOL

[jim-n-fl]

No ObombA1, it was her right to do with her body what she wished, and your inept slant on this absurd intrusion into this woman''s life speaks volumes of your lack of understanding her humiliation and I feel unlawful search and seizure.

[shanev137]

She should get an apology from George Bush since he created and appointed the leader of the TSA.

[retmilspouse]

Hey dakota clark, Have you been to a US airport lately? You''ve got the wrong nickname and verbal slang for the folks that work for the TSA. Try Ja''Quawn and some Ebonics.

Oh yeh, I knew someone on this site was going to get the Blame it on Bush syndrome going.

[barbaraf4]

This isn''t about whether nipple rings are politically or morally correct. It isn''t even about whether Gloria Allred is as bad as Al Sharpton about being a publicity w*h*o*r*e.

It is about TSA agents who barely have high school GEDs and who are making some very important decisions without benefit of training or common sense. It is insane to give that much power to someone who would be working at McDonalds if they weren''t standing around the airport looking bored.

[libsrweak]

I am afraid i have to agree with the woman on this one..she has everyright to put anything on her body. It is not a threat to anybody and the TSA officer DOES NOT HAVE ANY AUTHORITY OVER THIS.

[shanev137]

unlawful search and seizure.

------


You''re right...the whole TSA is unlawful. The TSA is a government-run, Laurel and Hardy operation that interferes and dictates unconstitutional policy to publicly owned airlines.

If the untouchable TSA denied her boarding, do you think the government refunds the ticket she paid for?...hahahaha...because the airline certainly doesn''t have to.

The airlines should have their own security that handles passenger screening. They shouldn''t be this far in bed with our corrupt, extreme right-wing government.

[brianbwb-2009]

"if an alarm does sound, "until that is resolved, we''re not going to let them go through the checkpoint, no matter what they''re wearing or where they''re wearing it," said TSA spokesman Dwayne Baird in Salt Lake City."

Just because it is TSA policy does not mean it is the law. The situation could have been handled without the inconvenience, a visual inspection by a female employee in private, as requested by the victim would have resolved the matter.

Working for a government agency, especially a privatized one, does not give employees the right to make arbitrary law, it is not their purview to forbid body jewelery, unless such can be shown to be a danger to the flight, nipple rings are not.

My amalgam tooth fillings have sometimes set off sensors, should I then remove them, or be forbidden to fly?

The victim should sue, and sue big time.

[shanev137]

The victim should sue, and sue big time.

--------

LOL.....um....last time I checked, you can''t sue the United States Government.

[staycalm]

Anyone who willingly mutilates themsleves in a way that qualifies as torture under the geneva convention is mentally ill. The fact that you all are so "tolerant" of her self abuse in the name of political correctness is an example of how brainwashed you all are. TSA employees are doing their jobs, perhaps a bit too literally, but the screwed up person is the woman who is so filled with self loathing that she would actually inflict torture on herself...and then do it again. She needs help.

[shanev137]

It still amazes me that there are people who are just now figuring out that the Patriot Act wasn''t a good idea.

[jim-n-fl]

By best estimate around 31.5 million Americans alone, mostly women, have body piercings. I am a 51 yr old male with two piercings. I would have left the airport rather than allow this to happen to me. And I dont blush. Its unlawful what they did, striking at the very core of privacy and decency, above the constitution even, written in our genes, this is wrong behavior.

That these thugishlike agents focused in on the woman''s breasts but let her pass with a belly button ring is appalling, nearly roars at the sexual immaturity of the TSA officers. Someone needs to investigate this before its too late and a woman is scarred emotionally for life.

Civil Disobedience, quietly saying "NO I will not do that for you." If enough people did, then maybe the government would start fearing the power of the people rather than the reverse. Sometimes it is wrong to say YES and right to say NO.

[jim-n-fl]

By best estimate around 31.5 million Americans alone, mostly women, have body piercings. I am a 51 yr old male with two piercings. I would have left the airport rather than allow this to happen to me. And I dont blush. Its unlawful what they did, striking at the very core of privacy and decency, above the constitution even, written in our genes, this is wrong behavior.

That these thugishlike agents focused in on the woman''s breasts but let her pass with a belly button ring is appalling, nearly roars at the sexual immaturity of the TSA officers. Someone needs to investigate this before its too late and a woman is scarred emotionally for life.

Civil Disobedience, quietly saying "NO I will not do that for you." If enough people did, then maybe the government would start fearing the power of the people rather than the reverse. Sometimes it is wrong to say YES and right to say NO.

[billpl-2009]

"The last time that I checked a nipple was not a dangerous weapon."
Attorney Gloria Allred

...no but Allred''s mouth is

[jim-n-fl]

"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both." B. Franklin

[jim-n-fl]

"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both." B. Franklin

[blahblahbla5]

This country is sick. Enough of these Republican fascists, kick them out. All of them.

[hitah]

TSA = The Illusion of Security. I fly a lot and security is a joke, they are protecting us from the innocent!

[stirg]

Since she already had her BRAIN removed,she could''nt have given it a passing thought.

[stirg]

There she goes-another nipple chasing attorney......

[nothappyatall]

""After nipple rings are inserted, the skin can often heal around the piercing, and the rings can be extremely difficult and painful to remove," Allred said in the letter. "

Well well, maybe she should have thought of THAT before having unnecessary junk embedded into her body.
Of course she had the option to simply not get on the plane.
Why the dumb sheeple put up with all this krap at airports just to take a flight is beyond me- DRIVE!

[caliengineer]

I hope this woman forces them to concede some of their arrogantly applied "author-i-tay."

Now, if they wanded a turbaned dude with a short distasha and a long beard, and THAT guy claimed nipple piercings - tazer him!

[jehovahwtnss]

Yet another typical example of intransigent american officialdom. Ignore such attitudes at your peril as they are the seeds of totalitarianism!

[jehovahwtnss]

Thanks Jim-N-FL, I think you''ve said it all. If more of us were like you, I think we''d see a lot fewer of these uniformed petty tyrants "trying to exert their menial authority" as my old dad used to say about the lollipop women

[cgeller100]

To all the people who love to point fingers at attorneys like Gloria Allred - you need to learn that it is people like her that help protect the little guy from the oppression of the government and help to preserve the american way of freedom

[cgeller100]

Simply because body jewelry sets off a metal detector is not a justifiable reason for forcible removal - this is indeed a terrible civil rights violation, but the TSA doesn''t care and of course their crony is going to say "they acted properly" - the fact that she wasn''t offered a pat down search clearly indicates this. We live in a civilized society with civilized rules that protect individual liberty and dignity.

[dsr57]

You all need to get your heads out of your A-sses. There are things you know that are going to happen when you go through Air Port Security
1. Your going to have to take off your belt
2. Your going to have to take off watch
3. Your going to have to take off your shoes
4 If the necklace your wearing is big your going to have to take it off too.

Knowing these things I come prepared. I take them all off before I reach the check point. Just because you decide to put Jewelry in an embarrassing place DOES NOT mean you get to skip security proceedures.

This stupid A-ss woman should have taken them out so as to not be nationally embarrassed !

[dsr57]

Simply because body jewelry sets off a metal detector is not a justifiable reason for forcible removal - this is indeed a terrible civil rights violation, but the TSA doesn''''t care and of course their crony is going to say "they acted properly" - the fact that she wasn''''t offered a pat down search clearly indicates this. We live in a civilized society with civilized rules that protect individual liberty and dignity

Posted by cgeller100
------------------------------------------------------

You are dumb!

That is all,

DSR57

[virg671]

Does this mean someone with a metal plate in their body can''t fly? They wouldn''t be able to remove it. This is getting carried away.

[dobbershome]

You never know she could use that nipple ring as a lethal weapon. What a joke!

[dsr57]

Does this mean someone with a metal plate in their body can''''t fly? They wouldn''''t be able to remove it. This is getting carried away

Posted by virg671
----------------------------------------------------

You''re dumb too!

People with surgical metal inside them have documentation that verified and notarized.

My grandma has to carry these documents with her when she travels.

[dsr57]

Does this mean someone with a metal plate in their body can''''t fly? They wouldn''''t be able to remove it. This is getting carried away

Posted by virg671
----------------------------------------------------

You''re dumb too!

People with surgical metal inside them have documentation that verified and notarized.

My grandma has to carry these documents with her when she travels.

[andor3]

and this made air travel safer how? exactly, the TSA are do nothings. when a whole platoon is occupied with harmless body jewelry who knows how many knives passed through.

[andor3]

"People with surgical metal inside them have documentation that verified and notarized."

notarized? heheh if you are going to make stuff up, at least try to keep it believable a little bit. Yeah, these are special notary-doctors with X-ray machines...

[pollroller1]

I feel so lucky that I don''t have to fly anymore. Now that I''m retired, I will never ever have to board another airplane.
If I can''t drive there, I just stay home.

[dsr57]

"People with surgical metal inside them have documentation that verified and notarized."

notarized? heheh if you are going to make stuff up, at least try to keep it believable a little bit. Yeah, these are special notary-doctors with X-ray machines...

Posted by andor3
---------------------------------------------------

ha ha Does seem weird, but she said she had it notarized.Since I don''t have any metal in my body I just took her word for it

[dsr57]

The only stupid A$$ is you moron. Go find some NASCAR

Posted by FloydZepp
----------------------------------------------------

How is what I said stupid? Go find some NASCAR? What is that supposed to mean exactly?

[nolalou]

Isnt great how people who deviate from proper behavior & standards get pissed and whine like a baby? Posted by sblake63

sblacke63, what part of ''free country'' do you not understand! You DO NOT have the right to impose you sense of ''proper behavior and standards'' on anyone! you arrogant SOB! The TSA was so obviously in the wrong in this, that only an IDIOT would think otherwise.

[keithle1]

Gloria Allred is trying to appear concerned in the photo. "Think of the money, Gloria. The MONEY." This is a high-profile claim?

Nipple rings...body piercings... Puh-leeze. When is that fad going to die? Same with tattoos. Enough already.

Women can cry at the drop of a hat. Doesn''t take much.
Feelings are always hurt. Offense is always taken. Not enough respect was given. Let me speak to your supervisor. I need a hug! Boo hoo.

[shanev137]

People with surgical metal inside them have documentation that verified and notarized.

My grandma has to carry these documents with her when she travels.

------------



That''s actually not true at all.

I have a 12 inch artificial steel fibula in my lower leg that makes all the alarms go off like a Vegas slot machine. Once they take me to "the special room" it takes them a good long time to figure out. I don''t even bother telling them upfront anymore because they''re robots who are trained not listen to you and treat you like you''re a terrorist. When they run the wand over my leg, the first thing they think is that I have a gun my sock and they immediately become hostile and back up. They never ask me to pull up my pant leg, but rather just pat it down...and then they do it about 3 or 4 more times because they had such a big hard on thinking I had a gun. They then get mad because nothing is there and finally come to the conclusion that I have surgical steel in my leg. They then ask, and I say yes I do. No notarized documents.

Happens to me the same way each time like clockwork.

Her mistake was volunteering the information upfront about her boob jewelery before the pat down. Unless she had something like a tire iron hanging off her ***, the person doing the pat down would not have felt the jewelry. After the pat down she could have just as easily said she had a metal rib or something and not gone through total hell with the TSA.

[keithle1]

Who do you think you''re going to get to screen passengers & luggage at airports? The best & the brightest? Do you want FBI Special Agents doing it? They have a high turnover rate at the TSA.

[shanev137]

Hilarious...a story about nipples but you can''t say t~it, but can say boob.

[sistatee-2009]

Next time maybe she could shove toothpicks through her nipples and not get caught.

[jjp735i]

If the men from the TSA ordered the removal and giggled all the while the rings were being removed, then they did it for sport, not because the rings were a threat to anyones safety. Come on, how big a bomb could she have placed in her nipple rings?

If the story is true as reported, the TSA was wrong. What''s next? The removel of penial implants? You know full well some of those old men in Congress will scream the TSA has gone over board then.

[andor3]

"[she]should have taken them out so as to not be nationally embarrassed !"

She is not embarrassed, it is the TSA being spanked in front of everyone. She did nothing wrong and stood up to the goons--a good American and a role model. What is wrong with people that will make them criticize someone like her who is standing up for all of our freedoms?