HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- Some air travel changes could affect your next trip.
Tighter airport security means more travelers will start their vacations by stepping into Advanced Imaging Technology body-scanning booths.
The machines, which scan underneath clothes, are already at more than 60 airports across the country - including Tampa International Airport. In fact, four of the machines are in place at TIA.
Until now, the scanning machines have been secondary measures but starting in June they will be primary in the security process.
Transportation Security Administration officials at TIA said they don't expect the security lines to slow down travelers.
And while some civil liberties groups call the scanners electronic strip searches and a violation of privacy, most travelers at TIA said they understand.
"I think it's a little intrusive but I think if it's necessary to keep us safe, then that's what we should do,' said said passenger Stefanie Holmes.
I don't think it's too intrusive- it's not much different from going through the detector, where they can see everything in your pockets, clothes, etc. At least that's how I see it. And unlike profiling, everyone is subjected to it equally- if I'm reading this article correctly. We can't make everybody safe 100 percent, and we can't just give up freedoms because of some possible threat out there, but airport security of this kind seems like common sense to me.
Way too intrusive. I like to think that as an American, I have some civil liberties which don't need to be trampled in order to provide me with a false sense of security.
They're already recording all my cell phone conversations and internet movements/email communications and chats.
Fuck the noisy bastards.
We need to dismantle that damned Patriot Act. Got along just dandy for over 200 years without it.
The same GQP demanding we move on from January 6th, 2021 is still doing audits of the November 3rd, 2020 election.
Hey if it keeps some asshole from getting on a plane and blowing the fucker up I'm all for it I mean sure I don't want them in my business anymore than the next guy but if it means a better chance of me getting to where I need to go in one piece then by all means scan away. I mean really what the hell are they really gonna see? It's more like an x-ray than anything. Just my opinion but then again I don't fly so I gots nothing to worry bout.
Why would it be too intrusive? It's not like they're doing anal cavity searches. These imaging techniques allow the visualization of different densities. They don't allow people to see your cock and balls. of Other than slowing down travel times, I really don't see a problem. Americans seem to always bitch about "civil liberties" almost as a reflex. Seriously. Give me one negative result of scanning passengers. Just one.
I'm going to have to agree with WMM on this one.
I would even go a step further and say the only security we need is to allow people to check in their guns before flying and allow them to hold onto them in flight.
How many people would try something stupid if there were a plane full of other people ready to shoot them?
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Quote by DamonX Americans seem to always bitch about "civil liberties" almost as a reflex. Seriously.
Cause our country has fought long and hard to keep those liberties you talk about us bitching about that's the reason we "bitch" about them as you put it.
Quote by Jillicious I'm going to have to agree with WMM on this one.
I would even go a step further and say the only security we need is to allow people to check in their guns before flying and allow them to hold onto them in flight.
How many people would try something stupid if there were a plane full of other people ready to shoot them?
That's why the Israeli airline El Al is one of the safest in the world to fly on. They've used armed sky marshals for decades now.
Sure. If it stops racial or ethnic profiling, I have absolutely no objection to being bathed in heaven knows what kind of X-rays. Afterall, with good medical coverage I am sure the doctors will be able to treat my cancers.
***sarcsam alert ended***
"Whoa, lady, I only speak two languages, English and bad English." - Korben Dallas, from The Fifth Element
"If history repeats itself, and the unexpected always happens, how incapable must man be of learning from experience?" - George Bernard Shaw
Quote by Jillicious I'm going to have to agree with WMM on this one.
I would even go a step further and say the only security we need is to allow people to check in their guns before flying and allow them to hold onto them in flight.
How many people would try something stupid if there were a plane full of other people ready to shoot them?
Short answer, yes, they would try something. Probably even hoping someone tries to shoot them. Air marshals are tested 4 times a year, on their marksmanship, so they can safely fire a gun in the tight, dangerous confines of an aircraft. Do you really want your neighbour firing off a gun, while you are 30,000 feet in the air? Especially if that neighbour has had a few drinks, do you really trust they will hit what they are aiming at? If you are lucky, they just hit an innocent bystander. If you are unlucky, they bring down the entire plane.
Quote by DamonX Why would it be too intrusive? It's not like they're doing anal cavity searches. These imaging techniques allow the visualization of different densities. They don't allow people to see your cock and balls. of Other than slowing down travel times, I really don't see a problem. Americans seem to always bitch about "civil liberties" almost as a reflex. Seriously. Give me one negative result of scanning passengers. Just one.
It's a fair question- to those that oppose this, how is it an invasion of privacy? How is it different than the x-ray scanning they do now? Those screens pick up things other than metal already. Maybe I'm missing something.
Several years ago, I was flying out of Heathrow Airport in London, alone, with no travelling companion. They were doing random tests of that machine, and the deal was, there were signs that specified it, and stated that anyone could be approached and asked to voluntarily go through the scanner, or be subjected to a full body strip search if the pollite request was refused.
The airport was crowded, it was before Christmas, and I knew damn well that as a woman travelling on her own, my profile was like a flashing light to be picked out of the queue in order to be a participant in this test. The benefit was that it would help me jump the long line to get through regular security, and since my boarding time was fast approaching, it was not a difficult choice to make.
It was handled with discretion, respect, and it was not a big deal. I made it through ahead of the tour groups of travellers who were clogging the security portals. Great!
Of couse, my damn flight was then delayed by two hours, so it didn't make a bit of difference in the long run, to be able to get through that quickly. Except, of course, that it meant I did NOT have to endure the full body strip search, and that would have included cavity searches.
Travelling sucks, no matter what is involved. It just gets worse and worse, in my experience.
To intrusive? No, I don't think it is.
I am not from America so you might say I am not competent enough to participate, but like Gypsymoth said it's happening all over the place..
But do I like those noisy bastards, no I don't and do I like to live in 21.century no I don't either.
I see this invasion into our personal lifes as a progression of the lifes we have been living for last 120 years.. Industry development has reached boundary of impossible and only because of us little people and our demands to have something new, better than naighbour or just different. We are all responsible for what is happening to us.
We all love to use phrases as human rights, civil liberties, women emancipation...How our forefathers fought for our better tomorrow (not just in America), and they did and we do thank them for, but nobody is talking about our dutys we all have as residents of countrys we live in.
they have the full body scans implemented at Heathrow in London...it freaks me out that I'm so exposed...I understand why they are doing it but still it annoys me...But you live in society you have to follow the laws/rules...
Quote by Jebru Short answer, yes, they would try something. Probably even hoping someone tries to shoot them. Air marshals are tested 4 times a year, on their marksmanship, so they can safely fire a gun in the tight, dangerous confines of an aircraft. Do you really want your neighbour firing off a gun, while you are 30,000 feet in the air? Especially if that neighbour has had a few drinks, do you really trust they will hit what they are aiming at? If you are lucky, they just hit an innocent bystander. If you are unlucky, they bring down the entire plane.
It has been proven both theoretically with physics and with actual tests that a bullet hole will not bring down an airplane. It will cause decompression of the cabin but will not be explosive. Even if there were to be a Bernoulli effect outside the small hole it would be minuscule PSI difference of 4. Many aircraft have been shot up and returned to their home base. WWII would give plenty of examples. On the other hand a bomb could cause explosive decompression.
Despite what Hollywood would have you believe an airplane would not be torn apart from a few bullet holes. I know its a shocker considering that Hollywood is always right.
But I do concede to your point about somebody not being a good shot and hitting innocent bystanders.
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Frankly i dont care that some security guard in a closed off booth who cant actually see "me" may see a fuzzy, poor contrast shape that looks a bit like my cock.
My main concern would be that the security we're all hoo-haa-ing about wouldnt actually have detected the explosives worn by the "pants-bomb" guy anyway.
If you walk round the UK these days the fashion is to wear trousers so tight they leave less to the imagination than the scanners. Its just our bits, if you stare at genitalia for more than half an hr they lose their appeal, i think a 12hr shift 6 days a week and they'll be more focussed on looking for weapons than our junk.
Quote by Jebru Short answer, yes, they would try something. Probably even hoping someone tries to shoot them. Air marshals are tested 4 times a year, on their marksmanship, so they can safely fire a gun in the tight, dangerous confines of an aircraft. Do you really want your neighbour firing off a gun, while you are 30,000 feet in the air? Especially if that neighbour has had a few drinks, do you really trust they will hit what they are aiming at? If you are lucky, they just hit an innocent bystander. If you are unlucky, they bring down the entire plane.
It has been proven both theoretically with physics and with actual tests that a bullet hole will not bring down an airplane. It will cause decompression of the cabin but will not be explosive. Even if there were to be a Bernoulli effect outside the small hole it would be minuscule PSI difference of 4. Many aircraft have been shot up and returned to their home base. WWII would give plenty of examples. On the other hand a bomb could cause explosive decompression.
Despite what Hollywood would have you believe an airplane would not be torn apart from a few bullet holes. I know its a shocker considering that Hollywood is always right.
But I do concede to your point about somebody not being a good shot and hitting innocent bystanders.
As a gun owner myself, I have never had to use my gun in self defense. I do carry a gun everywhere I go. That's because it's my right and I'm going to act upon it. I'd rather have a gun and not need it rather than not have it and wish I did.
I don't mind at all... If it can speed up travel time (related to security issues), and ensure higher levels of safety, then I'm all for it.
As long as these scans are fairly "accurate"... I imagine there might be instances where someone is seeing something vaguely suspect and then needs to escalate the situation with more invasive body searches.
As far as the imaging pic looks (that was posted above), I don't think this is a big deal. It's not like they are going to be downloading it onto the internet... Unless this leads to a whole new "body imaging fetish" like the 'up-skirt' websites...
Millimeter(first img) wave technology produces an image that resembles a fuzzy photo negative.
Backscatter(second img) technology produces an image that resembles a chalk etching.
Both technologies are viewed by a Transportation Security Officer in a remote, secure location.
Safety Features
Advanced imaging technology is safe and meets national health and safety standards.
Backscatter technology was evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), the National Institute for Science and Technology (NIST), and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL).
All results confirmed that the radiation doses for the individuals being screened, operators, and bystanders were well below the dose limits specified by the American National Standards Institute.
For comparison, the energy projected by millimeter wave technology is 10,000 times less than a cell phone transmission.
A single scan using backscatter technology produces exposure equivalent to two minutes of flying on an airplane.
Protecting Passenger Privacy
Strict privacy safeguards are built into the foundation of TSA’s use of advanced imaging technology to protect passenger privacy and ensure anonymity.
The officer who assists the passenger never sees the image the technology produces.
The officer who views the image is remotely located, in a secure resolution room and never sees the passenger.
To further protect passenger privacy, millimeter wave technology blurs all facial features and backscatter has an algorithm applied to the entire image.
The two officers communicate via wireless headset. Once the remotely located officer determines threat items are not present, that officer communicates wirelessly to the officer assisting the passenger. The passenger may then continue through the security process.
Advanced imaging technology cannot store, print, transmit or save the image.
Officers evaluating images are not permitted to take cameras, cell phones or photo-enabled devices into the resolution room.
Each image is automatically deleted from the system after it is cleared by the remotely located security officer.
What to Expect
Each passenger will walk into the imaging portal. Once inside, they will be asked to stand in different positions and remain still for just a few moments while the technology creates an image of the passenger in real time.
Once complete, the passenger will exit the opposite side of the portal.
Advanced imaging technology does not store, print, transmit or save the image. All machines have zero storage capability and all images are automatically deleted from the system after they are reviewed by the remotely located security officer.
What are my Options?
Advanced imaging technology screening is optional for all passengers.
Passengers who do not wish to utilize this screening will receive an equal level of screening, including a physical pat-down.
Multiple signs informing passengers about the technology, including sample images, are displayed in plain sight at the security checkpoints, in front of the advanced imaging units.
Many passengers prefer advanced imaging technology. In fact, over 98 percent of passengers who encounter this technology during TSA pilots prefer it over other screening options.
Additionally, passengers with joint replacements or other medical devices that would regularly alarm a metal detector often prefer this technology because it is quicker and less-invasive than a pat down.
Detection
This walk-through imaging technology efficiently detects metallic and non-metallic threats, including weapons, explosives and other items that a passenger is carrying on his/her person, without physical contact.
Quote by DamonX Americans seem to always bitch about "civil liberties" almost as a reflex. Seriously.
Cause our country has fought long and hard to keep those liberties you talk about us bitching about that's the reason we "bitch" about them as you put it.
Haha, let me guess...you'd probably be up in arms if the government took away your "right" to own a machine gun or a grenade launcher too?
Seriously though, what are the negative consequences of getting scanned at the airport? (Besides spouting outdated rhetoric about freedom.)
Quote by DamonX Why would it be too intrusive? It's not like they're doing anal cavity searches. These imaging techniques allow the visualization of different densities. They don't allow people to see your cock and balls. of Other than slowing down travel times, I really don't see a problem. Americans seem to always bitch about "civil liberties" almost as a reflex. Seriously. Give me one negative result of scanning passengers. Just one.
A Transportation Security Administration screener at Miami International Airport was arrested this week for allegedly beating up a co-worker after months of jokes about the size of the screener's genitalia that colleagues observed during training with full-body scanning machines.
A Transportation Security Administration screener at Miami International Airport was arrested this week for allegedly beating up a co-worker after months of jokes about the size of the screener's genitalia that colleagues observed during training with full-body scanning machines.
Sorry but that's just funny. Shit like that happens everywhere: making fun of colleagues/friends/family/classmates/etc.
Or maybe you feel your genitalia are in the same range as the guy who was made fun of?
I agree with DamonX. If the security folks at the airport wanna laugh at my 2 inch cock then I'll join them in laughter and proceed with the usual business that comes with travel by flying.
Insert typical super smart ass comment courtesy of thepainter here.
Haha, let me guess...you'd probably be up in arms if the government took away your "right" to own a machine gun or a grenade launcher too?
Seriously though, what are the negative consequences of getting scanned at the airport? (Besides spouting outdated rhetoric about freedom.)
It's another attempt by our American government (in concert with other like-minded 'allied' governments around the world) to take steps down the slippery slope, in the erosion of civil liberties and personal rights, Damon. It is the encroachment which we, over the age of 45, in America...have been witnessing since the mid to late 1960's. It is part and parcel of the overall reach of the super conservatives who wish to impose their control over the rest of the population.
I won't be spouting off about how our 'forefathers' gave their lives for - blah blah blah. The fact remains that our government, whenever and wherever they can - have been attempting to use horrific events in our past collective memories to justify and then shove new restrictions down our throats.
There are many examples of this, which have occurred in our society, going back to the late 1970's. And since this is not the website where I enjoy debating such matters, I try to limit the depth of my commentary here, on this particular subject as well as other social-political opinions/observations and website URL's to back up my own statements.
I realize that you like to start arguments, by spouting your own mildly inflammatory rhetoric. But I won't be drawn into it, here. If you'd like to engage in a or IRC chat, or email trading campaign...we can have that conversation, though.
Just yesterday, for instance...I posted about how the US National Guard is working in conjunction with representatives from British Petroleum, to threaten journalists and US Citizens with being jailed, for taking photographs of the Louisiana shoreline. Now that too, is yet another fucked up incursion upon Civil Rights. But one that is flying under the radar.
The same GQP demanding we move on from January 6th, 2021 is still doing audits of the November 3rd, 2020 election.
Quote by DamonX Americans seem to always bitch about "civil liberties" almost as a reflex. Seriously.
Cause our country has fought long and hard to keep those liberties you talk about us bitching about that's the reason we "bitch" about them as you put it.
Haha, let me guess...you'd probably be up in arms if the government took away your "right" to own a machine gun or a grenade launcher too?
Seriously though, what are the negative consequences of getting scanned at the airport? (Besides spouting outdated rhetoric about freedom.)
Look if you read my original post I am all for full body scans I have no problems with it what I have a problem with is the government getting to damn big and trying to run MY life not letting me alone sure they have their job to do but stay the hell out of my life otherwise. And seeing as gun ownership has been around in our country for 200+ years damn right I will "bitch" about it when they talk about taking it away. But the whole point of this thread was not gun ownership or civil liberties being taken away it was having body scans being done at the airport. Sure it's not something we enjoy having done but if it keeps us safe in the skies then as I said by all means go for it keep the motherfuckers from ruining your day. Stop them before they can even get on the planes or what ever other mode of transportation they wanna try and harm us on.
And as for your line about owning machine guns or grenade launchers give me a break.
Quote by DamonX Americans seem to always bitch about "civil liberties" almost as a reflex. Seriously.
Cause our country has fought long and hard to keep those liberties you talk about us bitching about that's the reason we "bitch" about them as you put it.
Haha, let me guess...you'd probably be up in arms if the government took away your "right" to own a machine gun or a grenade launcher too?
Seriously though, what are the negative consequences of getting scanned at the airport? (Besides spouting outdated rhetoric about freedom.)
We don't have the right to own machine guns and grenade launchers unless you have a special license. That process is not fun and easy.
Now, I do support the full body scans. Like some others have said, if it helps keep us all safe, by all means do it.
