[nfb-talk] TSA discrimination in Orlando

T. Joseph Carter carter.tjoseph at gmail.com
Sun Jul 10 23:08:10 UTC 2011


Ashley, this is what you want:

> Walkers, crutches, canes, and other devices that can fit through 
> the X-ray machine must undergo X-ray screening (with exception of 
> white collapsible cane)
> 
> 
> Ask the Security Officer for assistance (arm, hand, shoulder to 
> lean on) until you are reunited with your device.
> 
> 
> The Security Officer will perform a hand inspection of your 
> equipment if it cannot fit through the X-ray machine.
> 
> 
> Notify the Security Officer if your device requires special 
> handling.
> 
> 
> Walkers will be visually inspected and any attached basket, 
> pockets, or compartment(s) will be physically inspected.
> 
> 
> All items hanging from a cane or walker must be submitted for X-ray 
> inspection.
> 
> 
> Ask the Security Officer for assistance, if needed, when placing 
> items on the X-ray belt.
> 
> 
> Ask for assistance with your device if you need it.
> 
> 
> Collapse canes whenever possible before they are put on the X-ray 
> belt.
> 
> 
> Once device(s) have been screened, Security Officers will hand back 
> your device(s) to you in such a manner that helps you proceed 
> without difficulty.


Taken directly from 
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/editorial_1370.shtm 
verbatim.

My cane was to be returned to me, and then I was to be permitted to 
proceed.  Because that is what I requested happen, I was subjected to 
punitive extra screening, in public.  My cane WAS scanned properly 
and no problem was found with it, nor with me.  The "security checks" 
were entirely punitive in nature, and made to be as degrading as 
possible because I would not be led around like a small child.

Joseph

On Sun, Jul 10, 2011 at 05:59:38PM -0400, bookwormahb at earthlink.net wrote:
>Steve,
>Yes. Same with me.
>I've gone through the metal detector with the cane and if I use my 
>graphite cane, it does not set it off.
>Nor will NFB canes with metal tips,. They always screen the cane 
>after I walk through with it.
>I think Joeseph is upset for being "punished" for
>desiring to walk with his cane. I understand. I'd like to know the 
>regulations, so we know our rights.
>It seems like different TSA screeners do different things.
>Thanks, Michael for informing us that pat downs can  be done in a 
>private area.
>
>Ashley
>
>-----Original Message----- From: Steve Jacobson
>Sent: Sunday, July 10, 2011 5:15 PM
>To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] TSA discrimination in Orlando
>
>Mike,
>
>While I generally just send my cane through the scanner and walk the 
>three feet without it, my impression was the fact
>that the search and pat down appears to be a punishment for what Joe 
>did rather than a security procedure was the
>issue.  I have taken my cane through the detector, and have generally 
>found that if I keep the tip on the floor it
>doesn't set it off, but of course, that doesn't guarantee it isn't 
>loaded with gun powder or something.  If I am interpreting
>what Joe said correctly, though, I don't blame him for feeling upset.  
>I truly feel that some of the security people get off
>on the power that they have and use it to win a battle of wills 
>needlessly. However, I don't think we're going to win
>anything in court these days if it involves security.  Whether that 
>is right or wrong is really irrelevent for now because it
>is the way things are.
>
>Best regards,
>
>Steve Jacobson
>
>On Sun, 10 Jul 2011 12:31:36 -0700, Mike Freeman wrote:
>
>>Joseph:
>
>>In my opinion, your outrage is misplaced. Courts all the way up to the
>>Supreme Court have ruled that civil rights are extensively modified in
>>airports and that, in effect, TSA can violate your personal space in ways
>>that would not be tolerated in other settings. I know some will disagree
>>with me here but if one can't walk three feet through a metal detector
>>without one's cane, one is pretty badly off! Abstract principles don't
>>matter in these cases: as I say, you won't win in court.
>
>>Mike
>
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>Behalf Of T. Joseph Carter
>>Sent: Sunday, July 10, 2011 9:33 AM
>>To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>>Subject: [nfb-talk] TSA discrimination in Orlando
>
>>I am copying Scott LaBarre on this message for his opinion, but have
>>not done so openly to keep him from receiving every single reply to
>>this message as well.
>
>>I had absolutely no trouble in my home state of Oregon getting
>>through Transportation Security Administration security screening.
>>The TSA officials at Portland International Airport know the blind
>>quite well, and they know the laws.  They follow them.
>
>>In Florida, however, returning from convention, I was told that I was
>>required by law to relinquish my cane and step through the scanner
>>with a sighted guide.  I said that once scanned, I could step through
>>with my cane.  It contains metal only on its tip.
>
>>The TSA official told me that was against the law.
>
>>I insisted that it was not, and offered to share the specific
>>regulations in question.
>
>>The TSA officer did not want to see the regulations.  She told me
>>that hundreds of blind people were coming through the airport, and
>>not one single person before me had protested being required to
>>travel without their cane.
>
>>I once again offered the copy of the regulations, which were not
>>accepted.  Another officer offered to send a supervisor at this
>>point, which the officer declined as well.
>
>>I was told at that point that I would be allowed to have my cane, but
>>that the consequence of my unwillingness to comply with being
>>stripped of my dignity would be a full security pat-down.  I was told
>>this before I ever stepped through the metal detector.
>
>>I did not set off the metal detector upon stepping through, as you
>>might predict using a rigid fiberglass NFB cane.  I was, however,
>>still subjected to the humiliating additional screening as a punitive
>>matter.
>
>>During this full security pat-down, I was forced, in full view of
>>other passengers, to remove articles of clothing, had my groin and
>>other personal areas felt by security personnel, and tested for
>>explosive chemical residues among other things.  I was told that this
>>was all being done because I had in fact set off the metal detector,
>>though it had made no sound when I passed through it as it had when
>>the officer before me had done so.
>
>>After another five minutes, most (but not all) of my belongings were
>>returned to me.  The TSA officers refused to account for my things,
>>and threatened arrest when I would not leave the testing area,
>>without the return of all of my possessions.  To defuse this
>>situation, an officer who had not been part of the preceding was came
>>over and located my missing items and returned them to me.
>
>>I want to know why it is that the government is permitted to treat
>>the blind in this shameful way?  And to whom do we register our
>>formal, written complaint?  At the very least, the TSA of this
>>particular airport need training in the law concerning passengers
>>with disabilities.  More properly, a full investigation of the
>>repeated lies and attempts by officers to cover up this incident
>>through threats and intimidation is also warranted.
>
>>TSA records video of their checkpoints, and I think that video will
>>show, for example, that I did not actually set off the metal detector
>>upon passing through it, among other things.  They do not record
>>audio, however, so we may not be able to prove the lies, the threats,
>>and the intimidation unless others were denied their canes (which I
>>already know they were) and any others stood up for their rights
>>(which the TSA say none ever did.)
>
>>What I can prove is that we of the National Federation of the Blind
>>do not request the same dignity that is afforded to the sighted
>>public.  To do so would be to presume the possibility that we ought
>>to be treated any differently.  No, we insist upon it!  If my own
>>treatment is any indication, the Transportation Security
>>Administration seems to believe that we are merely asking for equal
>>treatment.  They seem to feel as if they are free to answer in the
>>negative.  I think it is time that we ensure they learn that they are
>>mistaken.  What do you think?
>
>>T. Joseph Carter
>>Just a blind guy trying to get home
>
>
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