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Tag Archives for tsa.

Here’s What ‘Suspicious Behavior’ Can Get You Stopped at the Airport

by Gary Leff on March 30, 2019

Mar 30 2019

The city you’re flying from (Los Angeles, Chicago, New York), your clothing (a hoodie), and even eagerness to get your bags at baggage claim are suspicious and can get you stopped. So can looking like someone with those characteristics that the police notice while following someone else. You’d be surprised how often you’re being watched at the airport, and that the government can stop you — and take your stuff.

Last year it was revealed that the TSA was assigning agents to follow ordinary Americans and record their behavior. That behavior was exposed and shamed, both because it was creepy and for no legitimate purpose. But creepy violations of civil liberties don’t just stem from the war on terror, they’re still a feature of the war on drugs as well.

The TSA is Training Saudi Arabian Air Marshals

by Gary Leff on March 28, 2019

Mar 28 2019

The US government is having the TSA train Saudi Arabia to stand up an air marshal program. It’s enough to almost make you feel bad for the Saudis.

Air marshals have smuggled cocaine, engaged in sex trafficking, and discharged their weapons in hotels and bars. We spend $200 million per arrest on the air marshal program. And to be clear that is not $200 million per arrest of a terror suspect, most are just passengers behaving badly. They’ve never stopped a terrorist.

Trump Proposes Higher TSA Taxes and Asiana Has a Problem

by Gary Leff on March 22, 2019

Mar 22 2019

A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.

The Craziest TSA Checkpoint Story I’ve Ever Heard (Yes, Drugs Were Involved)

by Gary Leff on February 10, 2019

Feb 10 2019

A woman screams “I know my rights” as she shoved past a TSA checkpoint in Orlando. I know her rights too, that’s one that no court has recognized. But it’s also not where the story starts to get weird, or where it stops.

The 38 year old woman drove up to curbside at Orlando International airport departures on Wednesday at about 8:30 p.m. She went inside and demanded at the Southwest Airlines ticket counter “to be checked in for a flight and to have her truck parked.”

You can probably guess where this one eventually ends, but not how it gets there.

California Will Make Illegal Unemployment Payments to TSA Screeners as Wait Times Worsen

by Gary Leff on January 19, 2019

Jan 19 2019

TSA is telling individual airports not to reveal the percentage of screeners calling in sick. Nationally though they’re releasing airport wait time statistics and those are bad – very bad.

The Governor of California is encouraging TSA workers to claim unemployment benefits in his state despite guidance from the US Department of Labor saying it’s not legal to offer such payments.

Should Airlines Pay TSA Screeners and Air Traffic Controllers During the Shutdown?

by Gary Leff on January 17, 2019

Jan 17 2019

Security wait times have increased as TSA screeners call in sick — coming to work not knowing when they’ll be paid is demoralizing. Air traffic controllers are working without knowing when they’ll be paid, too. But is there any reason that has to be so?

Should US airlines hire the screeners and air traffic controllers and pay them directly?

TSA is the Final Arbiter of What You Can — and Cannot — Feed Your Baby

by Gary Leff on January 15, 2019

Jan 15 2019

A Hawaiian family traveling on Sunday night with their one and a half year old baby was stopped at the security checkpoint at Honolulu airport when a TSA screener refused to allow them to pass with their baby food.

Passengers are permitted to bring any amount of baby food, breast milk or formula necessary for the flight through checkpoints in spite of standard rules limiting the amount of checkpoints that can go through security. However it seems the TSA takes it upon itself to decide what is and is not appropriate for babies to eat.

No Pay: TSA Agents Fight Back at JFK Airport By Blasting Kanye and Travis Scott

by Gary Leff on January 14, 2019

Jan 14 2019

TSA agents are expressing themselves at New York JFK during the government shutdown, while they’re expecting not to be paid until the shutdown ends — though they’re getting some pay anyway, in hopes they’ll show up to work.

Their choice of music is everything.

TSA Will Partially Pay Screeners in an Attempt to Get Them to Show Up For Work

by Gary Leff on January 13, 2019

Jan 13 2019

With nationwide sickouts approaching Miami levels, TSA is making a partial payroll payment and bonusing employees despite the government shutdown that would appear to the legality of doing so questionable.

Unscheduled sick leave hit 5.6% on Friday compared to a 3.3 percent who had unscheduled absences on Jan. 13, 2018.”

So Many TSA Screeners are Calling in Sick Miami Will Be Closing Concourse G Early

by Gary Leff on January 11, 2019

Jan 11 2019

During the government shutdown most employees are furloughed. TSA screeners, however, are supposed to work. They won’t be paid until funding is restored. Screeners have been calling out sick at a higher rate than normal with what’s being referred to as ‘blue flu’ (screeners wear blue uniforms).

At Miami the sick out rate is higher than average, and the airport will close the G concourse checkpoints in the afternoon to compensate. G primarily serves United, Frontier, Sun County, and Bahamasair.

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