http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2010-11-16-airportpatdowns16_ST_N.htm
Napolitano 'open' to fliers' gripes over screening
.
By <http://content.usatoday.com/topics/reporter/Charisse+Jones> Charisse
Jones, USA TODAY
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Monday that the agency has
an "open ear" to any "adjustments" to security measures in place at the
nation's airports, as some groups and individuals continued to call for a
boycott of full-body scanning machines that they complain are invasive.
At
<http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Ronald+Reagan+Washington+National+
Airport> Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Napolitano reiterated
points she made in a column published Monday in USA TODAY - that the imaging
technology does not violate fliers' privacy.
But, she said, "if there are adjustments we need to make to these procedures
as we move forward, we have an open ear. We will listen."
She added that "if people want to travel by some other means," they have
that right.
READ MORE:
<http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2010-11-15-1Anapolitano15_ST_N.htm>
Napolitano asks fliers for 'patience' on body scanners
UNIONS:
<http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2010-11-11-scanners11_ST_N.htm>
Pilots should avoid body scanners
PAT-DOWNS:
<http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2010-10-29-tsa-pat-downs_N.htm>
Airport screeners get more aggressive
Napolitano's comments came amid criticism by some travelers, passenger
groups and state lawmakers that the scanning machines that see through
clothing and new pat-down procedures that fliers can choose as an
alternative are intrusive and are increasing the wait at checkpoints.
Among the pushback to the security measures:
.A bipartisan group of legislators in New Jersey announced a resolution
asking Congress to ban use of the full-body scanning machines.
.A blog posting by John Tyner, a passenger who was flying out of
<http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/San+Diego+International+Airport>
San Diego Airport on Saturday, went viral. Tyner refused both a body scan
and the alternative pat down, recording it all with his cellphone and then
posting the incident online. (
<http://johnnyedge.blogspot.com/2010/11/these-events-took-place-roughly-betw
een.html>
http://johnnyedge.blogspot.com/2010/11/these-events-took-place-roughly-betwe
en.html). In it, he tells a Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
agent about to conduct a pat down: "If you touch my junk, I'm gonna have you
arrested."
.And a
<http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Culture/Computers+and+Internet/Fac
ebook> Facebook fan page for "National Opt-Out Day," called for Nov. 24, the
day before Thanksgiving, has drawn hundreds of fans. The site, along with
some other groups, is encouraging fliers to refuse the full-body scans if
they are averse to them and to get the pat downs instead.
"People think it's just gone too far," says Kate Hanni, executive director
of the travel group flyersrights.org, which is calling for a boycott of the
scanners. "People want to be secure, but they know they're not unsafe and
they feel like they're being turned into the enemy."
The body scanning machines are being rolled out to airports across the U.S.
to help pinpoint metallic and non-metallic weapons that might be hidden on a
terrorist's body. And in late October, new pat-down measures were introduced
that are designed to be more effective in finding hidden threats. The pat
downs can be chosen as an option by passengers who do not want to go through
the imaging machines or standard metal detectors.
Napolitano says the machines are safe, "cannot store, export, print or
transmit images," and have successfully ferreted out weapons.
Critics worry the scanners may emit radiation that could be harmful to
travelers' health, and complain that they feel violated by the screening
methods.
Passengers who refuse to complete screening would be prevented from boarding
their flights, and could face a fine as high as $11,000, though those fines
have up to now never been imposed.
TSA Administrator John Pistole says boycotts of the machines are
"irresponsible."
"On the eve of a major national holiday and less than one year after
al-Qaeda's failed attack last Christmas Day, it is irresponsible for a group
to suggest travelers opt out of the very screening that may prevent an
attack using non-metallic explosives," he says. "This technology is not only
safe, it's vital to aviation security and a critical measure to thwart
potential terrorist attacks."
Some travelers say that they are also seeing the amount of time spent in
security lines increase.
"Last week was the worst I've seen in about a year," says Mat Castaneda,
director of sales and marketing for an energy technology company in Orange
County, Calif. He says that he waited nearly an hour during screening at Los
Angeles International for a flight to Houston.
"I am getting fed up, and I think a lot of people are becoming a little more
frustrated about the compounding security procedures," he says. "It doesn't
seem like they take anything back. It started out with no liquids, and then
(you had to) take your shoes off and now you have to basically strip down."
He chose the scanning machine rather than the pat down. "When I looked at
the line, I thought it was just quicker," Castaneda says. "I didn't really
want to take another five to 10 minutes. ... It was the lesser of two
evils."
The TSA says that wait times have not risen because of the procedures.
But Steve Lott, spokesman for the International Air Transport Association,
which represents roughly 230 airlines around the world, says that there have
been delays.
Some travelers say the screening steps are something the flying public must
accept, despite inconvenience. "I think they are terribly intrusive, but
necessary," says Cathy Adams, a research psychologist who lives in
Williamsburg, Va.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may
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