Even in the USA, 9 out of 10 times they make you wait 5-10 minutes as a penalty while “waiting for a hand screening to be available” when it’s clear they are available right away.
Although these are safe enough if they work correctly, there is always a possibility that the software will fail and direct all the radiation in one place, frying my gonads.
Personally I like the idea of strangers getting excited looking at my naked body. If they were safe this might actually be fun.
A guy in front of me flying out of Boston Logan a couple of weeks ago opted out; they pulled him aside, did the pat-down and back-of-the-hand swipes, and he was through the line about the same time I was.
Then again, the last time I flew out of Berlin, they pulled my laptop out of my carry-on and I had to wait a good ten minutes for a guy to ride up on a bicycle and pull out a little vacuum-cleaner thingy to hoover between the keys until I got the go-ahead that I hadn’t stashed cocaine in it, so I guess they’re a bit more hard-core in Europe.
Is this a real technique used by druggies? I mean, who wants to snort dandruff and cat hair up their nose?
Does that mean I have to include them in my Friends circle?
What’s the increase in cancer rates with these machines? I recall that it’s a small number, less than a percent, but also not an insignificant number.
My guess was that they were looking for any drug residue, with the theory that if I was packing drugs or doing drug business, some bits would settle in between my keys? It seemed weird to me, too.
What’s the increase in cancer rates with these machines?
If these are relatively new (millimeter wave) machines, probably about the same as using your computer.
The machines that I think you are referring to are the backscatter machines that used ionizing radiation.
Ah. I forgot that the minimum needed to arrest someone is a molecule. My mistake.
Yeah, I imagine they are safer. However there is a principle in medicine when dealing with ultrasound doses called ALARA – “as low as reasonably achievable.” In other words, don’t put unnecessary radiation in the body even if it seems to be negligible. And TSA scanners would seem to be about as unnecessary as the old x-ray foot scanners used in shoe stores way back when.
Yeah, but don’t forget that people going through the scanners are headed for an airplane where they are going to get a relative whopper of a dose of ionizing radiation. It’s a little like complaining about the dentist using a computer to show you dental xrays because of the added radiation.
I thought maybe it was to scan my devices for porn. Phew!
“It’s ok if we shoot at you a little, it’s only a BB gun, because soon you’re gonna be shot at a lot!”
I see where you’re coming from, but still, I’d rather they stopped…
It almost makes me glad I have no life and never go anywhere.
I’m cis female and one at SeaTac flagged my crotch for some reason. So it doesn’t even work right for that, apparently. I was not smuggling anything in my knickers.
How can you tell them apart?
I mean, who doesn’t?
Say what you want about the TSA, but they’re totally professional when this comes to that.
I fly (mostly in North America) with some regularity and have yet to go through one of these scanners. Without exception my request to “opt out” has been dealt with quickly and courteously. The last time it happened the security person actually said they like doing “opt outs” as it breaks the routine.
Way back when n the days when the deuchmark was still money I went through Frankfurt for work wil a carry on full of gear. Got flagged and taken into the bomb inspection room etc.
Considering the domestic terror incidents Germany experienced I did not resent it.
If you had any American currency on you it’s a good thing they didn’t check that instead.
