3 ms·

This makes a lot of sense. Had someone with authority said "Sir, unfortunately, the way the airport is laid out, you must enter the secured area of the airport

by dedward 16y ago

This makes a lot of sense. Had someone with authority said "Sir, unfortunately, the way the airport is laid out, you must enter the secured area of the airport in order to leave, and therefore we have to put you through our screening process." then there would be no trouble. Equally less troublesome would have been if the TSA had simply realized this and told the police "No problem, he's not connecting anywhere - please just escort him out of the building safely." That seems logical, and seems to be what happened in the end - as soon as someone actually made a decision.

syllogism 16y ago
He can still ask to be escorted through the secured area --- which is what seems to have happened.
- dedward 16y ago
  Yup - and he was offerred this earlier on in the story - though when he pushed the police on the pat-down procedure, they wouldn't commit to anything. They said they "might" have to pat him down before escorting him (which seems reasonable if they are being asked to securely transport him through the facility. While they didn't insist on groping his nads like the TSA does, they couldn't promise that wouldn't happen at all. There was wiggle room there. Had the cops said "We aren't like the TSA -but if we're going to escort you out of the building, we need to pat you down for weapons like we would any other person we're transporting - are you okay with that?" it might have been over.
  - epo 16y ago
    I don't understand this. Clearly a search may be necessary to detect smuggled contraband, but that is the job of Customs. What grounds are there for the TSA to search someone not boarding a flight? If there is a worry about carrying concealed weapons out of the airport then surely the appropriate agency is the police. Why do the TSA have to do anything with someone who has disembarked and is entering US soil?
slowpoison 16y ago
In that case, pat-down wouldn't have been an option!

by dedward 16y ago

syllogism 16y ago

He can still ask to be escorted through the secured area --- which is what seems to have happened.

dedward 16y ago
Yup - and he was offerred this earlier on in the story - though when he pushed the police on the pat-down procedure, they wouldn't commit to anything. They said they "might" have to pat him down before escorting him (which seems reasonable if they are being asked to securely transport him through the facility. While they didn't insist on groping his nads like the TSA does, they couldn't promise that wouldn't happen at all. There was wiggle room there. Had the cops said "We aren't like the TSA -but if we're going to escort you out of the building, we need to pat you down for weapons like we would any other person we're transporting - are you okay with that?" it might have been over.
- epo 16y ago
  I don't understand this. Clearly a search may be necessary to detect smuggled contraband, but that is the job of Customs. What grounds are there for the TSA to search someone not boarding a flight? If there is a worry about carrying concealed weapons out of the airport then surely the appropriate agency is the police. Why do the TSA have to do anything with someone who has disembarked and is entering US soil?

slowpoison 16y ago

In that case, pat-down wouldn't have been an option!