Major US Airport To Evict TSA Screeners
Orlando Sanford International could prompt stampede of other opt-outs
One of America’s busiest airports, Orlando Sanford International, has announced it will opt out of using TSA workers to screen passengers, a move which threatens the highly unpopular federal agency’s role in other airports across the nation.
“The president of the airport said Tuesday that he would apply again to use private operators to screen passengers, using federal standards and oversight,” reports the Miami Herald.
With Sanford International having originally been prevented by the TSA from opting out back in November 2010 when the federal agency froze the ability for airports to use their own private screeners, a law passed by the Senate last month forces the TSA to reconsider applications.
Larry Dale hinted that the move was motivated by the innumerable horror stories passengers have told of their encounters with the TSA, noting that the change was designed to provide a more “customer friendly” operation.
The agency has been slow to reissue the guidelines on the the rule change, prompting Republican Representatives John Mica of Florida, Darrell Issa of California and Jason Chaffetz of Utah to press TSA head John Pistole to implement the mandate.
...Orlando Sanford is in the top 30 busiest airports in the world, with large numbers of takeoffs and landings.
The TSA has been keen to downplay the opportunity for airports to dispense with their screeners, fearing a mass exodus that could undermine the justification for the agency’s continued existence, especially given the fact that its reputation has been repeatedly savaged by a number of scandals.
...A November 2010 poll found that the TSA’s “enhanced pat downs,” some of which include touching genitalia, angered 57% of regular adult fliers.
West Yellowstone Airport in Montana has already replaced its TSA screeners with private security. Bert Mooney Airport, also in Montana, is attempting to do the same...
A step in the right direction. The TSA needs to be stuck from the federal budget and its history shown as an example of why every agency must justify i's existence ever two years. I defy anyone to show me one example of a TSA pervert patdown or other abuse of the public stopping a terrorist or other criminal act. I've said more than once the rent a cops at the bus station near my beat are more useful and a damned site less expensive.
If you want a good video to remember, Captain Chris Liu, a San Francisco based pilot who showed how he as the airplane captain had to go through the harassment as all the other passengers but the staff that services the plane only has to scan a badge. Yo guys, if the captain is compromised the game is over, the plane is doomed. So after Captain Liu shows how ridiculous the TSA is what do they do? Harass the man at his house.
Let us pray the TSA will only be a bad memory of passengers soon enough.
UPDATE: TSA finally shows it can find Al Queda.
A three year old with a broken leg, confined to a wheel chair. Where do we get such idiots. Oh yea, civil service.
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