When my sister got married in Las Vegas a couple of years ago, her college-age daughter packed six cute, brand-new dresses for her first trip to Vegas. When she opened her suitcase at the hotel, all six dresses were missing. Since she had a TSA approved lock on her luggage, only someone with access to a pass key could have stolen the dresses. She reported the theft, but it did no good. She was not reimbursed, her clothing was never returned and she was left feeling very cynical about the TSA.
Apparently, the Federal Government has been receiving a lot of complaints about many aspects of the TSA. On July 31, 2013, TSA officials went in front of Congress to address a scathing report on airport security. Among the issues they were expected to address were the 10,000 cases of TSA misconduct from 2010 to 2012 alone, which have been documented by the Government Accountability Office. The problems suggest that far too many agents are breaking rules and compromising security.
Among the complaints that need to be addressed are TSA pat downs that are considered far too aggressive by many passengers, especially women who have sometimes felt humiliated and embarrassed.
In addition, the Government Accountability Office listed approximately 2,000 cases of airline screeners falling asleep, not following procedures, or allowing relatives to bypass checkpoints. Even when agents have fallen asleep on the job, often their penalty has been no more than a letter of reprimand.
The biggest issue for our family, however, are all the stories of screeners who steal from passengers. The problem is so serious that last year ABC news reporter Brian Ross conducted an undercover investigation. Mr. Ross intentionally left ten iPads at several different airport checkpoints. In nine of thosee cases, the iPads were returned. In Orlando, however, a screener stole the device and it was traced to his home. Other stolen items were also found in this man's home.
Brian Ross also showed undercover video of TSA agents going through the luggage of airline passengers looking for valuables and taking whatever they wanted!
Although the TSA insists that it holds its workers to the highest ethical standards, our family is skeptical.
So-called airport security does not make us feel secure. Recently, at LAX an airport employee set off several dry-ice bombs in secure areas of the airport. Although they did eventually catch him, it took them longer than it should have because they did not have very many security cameras in the non-public areas of the airport. Really?
Today, a Federal Marshal was arrested for taking photographs up the dresses of women who were flying. He admitted doing it on at least 20 different flights. He was caught by airline passengers!
There are currently approximately 56,000 screeners working at the nation's airports, as well as many other airline and government employees who have access to our property when we travel. While I admit that most are doing their job, far too many are not. Consequently, I will continue to carry-on my luggage as frequently as possible. When I do check bags, I will only pack things that won't upset me too much if they are stolen. I feel ridiculous even writing that, when you consider that we spend a fortune trying to assure ourselves that airline travel is safe. From whom? The people who are supposed to be protecting us?
Now I understand what it must have felt like for people to travel by stage coach in the Old West, where they were in constant danger from bandits and other types of attacks.
Isn't that a heck of a way to travel?
Sources:
"Good Morning America," ABC News, July 31, 2013.
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Public domain photo of an airplane is courtesy of www.morguefile.com
