Ask Slashdot: What's the Best Way To Deal With Roving TSA Teams?

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Ask Slashdot: What's the Best Way To Deal With Roving TSA Teams?

Posted by Soulskill on Friday January 6, 2012 @10:26AM from the tip-well dept.

An anonymous reader writes "I live in Boston, and I have noticed the TSA performs random security checks at the Copley T (subway station) and other locations. I routinely travel with a laptop, iPhone, and other gadgetry. What are my rights when asked by one of the TSA agents to 'come over here'? Can I say no and proceed with my private business? What if a police officer says that I 'must go over there and cooperate'? Can I decline or ask for a warrant? Like the majority of the population, I turn into an absolute shrinking violet when pressured by intimidating authority, but I struggle with what I see to be blatant social devolution. Has anybody out there actually responded rationally, without complying? What were your experiences?"

19 of 1,059 comments (clear)

Just keep calm... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-01-06 10:28 · Score: 5, Funny

Turn around and RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!!! Or maybe you can duck and cover... It's up to you...
1. Re:Just keep calm... by Eunuchswear · 2012-01-06 11:26 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  /Yorkshire man/
  You lucky bastard - my history classes finished with the tudors
  /
  (true story - the UK in the 70 s)
  
  --
  Watch this Heartland Institute video
2. Re:Just keep calm... by bmo · 2012-01-06 11:45 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Go up to the TSA team...
  "Hey guys, I saw some guy read the sign, turn around and head toward Downtown Crossing"
  "Nah, I didn't get a good look at him, but he had a beard and a backpack"
  --
  BMO
3. Re:Just keep calm... by kelemvor4 · 2012-01-06 12:13 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Exactly.
  This, and TSA appearing at bus terminals to pat down children is just the current administration's way of slowly inuring you to the "your papers please" gestapo tactics they seek to impose on the american public.
  With congress rolling over and approving every dime in the TSA budget there seems no likelihood this will stop any time soon.
  Pedophiles need jobs too, and the TSA was hiring that day.
4. Re:Just keep calm... by CptNerd · 2012-01-06 12:22 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  To paraphrase Orwell: "Imagine a blue uniform fondling your genitals forever."
  
  --
  By the taping of my glasses, something geeky this way passes
5. Re:Just keep calm... by knifeyspooney · 2012-01-06 12:34 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  You've made clear the problem that Boston's subway stations tend to be within walking distance of each other. But there's no such problem in DC, where you usually have to drive a long way between stations. And only some kind of homicidal maniac would want to drive in DC traffic!
  Wait a sec...
6. Re:Just keep calm... by sqldr · 2012-01-06 12:54 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Here's a good tip: strip down naked, lather yourself up in goose fat, then jump arse-first into the nearest large bin so you can fellate yourself. Won't help you with the TSA, but I'm always happy to share good ideas.
  
  --
  I wrote my first program at the age of six, and I still can't work out how this website works.
7. Re:Just keep calm... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-01-06 12:56 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  That's not a very nice thing to do to RMS, dude.
8. Re:Just keep calm... by TheGratefulNet · 2012-01-06 13:08 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Well, let me tell you of the story
  Of a man named Charlie
  On a tragic and fateful day...
  He put ten cents in his pocket, kissed his wife and family
  Went to ride on the MTA.
  
  Well did he ever return, no he never returned
  And his fate is still unlearned (what a pity)...
  He may hide forever in the cells of gitmo,
  He's the man who never returned.
  
  --
  
  --
  "It is now safe to switch off your computer."
9. Re:Just keep calm... by Grishnakh · 2012-01-06 13:14 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Then let me give you some advice: VOTE, in the PRIMARIES, for someone else, anyone else. Hell, Hillary would have been a much better president than Obama. Any of the people running against Obama on the Dem ticket in '08 would have been a better choice. There's people "standing up", you just have to vote for them. If you're a believer in Democrat values (I'm not, I'm in the middle), Kucinich would be a great choice, and he ran in '08 too, but of course no one voted for him.
Well... by Moheeheeko · 2012-01-06 10:29 · Score: 4, Funny

Seeing as they just passed a defence bill allowing indefinite detention without trial for suspected terrorists, for now I would just go with it.
What are you hiding? by cheekyjohnson · 2012-01-06 10:32 · Score: 3, Funny

Why would you want to avoid the TSA? What are you hiding?
You must be a criminal!

--
Filthy, filthy copyrapists!
1. Re:What are you hiding? by mombodog · 2012-01-06 10:51 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  I'm Innocent!
  TSA:Innocent of what?
Re:Ask Slashdot? by Attack+DAWWG · 2012-01-06 10:39 · Score: 5, Funny

No no NO! What are you talking about? Slashdot has the best armchair lawyers on earth.
Re:the advantage of dealing with police by geminidomino · 2012-01-06 10:41 · Score: 5, Funny

When it comes to police in most civilized societies
You do realize that Boston (mentioned in TFS) is within the USofA, right?
Re:"I do not consent to a search." by Anonymous Coward · 2012-01-06 10:47 · Score: 5, Funny

I'm from Canada and .. to be honest, I've SEEN videos of these questions - I assume the police/TSA have too... I'd be VERY suspect if you started into that.
Why not ask 50 questions and be so pleasant they can't handle you? Like Mr. Rodgers on steroids.
"Why hello officer! How are you today? Made a lot of arrests today??"
"Have you ever tried that little restaurant on 5th street?"
"How long have you been on the job? Really? You must have shot or tazed a lot of people by now!!!" (Even if they respond "its my first day..." )
"Do you find lots of crazies down here in the subway? I saw a guy wearing a paper bag with eye holes cut out earlier this week.. did you catch him?"
"How drunk was the drunkest guy you've ever arrested? Do you think YOU'VE ever been that drunk? Oh come on, you can tell me, I won't tell anyone.."
Continue to ask the stupidest questions you can think of, VERY LOUDLY, drawing lots of attention to yourself and the situation. They'll either think you're nuts and arrest you, ... Since you're clearly not a terrorist -- and were being quite nice, but loud, with plenty of witnesses, you should be fine. right?
Re:"I do not consent to a search." by squidflakes · 2012-01-06 10:56 · Score: 3, Funny

My god.... The Canadian Defense has been explained! I hope you realize what you've just unleashed on the world sir.
Re:Bureaucrats Not Officers by ron_ivi · 2012-01-06 11:02 · Score: 3, Funny

Does that mean you can call the (real) cops on them if they try to detain you?
Re:Hell that's nothing by Anne+Thwacks · 2012-01-06 23:19 · Score: 3, Funny

We can help them along by electing a President with both principles and testicles: Ron Paul.
Forget the principles, if you want a politician with two first names: vote for Ron Jeremy

--
Sent from my ASR33 using ASCII