TSA is a f***ing joke

I can tell you that nearly ALL of the drug cases that we work, IF they are using airlines to tansport drugs or money, have someone on the "inside" who gets the contraband on the plane.  It's kind of silly actually, when you consider what TSA puts passengers through.

We've flown bikes dozens of times.....and every time the case gets opened and searched.  I once checked a case with 4 AR-15's, 8 pistols, 4 bullet proof vests,  and thousands of rounds of ammunition through TSA with nothing more than an X-ray. (we were going to a training week at the Sig Saur complex in New Hampshire)

Yeah, but attempted shoe bombing is at an all-time low (down from its high of 1 attempt in 2009).

I agree that it's pretty weak and focused in weird areas, but I'll caution you to be careful.  When it comes to the law I've found that if they want to arrest you they will, no matter what you're doing.  
We do a fair amount of work at the airport and on the numerous times I've been wandering around on the tarmac (no background check, search, or anything) I've often thought that the security should be a little tighter on the back side.

I'l agree that their reactive methods seem (are) milquetoast, and there will never be a lack of stories of things going thru TSA that shouldn't.  I personally think TSA is a joke as well

That said....

I agree with the TSA agents that you were being difficult.  Why not let them pat you down on the way out?  Sure, that's got nothing to do with whether you had something going into the plane, but bring that up later with your boss.  "Hey, they may wanna think about.... " etc.  Arguing with them on the spot is sort of like telling a cop they're wrong.  How many times has that gone well?

And this isn't a "they're taking our freedom away" issue, as you are in an area that is subject to federal law and highly regulated and protected.  You aren't John Doe just waling down the street getting harassed.

Way back in law school some friends and I went to a Raiders game at the arena, and tailgated on the grass outside.  Mounted officers rode up and started giving everyone tickets. Most everyone gave lip "don't you have real criminals to arrest," blah blah.  I kept my mouth frickin shut.  When the time came for the court case, they all had to show up, whereas mine never made it into the system.  Divine providence?  Luck? Sloppy police work?  A tip of the hat for being respectful?  Never know, but cost me a lot less anyway

(not that she deserved it) but I never got the Sandra Bland style of responding to authority

Anyway, just my .02 on the matter.

Agreed.....I teach my kids the same thing.  Just keep your mouth shut and pay attention to what everyone is doing. 

The only "adverse" advice I give my kids is to ALWAYS respectfully say no if a cop asks to search your car, your house, or your person.

Originally posted by mdg2003 Yeah, I get that and am always very courteous when dealing with law enforcement ( learned the hard way at 18. Similar story to yours LB. I was passenger in car, we got pulled over and my buddy who was driving was drunker than I was. I shot off my mouth, he stayed quiet. He got out in 4 hours after bail was posted. Mine was posted earlier than his but I spent the entire next day in jail; seems my paperwork got misplaced. . His DWI even disappeared by the time he got to court and was never charged. I got a PI charge and was fined. Lesson learned.) I don't consider them to be actual law enforcement, but i do comply with all of their requests. It is a condition of my employment and required to keep my security clearances. I just like to tweak them up a bit when the opp arises. I just get annoyed that they need to hassle us when they have a gaping hole in the net right behind them. I have a gate I drive through to access the airfield. It's not manned and every service vehicle and caterer uses it. I could drive through it in one of our golf carts, with a stinger missile on my shoulder and I could drive to the edge of the runway, shoot down a plane, all unchecked. Gaping hole. And they are putting a microscope on me. Yeah, I see what I did there. I did get a phone call from my boss within 5 minutes of the incident happening. My boss got a call from his boss, who had gotten called by his boss! Someone took the incident pretty seriously.

You're on the "watch list".  LMAO

Now they'll probably get your IP address, then see us talking and get mine.....next thing you know, your boss is calling my boss. 

great advice.  I learned long ago that you can't beat the ride, but you can beat the rap later.   In other words comply with anything they tell you to do and worry about "making it right" later on in a courtroom.

The TSA personnel are in full panic mode because they just realized that this extra time they are having to spend out on the tarmac watching people there is eating into the time they can dedicate to their theft racket, at least until they can hire some more felons to watch the tarmac.

once you open the trunk you open the door for a really shite day

There are many kids in and out of my kid's cars......I have no idea what may have been left inside inadvertently.   Besides, it's just a really good idea not to give the Police too much power.....some don't handle it well.  Your rights are in place for a reason, you should exercise them.

big +1

Fortunately it didn't pass, but the idiot senators in Nebraska tried passing a law a few years back that made you guilty of possession of a concealed handgun even if you had ammunition in your car.  The way it was written allowed for even a single spent shell casing to be considered a "weapon".  Can you imagine your teenage kid driving the car and they find a spent casing.  go directly to jail do not pass go.

The point is, you don't know what kind of stupid laws or city statutes there are, so the easy way out is to simply refuse consent for a search.  If they have a warrant or probable cause, then by all means get out of their way.  If not, then politely refuse.

Two lines at the airport;  One, slow moving, has TSA Agents dutifully wasting your time with "meaningless" searches.  The other-no security at all-Zero. 

And if it saves just ONE LIFE, I'm STILL getting in the TSA line. 

Are You??

Reading between the lines, it appears you just said that you're a danger and need to be searched.  TSA should be at your house within the hour with a no knock warrant.  

Why do you hate Mexico?