Apply Now!

Elderly woman asked to remove adult diaper during TSA search

dieseldiva

dieseldiva

Veteran Expediter
How much more of this does the American public have to take before something is changed?

Elderly woman asked to remove adult diaper during TSA search
LAUREN SAGE REINLIE / Florida Freedom Newspapers
2011-06-25 12:41:37


A woman has filed a complaint with federal authorities over how her elderly mother was treated at Northwest Florida Regional Airport last weekend.

Jean Weber of Destin filed a complaint with the Department of Homeland Security after her 95-year-old mother was detained and extensively searched last Saturday while trying to board a plane to fly to Michigan to be with family members during the final stages of her battle with leukemia.

Her mother, who was in a wheelchair, was asked to remove an adult diaper in order to complete a pat-down search.

“It’s something I couldn’t imagine happening on American soil,” Weber said Friday. “Here is my mother, 95 years old, 105 pounds, barely able to stand, and then this.”

Sari Koshetz, a spokeswoman for the Transportation Security Administration in Miami, said she could not comment on specific cases to protect the privacy of those involved.

“The TSA works with passengers to resolve any security alarms in a respectful and sensitive manner,” she said.

Weber’s mother entered the airport’s security checkpoint in a wheelchair because she was not stable enough to walk through, Weber said.

Wheelchairs trigger certain protocols, including pat-downs and possible swabbing for explosives, Koshetz said.

“During any part of the process, if there is an alarm, then we have to resolve that alarm,” she said.

Weber said she did not know whether her mother had triggered an alarm during the 45 minutes they were detained.

She said her mother was first pulled aside into a glass-partitioned area and patted down. Then she was taken to another room to protect her privacy during a more extensive search, Weber said.

Weber said she sat outside the room during the search.

She said security personnel then came out and told her they would need for her mother to remove her Depends diaper because it was soiled and was impeding their search.

Weber wheeled her mother into a bathroom, removed her diaper and returned. Her mother did not have another clean diaper with her, Weber said.

Weber said she wished there were less invasive search methods for an elderly person who is unable to walk through security gates.

“I don’t understand why they have to put them through that kind of procedure,” she said.

Koshetz said the procedures are the same for everyone to ensure national security.

“TSA cannot exempt any group from screening because we know from intelligence that there are terrorists out there that would then exploit that vulnerability,” she said.

Weber filed a complaint through Northwest Florida Regional’s website. She said she received a response from a Homeland Security representative at the airport on Tuesday and spoke to that person on the phone Wednesday.

The representative told her that personnel had followed procedures during the search, Weber said.

“Then I thought, if you’re just following rules and regulations, then the rules and regulations need to be changed,” she said.

Weber said she plans to file additional complaints next week.

“I’m not one to make waves, but dadgummit, this is wrong. People need to know. Next time it could be you.”
Click to expand...
 
Tennesseahawk

Tennesseahawk

Veteran Expediter
Umm... she's complaining to the mouse that stole the cheese. Nothing will get done.

One other thing... she didn't have another diaper handy for her mother? Not that it's the TSA's business, but geez, lady... that's not kosher.
 
LDB

LDB

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
95 year old women and 6 year old girls. Yeah, those are the ones to profile to catch terrorists alright. Lousy bleeding hearts and ACLU brainless MORONS who wring their hands if you target the correct primary groups.
 
skyraider

skyraider

Veteran Expediter
US Navy
Get 1000 people to protest wearing an adult diaper on the outside of their clothes, that should make a statement in the airport.:eek:
 
layoutshooter

layoutshooter

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
Dakota said:
You first:D:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

It appears that you might have not ever been to the York County, PA firefighter convention and parade.

They have a bunch of volunteer firefighters known as the "Fire Babies" who ride tricycles, pedal type, in diapers with firefighters suspenders in the parade. They do this to raise money for charity.

They are quite a sight to see. I was too young and not fat enough at the time to be a "Fire Baby". Good men. They were more than willing to put their lives, and dignity, on the line so that others lives would be improved.
 
greg334

greg334

Veteran Expediter
I am wondering how many are willing to strip away the DHS's authority and return a lot of the law enforcement to the local and state organizations?

This means no more TSA at airports and the public actually stepping up and doing the job they are obligated to do - be involved.
 
layoutshooter

layoutshooter

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
greg334 said:
I am wondering how many are willing to strip away the DHS's authority and return a lot of the law enforcement to the local and state organizations?

This means no more TSA at airports and the public actually stepping up and doing the job they are obligated to do - be involved.
Click to expand...

No problem, except for one thing, the government does not want us involved. I think we should be doing a LOT more than we are. All law abiding citizens should be involved in law enforcement. The police and government have proven, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that they are NOT able to keep the people safe.
 
LDB

LDB

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
I'll be glad to do my part. I'll be glad to carry the next time I fly. I'm sure a number of others would do the same.
 
LDB

LDB

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
As soon as they implement a program authorizing those already cleared through background checks and passing a qualification check to carry I will. That will do more for flight security than gropings will.
 
witness23

witness23

Veteran Expediter
LDB said:
As soon as they implement a program authorizing those already cleared through background checks and passing a qualification check to carry I will. That will do more for flight security than gropings will.
Click to expand...

Why wait? We need guys like you carrying now. Do your part!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top