Comments on: What to do if the TSA takes your child

By: Angela

Angela — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 03:29:46 +0000

Anyone who has ever had a legitimate issue with TSA should be outraged at this woman. Those who cry wolf make it that much harder for people who are truly wronged.

By: Arizona Road Warrior

Arizona Road Warrior — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:09:52 +0000

A new reality show…Liars! starring hysterical Xanaz-popping moms and builders of flyer saucers.

By: Laura Townsend Elion

Laura Townsend Elion — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:03:42 +0000

To clarify – unlike some other commenters, I never suggested that the TSA or anyone would take off a diaper to inspect a baby.

I was merely stating in anticipation of all the folks that would skewer the TSA for doing that to ‘that poor woman’ and ‘her innocent baby’ that sometimes those with bad intentions use the cloak of innoccence conveyed by a child to get away with something. Like those child suicide bombers.

As its now been pretty affirmatively shown this woman is an exaggerating liar, I think we have learned not to take everything at face value – not hysterical Xanax-popping moms, or maybe even sweet little babies.

By: Frank

Frank — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:12:17 +0000

Marilyn Long October 17, 2009 at 11:21 pm
What upsets me most about this story is the lack of reading comprehension on the part of about half the people who have commented here. Until I was half way through reading the comments, I did not find anyone who had read and understood that the baby was not separated from the mother. That was clear in the article. Finally a couple of people pointed out the obvious–the woman’s story was false. Whatever her problems were with TSA, they did not take her child from her and that seemed to be her principal complaint.
=====================================================

JOHNNY, WE HAVE A WINNER.

Seriously, I read this story on the west coast the other day on a hotel computer. I asked several TSA agents if they had “heard” about it on my travels throughout the country this weekend. No one did, but I gave them this web address and most of them just smiled at the accusations and the story background. I was hoping one of them would reply.
I dont know which is scarier. The meltdown of a Mother? Or the child traveling with an unstable Mother?

By: MidMom8949

MidMom8949 — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:40:05 +0000

TSA is an easy target. I suspect, however, TSA employees are just doing their jobs like anyone else, and clearly this woman in the video is delusional.

I do wonder about the screening process and the length of time it takes. I have to be screened every time because of a hip replacement. At some airports, the wait for a female screener (while I wait in the glass cage) is quite long. Maybe TSA should consider the process and possible improvements.

By: John

John — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:25:46 +0000

I too was initially upset at the TSA. I and everyone else on here who commented negatively owes them an apology. Looks like we were all taken.

TSA I’m sorry.

By: Carrie Charney

Carrie Charney — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 04:47:06 +0000

Even though I was inadvertently amiss while going through security at BWI yesterday, the TSA agent was downright pleasant and let me pass with my potentially “illegal” goods. After going through the x-ray, my backpack needed further scrutiny. They found my unopened 8-oz water bottle in a side pocket, that I had gotten on an Amtrak trip and forgotten about. And then they found two jars of “Mars Mud” that I had stuffed into the pack as I ran out the door and had forgotten to transfer to my checked bag. Well, the TSA agent was looking at the packages and another agent came over and said that her grandchildren love playing with the product. She also whispered that it was considered a gel. The first agent told me that since the original seal was in tact, he wasn’t taking it, but that I should try not to take it through other screenings if I could help it. He did apologize for confiscating my water. I had no complaints.

By: Marilyn Long

Marilyn Long — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 03:21:32 +0000

What upsets me most about this story is the lack of reading comprehension on the part of about half the people who have commented here. Until I was half way through reading the comments, I did not find anyone who had read and understood that the baby was not separated from the mother. That was clear in the article. Finally a couple of people pointed out the obvious–the woman’s story was false. Whatever her problems were with TSA, they did not take her child from her and that seemed to be her principal complaint.

By: Christy B.

Christy B. — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:21:47 +0000

BHL – you might find this interesting.

I too thought it took f-o-r-e-v-e-r to process her too. I also read lots of comments about the video being edited.

So I watched it, several times, and noted the time codes and descriptions of the activity:

Total time of TSA interaction: 9 minutes 30 seconds
Total time in “box”: 1 minute 45 seconds
Total time of “pat down” of Mom: 3 minutes 22 seconds (I believe the process was done a second time because of that “something” (possibly a knee brace?) that was under her pants)
Total time of “pat down” of Baby: 10 seconds (all 10 seconds Baby was in Mom’s lap)

Here are the time stamps from the different cameras:

11:01:11 overhead view of security screening, Mom putting stroller on x-ray conveyer, leaves baby on floor w/back turned
11:01:40 going through metal detector, baby in arms

11:02:00 coming through metal detector, baby in arms
11:04:12 exited “holding box” and walking out of frame behind TSA agent, baby in arms

11:04:31 entering frame, baby in arms, 2nd level security check
11:10:30 Mom leaving inspection area, baby in stroller

11:10:32 Mom entering concourse, baby in stroller
11:10:41 Mom leaving camera view

Here are the times stamps and descriptions of the “major” activity:

11:04:38 Female TSA agent #1 brings over stroller, baby in Mom’s arms
11:05:28 Male TSA agent #1 comes over to “inspect” baby, baby in Mom’s arms
11:05:38 Male TSA agent #1 finished “inspecting” baby, baby still in Mom’s arms
11:05:42 Mom gets up to put baby in stroller
11:06:04 Mom finished putting baby in stroller
11:06:12 Mom stands up to begin security inspection by Female TSA agent #2 – facing baby in stroller
11:06:56 Mom rolls up left pant leg and “something” appears on the floor
11:07:11 Female TSA agent #2 agent takes that “something” and puts it area for further hand/visual inspection
11:17:18 Male TSA agent #2 takes that “something” out of camera view
11:08:32 Male TSA agent #2 or 3 brings “something” back and sets on table for Mom
11:07:20 Female TSA agent #2 begins another inspection – facing baby in stroller
11:09:34 Female TSA agent #2 ends inspection – Mom still facing baby in stroller
11:10:30 Mom leaving inspection area, baby in stroller
11:10:32 Mom entering concourse, baby in stroller
11:10:41 Mom leaving camera view

By: BHL

BHL — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 23:32:51 +0000

I don’t condone her actions in making up a stupid dramatic story about baby abduction. However, I do understand why she was so frustrated. Look at the time code on that video. She was left locked in a plastic box while other passengers walked freely on either side of her locked in that plastic box and were free to have picked up all of her belongings and bolted – holding an 18 month old infant for almost 5 minutes. The agents were all just standing around doing nothing. Only after she starts calling out and yelling to be let (y’know, having a panic attack) out does one of them saunter over.

Then, she has to sit on the side for another 10 minutes while the agents continue to do almost nothing. She could have been out of there in 30 seconds, but those lazy assholes take 15 minutes to hassle her. If she HAD been a terrorist, she could have blown up half the airport while those jerkoffs were busy putting on their gloves or discussing Top Chef or whatever the hell they were doing.

And yes, I do share her frustration. I’m a Canadian who had to wait 20 minutes to get felt up by some lazy-ass TSA agent (she was standing around gossiping with her coworkers for all of that time, in plain sight and doing nothing else but putting on her rubber gloves) because of my (non-underwire) bra’s metal hooks on one trip and who had her $250 prescription sunglasses stolen from the security checkpoint while they were inspecting my (perfectly ordinary New Balance) running shoes on another. I haven’t flown to the U.S. since.