Airport Security Breaks Laptop, Threatens to Arrest Owner
Sat Oct 27, 2007 3:47PM EDT
See Comments (49)
Despite some promises to the contrary, the TSA seems to be continuing its old power-mad tricks. The latest story out of those airport security lines is a real a doozy.
Jake (Rhymes with Cake) writes that a recent trip through Pittsburgh International Airport ended with a TSA guard picking up the tray in which his laptop was riding and, whoops, dropping it on the ground. The damage was obvious, as pieces broke off of it (you can see pictures on his blog), and the upset traveler asked how he could resolve the situation, namely how to file a damage claim. TSA's response: Get out of the security area now or we'll arrest you.
What should he have done? Stay and fight for his rights or move along quietly? The TSA has an amazing amount of power: Even though you've done nothing wrong, it can detain you for as long is it likes. And TSA knows that if it detains you, you'll almost certainly miss your flight. And it knows that you know that. And thus, you'll move along like a good little citizen.
Well, in this case, Jake probably did do the right thing, as on-the-ground guards aren't the best people to take this fight to. In the thick of it, tempers flare, and rational thought rarely rules. The solution: Consumerist notes that TSA has a claims office, reachable at (866) 289-9673 and tsaclaimsoffice@dhs.gov, which is designed to handle just such cases. Forms are available here. This office can also deal with claims of harassment by TSA agents; threatening travelers with arrest for asking about damage to their belongings simply shouldn't be allowed.
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7 Posted by michaela12112002 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:17PM EDT Report Abuse
During my travels, I've seen more of the TSA abuse rather than people making false claims. I have a good friend that had his laptop dropped by the TSA and the same thing happened - either let us break your laptop or be arrested. Its crazy. Like the shoe thing, I don't know of an explosive that will show up in an x-ray of your shoes, unless you are dumb enough to steal US explosives with the tags. Some airports make you remove your shoes, others don't. Some make you turn on your cameras, others don't. Thinking about it, most agents are just doing their job and some have been helpful but that one smartass offsets a lot of good agents.
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8 Posted by gb720@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:06PM EDT Report Abuse
I would have stayed and fought it right then and there. Filing claims of loss after the fact rarely get the appropriate attention. Go ahead and arrest me for breaking my property and immediately upon my release watch me take this story to CNN, Network news, local news and newspaper that will listen to the story... and they would. There I would be, victim of a power mad egghead with an attitude problem while countless opportunities for the real terrorist to slip right on by.
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9 Posted by fly47472 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:01PM EDT Report Abuse
Most all these low paid flunkys are on a power trip, you have no rights and probaly a crimnal. Free America is history, it's now a police state. When you travel out of the country you will find this out. I live in Veitnam and have many more freedoms than in America.
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10 Posted by solnascent55 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:32PM EDT Report Abuse
l REALLY DON´T KNOW HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN, BECAUSE THEY ARE ALLWAYS NICE TO ME.
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11 Posted by solnascent55 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:32PM EDT Report Abuse
l AM SO SURPRISE ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE THEY SEENS TO ME LIKE NICE PEOPLE.
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12 Posted by pastor1st on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:00PM EDT Report Abuse
I had my laptop taken apart and the TSA agents didn't even bother to put the screws back in. As a result, I almost destroyed my laptop by carrying it around the globe. I think there needs to be more accountability on the part of these agents. Why is it so hard for the Federal government to get it right when businesses do it every day or they would be out of business?
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13 Posted by mark31562 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:07PM EDT Report Abuse
The TSA has NO powers of arrest. The agent's threat was a hollow one and the police that stand by at the security checkpoints that DO have powers of arrest wouldn't do it in that situation. He was merely asking for information on how to get compensation for the damage to the laptop. That's NOT an arrestable offense.
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14 Posted by agustin2489 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:47PM EDT Report Abuse
Ah, we need laws in general. I'm sorry but we should be doing things instead of 'saying' that we should be doing things. Even this statement is an oxymoron.
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15 Posted by claude_jean@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:26PM EDT Report Abuse
Even though i find most TSA personnel professional and trying to do their job right ,there is always one who is not fit to deal the public.He or she will lose control over a simple occurence very fast and start menacing with arrests threat or sending you to the back of the line.
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16 Posted by rydesigns@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:57PM EDT Report Abuse
The Tsa should have never picked up the tray it normaly is ran threw X-ray machine with. That should be on video. So if it is a scam,the guy that is trying to scam should get a few days of clean up duty around T S A . Wharing a sign I tried to scam TSA with fake claim. If it is true he should get a new Lap top at the cost of the agent that dropped it,not the TSA then the cost of flights will go up. (people that get on a power trip are not scaired because people don't grab their b---- and fight for their rights if their in the wright. Things happen to weak hearted people.
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17 Posted by rngrrix on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:44PM EDT Report Abuse
I fly all the time with Pittsburgh as my home base. I have found the entire Pittsburgh staff including TSA to be very courteous and would rate Pittsburgh's Terminal as one of the friendliest in the business. Sorry for your bad experience but I think it is just a one-off.
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18 Posted by larry1041st on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:56PM EDT Report Abuse
Why are some TSA checkers from 3rd world countries. Who speak very little english.
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19 Posted by fishinmatt17 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:00PM EDT Report Abuse
Working as a professional in the private security field, I can attest that bogus claims are made all the time. Most people would be astounded at the number of scam artists out there today and what they are willing to go through to get what they want. With that said, some cases are still valid. For this one, who knows. That particular story does not line up for me, as the TSA security's behavior seems highly unrational and unlikely. Consider this, the guard attempts to hand the laptop bag back to the person, who purposly mishandles and drops the bag. At that point the man makes a huge disturbance and demands compensation. Easy, classic scam, with the man putting immense pressure on the employees to file a damage claim. Bingo, free money. There are always 2 sides to every story folks and it is silly to take everything the media says as fact.
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20 Posted by real_bear on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:33PM EDT Report Abuse
I have never encountered damage to my carry-on baggage by TSA, perhaps because I usually choose to check most of my baggage so I'll have legroom in front of me. But I have encountered this kind of attitude from TSA personnel. I was chosen at random by TSA for "special processing" at O'Hare Airport in Chicago. They went over me several times with a hand-wand which always beeped even though I had carefully removed all metal. I was taken to a room and strip-searched by two men who, IMJ, were clearly on a power trip. I was never threatened with arrest, but I was told "put ALL of your clothing on the table, or you won't get your boarding pass back!" I didn't have the resources to stay behind in Chicago and felt too weary from my trip to press the matter with them. I felt like all of this happened to fulfill someone's daily quota or similar requirement. They found nothing.
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21 Posted by dsiragusa2000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:48PM EDT Report Abuse
The last time I flew with my youngest daughter she was 8 years old, she had to put her open juice container ontop of my bag which held a book and personal item for the trip home. As the bag moved through the scanner the juice of course tipped I went to grab the juice when it came out of the scanner and I was told to step away from the bag men with rifles came towards us scared my little girl and she cried the rest of the trip. My book was covered with grape juice, and The guard took everything out of bag and put it back we had to run to catch our connecting flight. Mother of 5 Grandma to 3 children, gray hair, you are right on these people being on a power trip I dont think I will fly again anytime soon. What a horrible experience.
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22 Posted by barbarjojo on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:02PM EDT Report Abuse
A few comments here based on my recent plane trips. 1) You are NOT allowed to take open food containers, AT ALL, through the security check point. 2) The security checkers ONLY touch your stuff if they need to look at it and, even then, they ask YOU to remove it. 3) You should NEVER, EVER, make a joke, raise your voice, or make any sudden moves at the checkpoint.
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23 Posted by jmh022 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:37PM EDT Report Abuse
It's too bad that people can't just realize that we are all in this together. The TSA checkpoint personnel are human. If you continually hear negativity all day long like the TSA does, it really does something to your mood, personality, etc. Everyone has stress. Everyone has heard of the new rules for travel. Everyone should fully expect delays at the airport. Is it a pain? Absolutely. Would you rather your plane be hijacked? Let them do their job. keep your mouth shut. follow the rules and maybe the lines wont be so long (or seem that long). If you don't want to be patient and go through the necessary hassles, take the bus.
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24 Posted by darncat65 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:36PM EDT Report Abuse
TSA and the airlines, whether you are on the ground or in the air act like they are GOD..If you dont beleive me, try to raise you voice, or argue with one of them, and BINGO you will be incarcerated..period. end of story
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25 Posted by yutchie on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:58PM EDT Report Abuse
I'm not a business traveler, just an old grandma who has grandchildren all over the country. I have been flying for over 40 years and have rarely had poor experiences as a result of security personell's actions in the performance of their duties. I have, however, seen many people act out toward staff in ways that make you wonder if anyone understands what manners and courtesy are about. Most employees just want to do their job and go home at the end of the day. Dealing with the public can be very trying and stressful and so can traveling. Try to imagine what those TSA staff members have to contend with each day.
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6 Posted by cabrobst on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:16PM EDT Report Abuse
We need laws in this country to protect law abiding citizens from abuse by security guards. These people aren't even real police, they should not have the power to violate the constitution. As far as detainment, a few lawsuits should end that practice. I hope this gentleman pursues a lawsuit against these gorillas for damages and the violence of threats.