Yet another TSA failure – missing uniforms and badges

by Scott Carmichael on

Several days ago I wrote about a TSA inspector who was helping himself to expensive items from our luggage. And today, a report issued by a government watchdog agency reveals that TSA staffers also seem to be pretty lax when it comes to items provided to them by their employer.

One of the most startling pieces of news in the report is that ex-TSA workers are not always returning their security badges, which can be used to enter “sterile areas” of the airport. They are also frequently keeping their uniforms. Amazingly, the TSA does not always seem to be in a hurry to get them back.

To me, this news just adds to the incompetence that is the Transportation Security Administration. In any corporate environment, access badges are linked directly to the HR system. When a staff member is terminated, or leaves the company, their badge has to be returned and it is deactivated. I find it beyond comprehension that ID badges used by people with access to the airport are not controlled by a central organization or that they don’t get the police involved when badges or uniforms are not promptly returned.

At the same time you and I are being searched for illegal bottles of water and nail clippers, there are TSA airport ID’s and uniforms unaccounted for. Forget the threat from the traveling public, before you know it we’ll need a TSA for the TSA.

As usual, TSA chief Kip Hawley is taking matters “seriously” and he announced that the “TSA shares the interest in improving their processes”. Thankfully there is some legislation in the pipeline that should increase oversight of who gets into the airport. In light of recent events, I also hope they take a close look at what gets out of the airport.

Souce: USA Today

Other travel troublemakers

Travel Fail

by Mike Barish on

If you’re as bored at work as I am, you’ve already discovered the joys of Fail Blog. This little gem popped up a few days ago. I knew that the TSA was strict about what items make their way onto planes, but when did we crack down on pants? What did pants ever do to anyone? Pants are one of the five most docile articles of clothing you can pack. I blame the proliferation of cargo pockets. Of course people are going to be fearful of your pants when they contain any number of secret compartments hiding mysterious items like wallets, passports and hard candies.

So next time you’re heading to the airport, leave your pants at home. The TSA is sure to appreciate how easy it is to search you while you’re in tightie whities and your baggage won’t be flagged. And don’t get cocky by trying to smuggle gas in your pants. As you can see above, that would be a double-whammy.

TSA Wants to Screen Passengers of Private Jets

by Josh Lew on

The TSA wants to expand its reach to include the 15,000 private and corporate jets and 300+ small airports that are currently outside its jurisdiction. The security agency claims that many of the jets are the same size as small commercial planes and could be used to commit acts of terrorism. They want all private jet passengers and crews to pass a background check before boarding their planes. Private plane owners, pilots and corporate fliers are crying foul. Most call the proposed plan an invasion of privacy and a waste of money.

But whose money would it be wasting? According to the TSA, 85% of the $200 million per year it would take to fund the screening will come from fees charged to the jets’ owners and operators. The proposal does not include physical screening. Passengers and crews would have to provide ID and give their name and birth date. The TSA will most likely subcontract out the work to security firms that specialize in background checks. The proposal, which is more than 200 pages long, states that frequent fliers will only have to pass the background check once.

Source

TSA agent helped himself to a $47,900 camera (and more!)

by Scott Carmichael on

It’s no secret that I’m not a fan of the TSA. While I fully understand the importance of keeping our planes and airports safe, I’m just not sure the TSA is up to the job. The agency is also plagued by bad PR, mainly because of incompetent staff members and insane decisions that impact us as travelers.

The latest in a long lineup of bad press for the agency involves TSA screener Pythias Brown. This 48 year old resident of Maplewood, NJ was supposed to keep bad stuff off the plane, but instead, he was helping himself to valuable items from the bags of people entrusting him with their belongings.

Pythias started small, stealing cameras, laptop computers, gaming consoles and eventually moved on to the good stuff including a video camera belonging to CNN, and a $47,900 camera stored inside the bag of an HBO employee.

The items were sold on Ebay, and as you can see from his feedback listing, these were not cheap items.

His greed eventually came back to haunt him, when CNN found one of their cameras listed on Ebay. With a little help from the local police department and the USPS, Brown was apprehended.

When agents entered his house, they found 66 cameras, 31 laptop computers, jewelry, lenses, GPS devices and more.

The total value of the stolen items is well over $200,000, and if you have ever lost an expensive item when flying from Newark Liberty Airport, you’ll be thrilled to hear that the TSA is taking the matter “seriously”. News like this just reinforces the need to keep anything of value out of your checked bags.

Of course, this also makes me wonder just how on earth a TSA agent is able to leave the sterile area of his or her local airport with a $47,900 camera hidden in their bag. We passengers get screened, so perhaps it is time to start screening TSA staff when they enter and leave the airport?

Tell airport security what you think without getting into trouble

by Anna Brones on


For those that get upset while going through airport security, here’s a way to make yourself heard without getting pulled aside for questioning. Artist Evan Roth is working on a new project which will bring new excitement to your carry-on luggage. Pack that metal plate into your bag and the message will appear when x-rayed.

The project isn’t quite finished yet; Roth still needs an x-ray machine to test the plates out. If you happen to have access to an x-ray machine, he’ll give you a set of the plates in exchange for use of the machine. Find out how to email him here. Pretty humorous, although I don’t know how TSA officials will feel about it.

[Via Boing Boing]