Security - Frisk or Fondle
 

Have any of you been searched by an overzealous airport security guard? Recently in Schiphol airport, Amsterdam, my wife was "searched" by a female security guard. It seemed to me (and her) that the search went way beyond looking for guns, dope, or explosives. Without getting too detailed, hands and fingers were inside bras and underware. Is this a common practice, or a little over the edge? Anyone had a bad experience of an over-friendly security guard.

Give me the name of that female guard. Sounds like fun.

No, I am not THAT lucky!

I am thankful when the security guards are so thorough. Lots of bad things could be hidden in undergarments. Wouldn't you be complaining if someone was able to smuggle a weapon through security in a bra? Getting "groped" a bit is far preferable to being blown up.

Why do married women get all the action? Just kidding - I agree with you that it was unnecessary. Unless she repeatedly set off buzzers I can't see why they would need to put their hands inside underwear. Sounds like she was already down to her undies. Hard to hide anything at that point. I don't want to get blown up either, but common sense needs to enter into the process at some point. Of course, Amsterdam is one of those cities where anything goes.

Hi All
Thanks for your comments. I guess I'm a little ambivalent about this. I agree with Taggie that being felt up is preferable to being blown up. However, I believe Shanna is right in that common sense should prevail. FWIW she works in a prison and is "patted down" twice every day. I guess what got my attention was her complaints that it was too public and too over the line. I guess I was just curious if anyone else had experienced it.

I don't know whether I should tell you this or not, Shrink, but I know of at least 4 cases around the country where suit has been filed in federal court on this very issue!

Message: Spygirl
Thanks for posting but I'm not the kind to file suit. Its interesting that 4 have been filed tho. They must involve more than one complainent. My fear is that if they are successful, we will open the door a little more to criminals who would take advantage of more lax security procedures, or add another couple levels of bureaucracy to the security system resulting in 4 hours for check in rather than 2 or 3 as it is now.

I'm not sure I understand - if "who" is successful?

Not overzealous but a woman sec. guard in Wichita-of all places-was so adamant I had on a belt that she kept touching my stomach. What a nut.

<<I'm not sure I understand - if "who" is successful?>>


I think that when "Shrink" said <<My fear is that if they are successful, we will open the door a little more to criminals>> - - the "they" referred to plaintiffs in a lawsuit against security officers for violation of "civil" (right word? "personal" )rights.

My use of quotes is not meant to support, nor demean those who favor or oppose such suits.

Best wishes,

Rex

I got a good frisk when going through security at Westminster Hall in London before entering. :)

WEll, that's certainly a hotly debated issue in homeland defense circles-the extent to which civil rights cases are impeding the war on terror by making the USG overly cautious in implementing those procedures that could deter terrorists.

Have no issue with the frisk or fondle, but can't understand why Security doesn't have a small curtained booth adjacent to the security area where this can be done privately.

At least when my travel partner had this happen to her leaving Cairo, she was asked to join a female agent to such a booth so the patdown, frisk or fondle be done privately. They do likewise for men by a male agent.

No wonder Dianna Ross grabbed the crotch of that agent leaving Heathrow who had likewise had a hand up her crotch.

Hi shrink,

If your wife "... works in a prison and is "patted down" twice every day" and found this search to be too intrusive, I think that she is right.