Florida - Passengers To Undergo Hand Swabbing Test At Miami Airpot |
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News Source: WSVN
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Florida - Some passengers traveling through Miami International Airport will have to go through a new security scanner, and it comes several months after the attempted Christmas attack on a plane headed for Detroit.
The Transportation Safety Administration is expanding testing for explosives, and that means passengers will notice a difference. “They’re checking people as they come through, so it obviously makes you feel safer to fly,” said traveler Mike Boudreau.
During the screening process, the person puts their hands out. TSA officials end up swabbing both hands a couple times. Then, they put the material into the machine. It will give TSA a reading, whether negative or positive. Finally, the passenger is able to leave. TSA said it only takes 15 seconds.
“I’d rather they did something like this then some of the more invasive things that are more personal,” Boudreau said.
TSA said it has used this technology since 2008 but is expanding it to more areas within airports. The nationwide program is now beefed up following the failed Christmas day bombing attack when a Nigerian national with terrorist ties snuck enough explosives on board a Delta jetliner to blow it up. “One of the ways we deter terrorism is to be unpredictable and to be somewhat random, so you will not necessarily have your hands swabbed but you could,” said TSA agent Sari Koshetz.
The TSA said the hand testing is random but others argue, enough surveillance already. “I don’t think I needed to be checked five times today, quite honestly,” said passenger John Benziger.
The security measure is not cheap, 1200 machines nationwide cost $54 million.
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Read Comments (14) — Post Yours »
1
Mar 05, 2010 at 11:55 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
The first poster who makes a stupid comment about tzinius or neggiah concerns should be put on the "no fly" list and made to drive from Miami to Monsey.
2
Mar 05, 2010 at 12:01 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Much better than the crazy machines.
3
Mar 05, 2010 at 12:02 PM Luke Says:Report as Inappropriate
First they view you naked and then you get swabbed! I guess if it makes for safer travel for all- I am for it.
4
Mar 05, 2010 at 12:28 PM murray Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ First they view you naked and then you get swabbed! I guess if it makes for safer travel for all- I am for it. ”
You are either an exhibitionist, or a lemming. If as I expect you are a prevert -you probably would request a detailed body cavity search. If you are just a lemming....go have fun walking off that cliff.............and I guess you won't mind jumping through a few hoops on your way.
5
Mar 05, 2010 at 12:43 PM Raphael Kaufman Says:Report as Inappropriate
If you are a recreational shooter, make sure you wash your hands (and the rest of you, for that matter) very thoroughly if you have to fly the next day. Some friends and I were doing some informal plinking one Sunday. The next morning, one of them had to fly out. the TSA swabbed his computer case and his hands and the machine picked up the GSR (Gun Shot Residue). He then had a lot of 'splaining to do.
6
Mar 05, 2010 at 01:34 PM murray Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ If you are a recreational shooter, make sure you wash your hands (and the rest of you, for that matter) very thoroughly if you have to fly the next day. Some friends and I were doing some informal plinking one Sunday. The next morning, one of them had to fly out. the TSA swabbed his computer case and his hands and the machine picked up the GSR (Gun Shot Residue). He then had a lot of 'splaining to do. ”
The posted sign at the Range states very clearly for you to throughly wash your hands upon leaving the activity (regardless of taking airplane rides, I believe it has more to do with environmental factors/lead exposure).
7
Mar 05, 2010 at 02:48 PM Raphael Kaufman Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ The posted sign at the Range states very clearly for you to throughly wash your hands upon leaving the activity (regardless of taking airplane rides, I believe it has more to do with environmental factors/lead exposure). ”
You are right. Washing hands after shooting is good practice for the reasons you state even if you're not flying. The incident I mentioned is still a source of mild joshing whenever we get together with the guy.
8
Mar 05, 2010 at 02:49 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
this type of scanner is preferable to the full body scanning machine they've been extolling lately
9
Mar 05, 2010 at 03:44 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ The first poster who makes a stupid comment about tzinius or neggiah concerns should be put on the "no fly" list and made to drive from Miami to Monsey. ”
Seems to me that ironically you're the only one that mentioned anything about Tznius, so maybe you should be put on the 'no fly' list (which unfortunately doesn't even mean anything)…
10
Mar 05, 2010 at 03:55 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ You are either an exhibitionist, or a lemming. If as I expect you are a prevert -you probably would request a detailed body cavity search. If you are just a lemming....go have fun walking off that cliff.............and I guess you won't mind jumping through a few hoops on your way. ”
I am neither of the first two Murray and I have no idea what a "prevert" is but I am sure it is not me. I am just a happy Yid who marvels at the level that some of these comments reach, and yours my friend, is right up there! Good Shabbos.
11
Mar 05, 2010 at 05:44 PM jake Says:Report as Inappropriate
What they failed to mention is that these machines that have been in use in Australia for a long time now also screen for drug residue and its an invasion of privacy and exposes a lot of recreational users to illegal search and seizure
12
Mar 07, 2010 at 06:18 AM Jersey Jew Says:Report as Inappropriate
I had to fly from Jersey to London last week for a bone scan at the Royal Marsden Hospital (our local 'krenkenhaus' does not have facilities to perform that procedure).
The test involved injecting me with a radio-active isotope.
When the test was over, I went to Gatwick Airport for my flight home to Jersey (in the English Channel Islands, btw). My hands were swabbed - and showed traces of low to medium radioactivity.
BH, I had adequate explanatory documentation to explain the reasons for this, otherwise I would have been detained by the airport police while I was checked out.
All I need now is the result of the bone scan!
13
Mar 07, 2010 at 10:38 PM toronto Says:Report as Inappropriate
@ the Toronto airport they've been doing these swabs to outgoing US passengers for weeks now... it creates a whole new lineup and delay. But if it is really improving security, it is certainly worth it!
14
Mar 07, 2010 at 11:40 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Seems to me that ironically you're the only one that mentioned anything about Tznius, so maybe you should be put on the 'no fly' list (which unfortunately doesn't even mean anything)… ”
It's a stupid waste of time to make you think you're safer. especially since they advertise it. (for the sole purpose of making you feel like they're doing something to protect you.) A second terrorist can make and pack the bomb. The terrorist can wear gloves. He can pack several days before, and not all explosives respond to this test. Feel any safer? You're a fool. This won't help you one bit.