San Mateo County, CA – The San Mateo district attorney’s office has a warning for all TSA personnel at SFO — anyone inappropriately touching a passenger during a security pat down will be prosecuted.
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Incoming San Mateo DA Steve Wagstaffe says any complaints of inappropriate touching during an airport security pat down will land on his desk.
“The case would be reviewed and if we could prove the elements of it, that it was inappropriately done with a sexual or lewd intent, that person would be prosecuted,” he said.
The charge — sexual battery.
“If it is skin to skin, if someone were to take their hand and put it underneath somebody’s blouse and touch someone inappropriately and go skin to skin, that’s a felony, and if it’s done simply over the clothing, according to California law, that’s a misdemeanor,” Wagstaffe said.
More pat down searches are expected because some passengers are refusing to go through the image scanning device. Homeland Security announced more scanners are on the way as part of the enhanced security measures at all airports.
Homeland Security Sec. Janet Napolitano has said a passenger’s privacy is protected.
“We built privacy concerns into the procedures when they were deployed,” she said.
Not all travelers are buying Napolitano’s claim.
“It’s ridiculous and it’s not safer, they are just doing it to have us more fearful and there is no reason for it,” passenger Cathlyn Daley
But many passengers at SFO do not mind the enhanced security.
“I would much rather go through a little uncomfortableness and know that I will be safe or a least know that everything was done to protect me,” passenger Suzanne Beaty said.
A few however, do.
“A stranger groping you basically,” passenger David Barth said.
Passengers should know once they go through security, a TSA officer can ask them to submit to a pat down.
“At that point somewhere in that process you get to a point where you can’t withdraw and you will be searched whether you like it or not,” ABC7 legal analyst Dean Johnson said.
Wagstaffe has yet to receive a complaint.
SFO security screeners work for a company contracted by the TSA but undergo the same training and comply with the same regulations as TSA employees.
As for the assurance that the images from body scanners are never saved, tech blog Gizmodo obtained 100 saved photos after filing a request through the Freedom of Information Act, just a few of the 35,000 photos that were stored on a machine at the federal courthouse in Miami.
Gizmodo eliminated identifying features before posting them, but the pictures demonstrate the security issues still being worked out with the machines.
Incoming San Mateo DA Steve Wagstaffe has to be someone who just doesn’t get it….security/safety of the flying public should be the #1 priority. Modesty is important, but making it off the plane alive and well, trumps that.
I know this has been said before, but this whole thing would not be needed if we weren’t so politically correct. Israel is known for the best security in the world and they aren’t using such tactics.
yeah, im sure that motivates them to protect the airports
NYC should issue the same warning.
TSA workers should also be charged for patting down American children. Do 3 year old american born children fit the profile of a terrorist? I hope kids aren’t psychologically affected by going to airports by uneducated TSA workers.
You write;
“The case would be reviewed and if we could prove the elements of it, that it was inappropriately done with a sexual or lewd intent, that person would be prosecuted,”
How would you prove it by watching the video replay or by re-enactment in court?
I wish Napolitano would have the same hands on approach to border security , concerning illegals entering our country,as she does for law abiding citizens trying to take a flight. Enough of the insanity. We know we the terroists are, they’re not 80 year old caucasian women or 3 year old children. Enough political correctness!!!!!!!!!! Racially profile like the Israelis. I feel like the inmates are running the asylum.
thay shuld have axtra for man & waman and we will be save berochnips &begashmios;
What about our children? Do we subject them to radiation which may prove dangerous in the long run, r”l? Do we subject them to a “pat down” which is totally violating?
Any advice out there?! Is there hope for this meshugas to be stopped?