We have yet another case of a police or security officer threatening a citizen for recording an encounter. The videotape below was taken by a young man who filmed the putdown of his father at the New Orleans airport. The supervisor warns the young man that he will be arrested for filming the public scene.
What is most striking is that the young man calmly explains that that TSA regulations allow such filming so long as people do not photographs the monitors. This appears news to the TSA supervisor who should be aware of such key regulations. The young man was right. Here is the language from the TSA:
TSA does not prohibit the public, passengers or press from photographing, videotaping or filming at security checkpoints, as long as the screening process is not interfered with or slowed down. We do ask you to not film or take pictures of the monitors. While the TSA does not prohibit photographs at screening locations, local laws, state statutes, or local ordinances might.
Taking photographs may also prompt airport police or a TSA official to ask what your purpose is. It is recommended that you use the Talk To TSA program on tsa.gov to contact the Customer Support Manager at the airport to determine its specific policy. Or, if you are a member of the press, you should contact the TSA Office of Public Affairs.
This young man was clearly not interfering with operations. If he was, then there is no ability to film a TSA checkpoint. You can judge for yourself:
There is no indication that the TSA is taking steps to discipline this supervisor or order new training on how to handle such incidents. There should be in my view.
For the public “ignorance of the law is no excuse”. It’s only for people enforcing the law that ignorance is accepted.
Seems pretty obviously wrong.
Since the rules seem to prohibit photos or videos of the monitors, themselves, how was this TSA supervisor–or any other TSA worker, for that matter–to know whether or not the image of the monitor or monitors was being captured? I know that it’s the thing to do–rail against these guys. I get it. We scream invasion of privacy. Abuse. Fascists. Union Now. I know, that one was from Norma Ray–couldn’t resist. A little bit of common sense, however, would seem to go a long way. Are you against the rule prohibiting one from filming or taking photos of monitors? Okay, if so, rail against the rule. Write to your congressman. Refuse to fly. Go on a hunger strike. Knock yourself out. Get the rule changed if your life just isn’t complete unless you capture those very handsome gents or stunningly beautiful babes we call TSA monitors. Until that occurs, how does one expect for monitors to know, with any degree of certainty, that their images are NOT being captured as they perform their duties? If one is filming a pat down, where are the monitors during that encounter? Out of frame? Across the room? In another building? No, they are right in front of your camera or phone, and, quite possibly, being filmed or photographed. There is no way to decipher what is being captured, unless, of course, all of you special snowflakes wish to have someone specifically assigned to view and approve all images or films? Put down your f’ing phones or cameras and get your ass through the line. Let these people do their jobs. Stop interfering. Get a life. Use all of that extra energy in a positive way. I don’t like it any more than the rest of you. Yes, it’s invasive. Yes, it feels like a violation. Grin and bear it or don’t fly. We’re living in an age where planes are hijacked or blown out of the sky. It’s the new reality, put in place to give us some minimal amount of security before we get into that aluminum tube flying through the air. The use of all cameras or filming should just be prohibited in the screening area, where monitors are present. Period. That’s the only way to know, for sure, that the monitors are not being filmed or photographed.
Nick,
There’s a difference between fraud in a non-profit corporation and fraud in a for-profit corporation? Mightn’t you explain the regulatory distinction to this up-swinger for his future reference?
Groen
Quote of the Month: “Nick, Try to make sense, please. we depend on you.” – feyd rautha
When are the public officials going to understand the rights of public transparency is the right of all whether the public official or the public themselves, retrain or remove the TSA Official.
I have to laugh @ barrister poking @ me when he does not know the difference on another thread between nonprofit organizations and for profit corporation capitalism. At least the barrister is punching up, I need to work on not punching down. I ignore many not worthy of recognition, but there are a few I need to work harder ignoring.
What is truly amazing is that after all the brutality in law enforcement in this country it’s the cell phone’s affect on liberty and the wallet that silences testosterone-induced egomaniacal rage in officers who fail to see that control isn’t always the answer.
Quote of the Month: “Nick, Try to make sense, please. we depend on you.” – feyd rautha
When government officials violate a citizen’s constitutional rights, the citizen/plaintiff can establish legal standing in federal court using “First Amendment injury” or “Fourth Amendment injury” in constitutional lawsuits. Many claim these are frivoulous lawsuits until a violation includes “Second Amendment injury”.
Smile You Are On Candid Camera. And I will be very candid about this officer Krumpke. All words out of you are being recorded. So speak correct or never hold your piece, and by piece I mean your firearm. While you are at it stick your rubber glove up your rear and search for a stone.
Steve
The ‘libs’ didn’t create the TSA. The only thing more lame than a cheap shot is a Republican cheap shot.
However, authority is both necessary and in need of being kept in line through this sort of vigilance. Regardless of what went on at this encounter, the point was made and the agent walked away with his tail between his legs mumbling. No one was arrested, detained, or missed a flight. Perhaps we should all walk around with ‘GoPros’ as hats. ‘Smile, you’re being scrutinized.’
Reblogged this on Scoop Feed.
The young man is correct. That TSA officer is a supervisor (3 stripes) and should know better than to threaten to arrest someone for filming with their phone. The supervisor does not have arresting authority, only a LEO.
Was the original purpose of TSA inspections to scare the public into being afraid of dark-skinned foreign “terrorists”? It seems to have backfired into scaring the public into being afraid of the TSA and the US government in general. Considering that a suicide bomber can walk into any place with a large group of people, a restaurant, a sporting event, a church, a rock concert, a subway train, airline “security” seems to contribute very little if anything to public safety.
The TSA is like an entire force of mall cops and Barney Fife’s.
Just another example of government officials claiming powers that they don’t have.
Look at the EPA, The Wisconsin prosecutor, many cops – there is a tendency to assume power and then crush “opposition”.
The libs who want ever more government regulations need to think about the where we will end up if they have their way.
I think they are afraid they will film the TSA filching from the small change trays.
It actually satisfies the legal definition of our federal “color of law” criminal code for goverment corruption which is the duty of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division to prosecute TSA officials. (Ex: Title 18 US Code 241-245, Title 42 USC 14141, Title 42 USC 1983). A citizen plaintiff or an ACLU attorney can recoup legal expenses using Title 42 USC 1988.
My favorite part is at the end he tells them to “respect the badge” as though he is a law enforcement officer.
TSA wants smooth operation. No videos. Check luggage in. Lighten luggage going out.
It is appalling that TSA workers are so poorly trained but then we have police officers who think they are judge Dredd. As a result, Kew should not be surprised. This TSA officer should, at a minimum, be suspended without pay and should be required to take a course about the rights of citizens before returning to work.
No surprise that the TSA worker does not know the rules. It probably never came up before. Expecting people to know the rules is like expecting people to read owner’s manuals or software licenses.