TSA Damage Report (w/ photos)
(Previous Post Recap) As I went through the final security check point at the Pittsburgh International Airport I had to practically get naked (remove belts, watches, shoes, rings, sunglasses, etc. etc.) and not only that, but I had to unpack my laptop and all of it's goods. Well, I did all of this like normal, and after I passed through the x-ray machines, everything was great. No alarms. I start heading over to my laptop and belongings, and the TSA security guard was pushing my stuff to the end of the line. I approached the end of the line to collect my stuff as the TSA guard perhaps "lost control" of the tray my laptop was in ... it CRASHED to the floor -- cracking the bottom of my laptop, breaking the battery tray door, and damaging the hings to my screen.
I wasn't happy about this... I was rather upset! I approached the TSA guard who dropped my laptop and I asked him what he was thinking. He didn't even apologize to me. Then I asked him how we could resolve this matter. And he told me that there were too many people waiting to get through the line, and I should move along as not to hold up the screening process. So I asked him again, where can I file a claim to resolve the damage done to my laptop. That's when the supervising TSA guard walked over and told me that I should gather my belongings and move on to the departure terminals and if I create a scene, he would arrest me.
So what am I left to do??? I gathered my belongings, surveyed the damage, and went on to the departure terminals. When I arrived at my terminal, I approached the information counter and ask them what I could do in my situation. They told me I needed to go back to the TSA security checkpoint and talk to the supervising guard that's standing in the middle of the checkpoint. I told the info lady that he was the one who threatened to arrest me, and that going back would surely result in me missing my flight. She then proceeded to tell me that there weren't any other options in my case.
I waited a few minutes so I could eat some breakfast (and cool down), and I vented to my dad on my phone. After venting, I approached the check-in attendant and asked her for the PIT TSA phone number. She asked me what I needed it for, and I told her my situation -- she was impressed that I was calm after what had happened -- she said she probably would have flipped out and gotten arrested. The TSA phone number she gave me which turned out not to be any good, so I'm left to do some research.
In this day and age of our corrupt law enforcement officers who's into tasing anyone and anything at any chance they get -- I think I did the right thing by not raging and creating a scene; which would have caused me to get arrested.
Atached below are a few photos of the damage:
30 comments:
Here's PIT's general information number: 412.472.3525
Ouch. If you look back far enough on Lincolnite, I have some pics about my own encounter with the friendly folks at TSA during a trip this last spring, although that only involved a delay and not damage to any personal property.
I am pessimistic about your situation. TSA seems to have broad enough authority to do whatever the hell they want - including blowing off ordinary people for damaging laptops. I normally bring my laptop and camera as carry-on luggage whenever I fy, and I specifically purchased itemized "all catastrophes-covered" insurance for them for situations like this.
Anyway, hope you get some redress in the form of $ for the damage - although that is little compensation for personal pride. Definitely keep us posted with what happens and good luck!
i've sent this to the AP NewsWire, Oprah, and Ellen... as well as LJS. hopefully if i can't get somewhere with TSA or PIT Airport Admin, maybe i'll get stir up some bad press (that tends to get people's attention).
Try sending this over to the fine folks @ consumerist.com. They love posting dirt like this!
holy crap jake you are on the front page of the consumerist right now.
http://consumerist.com/consumer/jerks-with-authority/tsa-breaks-your-laptop-threatens-you-with-arrest-315478.php
I read that blog every day.
Congrats.
Welcome to the No-Fly list
im big time, with the Consumerist! woo hoo! and yes, i'll be on the No-Fly list for sure. LOL!
More BS from these rent-a-cops who are doing nothing at all to make people safer. How else do you explain their ridiculous failure rates when confronted with actual dangers?
One note - TSA personnel are not law enforcement personnel; they do not have powers of arrest. Which makes this encounter all the more absurd.
-a
My husband works for the TSA, and he says that there are slips of paper with the phone number to call that should have been available. If you got a slip in your checked baggage, it's the same number. My husband found one, and the phone number is 866-289-9673, and the email address is TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov .
That guy didn't follow protocol, not that I'm terribly surprised. When we went to a wedding in Atlanta and met some friends there who were flying from Pittsburgh, it turned out that the Pittsburgh guys had totally missed a folding knife in one of the carryons that the Atlanta guys found. It wasn't small, either - the blade was a good 6 inches.
There are some good guys in the TSA, but unfortunately they're totally overshadowed by the incompetents.
You have to think about jurisdiction here. The screening guys for the TSA work within a (typically) City or County owned Airport. Actually, what you have here is misdemeanor vandalism. File a report the the local LE and go after the guy in civil court for the costs.
The TSA may work at a county or city owned airport, but they're Federal employees. Civil court isn't really an option.
Typical USA government employee turning this country into a joke. I'm in the process of moving to Sweden, sad fact is I have to go through these morons just to get out of my own country.
thanks for all your comments.
i've called PIT Administration and they aren't returning my calls. i called the TSA customer service at PIT and they haven't returned my calls either.
the next step is to file a claim through TSA and wait 60 days for resolution. im hoping they'll follow protocol and not try to say im lying and charge me the $10,000 fine for filing a fraudulent claim.
for some reason i feel i'll get faster results if the media gets wind of this... and that's why i've gone that route. so far the press wars are the only ones actually doing anything.
thanks again for all of your advice guys (and girls). i really appreciate it. and if you could email this story/link on to your local news, or even the AP Wire/CNN, Ellen, Oprah, Rush Limbaugh, etc. that would be greatly appreciated. I've already sent press releases to each of them, but the more stories sent the better. i think? lol.
thanks again!
Shit man you're calm, I'd beat that guy till he'd cry like a newborn baby.
I'll leave the same comment here that I did on Consumerist.
TSA DO NOT HAVE ARREST AUTHORITY. The only thing those cork soakers can do is call a cop and ask the cop to arrest you.
YMMV on whether you get a rational cop who's interested in sorting out the situation without unnecessarily escalating it, or a cowboy who wants to crack some heads.
YMMV???
While they're smashing your laptop to bits, I just flew from Greensboro, NC to Indianapolis, IN with 5" shears (for cutting hair) and mace in my purse without anyone noticing. After I landed and realized what I had done, I decided to see if anyone would notice on my return trip - they didn't. (However I was required to unbutton my pants to prove that there was just a hook and eye closure there, and not something dangerous like a pair of nail trimmers.)
You know those morons aren't even required to have a H.S. Diploma?!
ispirato, I don't know where you get your information from, but it's dead wrong. You can even check the job listing; it says right on there that a high school diploma is a requirement.
Osama Bin Laden is still free... You can't say the same about Americans! It is such a shame, America used to be a great country and now.......
The overwhelming majority of TSA employees are incompetent at best. They provide an illusion of safety while harassing the people they are "protecting."
Someone said, Bin Laden probably spent $50,000 to finance 9/11, and he got in return a country that now lives in fear and isolation from the world, as well as having blown a gazillion dollars in Iraq.
The TSA? Well, the Batman: Year 100 comics happen in Year 2064, and portrays the TSA as a Gestapo organisation. It's quite perceptive.
Good luck with your battle, anyway. You need to make a lot of noise. The TSA needs to go down!
YMMV means "Your Mileage Might Vary", btw (by the way ;-))
Jake, what is the status of your complaint? Did you have any witnesses you can contact now?
Just to clear the air -
1) NO TSA employee has the right to arrest or physically detain you - NONE. Never, ever allow a TSA employee to intimidate or threaten you in any way. They have NO law enforcement powers. None.
2) The TSA does NOT have the right to prevent you from flying regardless of the circumstances. ONLY the GSC (ground security coordinator) of your airline can make that decision, and they can override the TSA manager.
3) When your escalation attempts fail with the TSA managers onsite ALWAYS escalate to your airline's GSC. Some GSC's might be useless (like Southwest), but most are reasonable people who will not automatically take the TSA's side - you are their customer and they will listen to both sides of the argument and then decide if you can fly.
4) If a TSA employee claims they are law enforcement or make any attempt to exert law enforcement authority, they are committing a felony in most states. Find the nearest airport police and request felony charges of impersonating a police officer be laid on the TSA screener making such claims. If the police refuse, call their department and escalate.
5) You are under no obligation to engage in conversation with a TSA employee, or discuss your travel plans, reveal the contents of reading material, documents, diaries or the file contents of any electronic device. They are not permitted to discuss your medical condition or inspect your medication. Any attempt by them to inspect or touch your medication should be reported to your airline's GSC immediately for escalation.
6) hopefully you have contacted an attorney who has subpoenaed the video tape from the checkpoint you entered - this is the evidence which will force the TSA to pay your claim. You must do this right away or they will destroy this evidence if they suspect a claim will be filed against them.
7) Remmeber - the TSA holds itself accountable to no one. They will never admit wrongdoing or voluntarily pay a damage claim unless they are forced to do so. You should get competent legal assistance to assist you.
Hey there Jake Rhymes with Cake!
A personal reply to your Post about your Laptop Being Mishandled at the airport has been posted to:
http://sovereignangelconsultants.com/PUB/LegalStuff/TSA_DHS_Resources.html
Hake a Look!
thanks so much! i've been getting a lot of press. and i also have other news that i need to share. make sure you come back to my blog and check for an update to this debacle!
thanks again!
I am curious about the precise level of carelessness vs. intentional damage. Did the guy
1. just act carelessly (still not acceptable);
2. purposefully drop it;
3. somewhere in between?
this is why I've stopped flying
I'm so sorry this had to happen to you, I really am. wish i could replace your hardware for the mean time.
On the flipside, i'm glad you caught your cool. Good things come to those who wait.. your patience is a virtue and I hope we can all learn its not necessary to cause a scene. I pray your case goes well. God bless
Jake,
I flew recently, and had my laptop seriously damaged by TSA employees. I would like to contact you to get your story. I am willing to take on the entire TSA/Homeland Security administration.
Change needs to be brought around. Especially for blatant criminal acts.
nathanielcbrown@mac.com
Contact me!
Nate
TSA is NOT Law Enforcement and are not police. So please don't confuse the two.
The TSA does NOT have the right to prevent you from flying regardless of the circumstances...
Wrong. You can be refused access to the security checkpoint. The security checkpoint is TSA responsibility, If you act up, and have yourself removed, no one can get you back in except permission from the TSA.
You are under no obligation to engage in conversation with a TSA employee, or discuss your travel plans, reveal the contents of reading material, documents, diaries or the file contents of any electronic device. They are not permitted to discuss your medical condition or inspect your medication. Any attempt by them to inspect or touch your medication should be reported to your airline's GSC immediately for escalation.
Wrong again... You must provide your flight documents as well as photo I.D or you will be refused access. Medication? Has to be inspected, refusal to allow your medication or any of your property to be searched will result in refusal to allow those items into the checkpoint... Don't believe me, try it out and see.
I would like to see you guys fly like you do now these days, but without any type of security. Guarantee that no one would. This world sucks anymore, so stop crying and be adults and deal with what you have to do if you want to fly. Remeber you have the option to get in your car and drive yourself to your destination.
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