CNN 2010-11-17

Airline passengers have learned to live with a lot of security rules over the years. Empty your pockets, remove your belt, take off your shoes, one cork 1 size plastic bag, no more than three ounces of liquid per container, you get the picture. But, full body scans seem to be the tipping point for one California man, 31-year-old software engineer, John Tyner refused that scan in San Diego. Then he taped the TSA’s reaction and the video has gone viral.

“We are going to be doing a standard pat down on you today, using my hands and going like this…”

“Alright.”

“Also, we are going be doing a groin check. That means I am going to place my hand on your hip 2, my other hand on your inner thigh 3. Slowly go up and slide down.”

“Okay.”

“We are going to do that two times in the front and two times in the back.”

“Alright.”

“And if you would like a private screening, we can make that available for you also.”

“We can do that out here but if you touch my junk, I am going to have you arrested.”

“Actually, we are going to have a supervisor 4 here because of your statement.”

Well, Tyner eventually refused a pat down too and never made it on his flight. And he says he is now facing a $10,000 fine and a possible civil suit. But this guy isn’t the only one fighting back against those body scanners. A lot of people are saying enough Is enough, even pilots. That brings us to this morning’s “A.M. Extra” John Roberts making news this morning. You actually got the TSA administrator 5 John Pistole to admit that rules could change for pilots, John?

Indeed they could. Because the TSA has come under heat by the two largest pilots unions and just late yesterday Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger who, of course, put the US air flight down in the Hudson River rang in and say why are we screening pilots anyways? The two unions have said, hey, we’re concerned about radiation but Sully said it just doesn’t make sense. Particularly when you consider that if a pilot really wanted to commit an active terror, he or her would have the greatest weapon of terror at their finger tips and that is the aircraft. So, John Pistole saying this morning that they may be looking at some revisions. They are working with the pilots union to see what makes sense Because he said they are a trusted employee. And maybe they don’t need to. Now he didn’t say this but the suggestion is maybe they don’t need to go through the full screening that all the other passengers do, Kyra.

Well, now, let’s get back to this passenger in San Diego. I’ve been through that airport. And I’ve said that I have not wanted the body scan and they’ve just taken me aside and they’ve done the wand. It wasn’t an issue. But he recorded this whole process and it’s gone viral on Youtube. You asked John Pistole about this? What did he have to say?

Well, he said that obviously people are going to have their concerns and that the TSA is trying to keep a lot of people happy but obviously a lot of people aren’t. Let’s listen to what he told me.

Obviously everybody has their own perspectives about their personal screening, and again, it gets back to the issue of what are we doing to ensure everybody else on that flight that people are being properly screened so if Abdul Mutallab from 12/25 had several, look, I don’t want you doing a pat down on me, because of my beliefs or whatever it maybe. So, that’s something we have to balance. All trying to be sensitive to individual’s issues and concerns of privacy and things and also the bottom line of ensuring that everybody gets on that flight has been properly screened.

I understand that part. But what about this threat, though, of a $10,000 fine and a potential, you know, civil litigation because he didn’t go through the screening process.

Well, there are a number of different possibilities there, the bottom line is somebody does not go through proper security screening then they are not going to get on the flight.

Right.

So, that’s what it comes down to.

And it’s true. You can say you don’t want the body scanner. You can get the wand. But apparently 6, he wanted to take it a step further and say never mind I don’t want anything. So, of course, he can’t fly.

Oh, yeah, but the issue wasn’t that he couldn’t fly. I mean, I think he accepted the idea and the TSA administrator there kind of ducked my question. It was the issue of being potentially subject to a $10,000 fine because he didn’t want to go through the screening. And also Kyra, what Tyner says that he was going to be subjected to when we hear that on the tape recording 7 as well, was more than just a wand, it’s a pat down. That includes the TSA screener sliding the flat part of palm up the inside of his leg all the way up to the groin front and back. And that’s to make sure they get at least some sense in that area where Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab had that underwear bomb secreted 8, that there isn’t something there that’s not supposed to be there.

Well, we’ll definitely see what happens with regard to pilots and if indeed they are going to have to go through this. It was interesting that the head of TSA actually said that could change. John, thanks so much.

Heading Cross Country, our first stop Niagara Falls, New York where a disoriented deer wandered into a local supermarket. Now watch closely. And you’ll actually see one customer literally 9 running for the doors to get away from the pursuing deer. Now the buck 10 followed and then crashed a window or two before making a pretty hasty exit out of there.

Now to San Francisco where more than 10,000 jellyfish mysteriously washed ashore 11 on ocean beach. Kind of looks like a cobblestone walkway of the jellyfish. Strong surf may have been the cause.

And last stop, suburban 12 Colorado Springs, Colorado, where a bunch of well-fed homeless folks probably want to kiss the would-be bride who treated them to an unexpected feast. A last minute marriage cancellation 13 prompted her to reach out to the local Salvation 14 Army and feed the hungry with what was supposed to be her wedding reception dinner.