The Monumental Incompetence of the TSA
According to GAO, TSA inspectors spend 33% of their time inspecting, 8% on incidents, 5% investigating, 5% on “outreach,” and 49% of their time on “other.” Other? 10% of useable TSA equipment (worth millions) in transit is stored for 2 years or more due to poor logistical processes. During the first 3 months of 2007, the TSA Logistics Center received eight explosive detection systems units at a cost of about $7 million. As of January 2009, all eight explosive detection systems units remained in storage at the Logistics Center. In December of 2009 TSA leaked a full copy of its 2008 S.O.P., screening protocol, and other security standards onto the internet. In June 2007, investigators testing the TSA checkpoint screening process were able to smuggle prohibited items past security despite passing through secondary screening and pat-downs. TSA has not deployed any of the 10 technologies it has created since 2002. In 2006, TSA screened 708,400,522 passengers in U.S. airports. In 2006, TSA screened 535,020,271 pieces of checked luggage. TSA opens 16% of checked luggage (over 85million bags) to screen for prohibited items. TSA confiscated 13,709,211 items in 2006. In 2006, TSA confiscated 11,616,249 lighters. Lighters can now be brought on planes.
President Bush signed the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act in 2004, which banned butane lighters from flights. TSA’s website recommends that travelers with small children ‘do not pass [their] child to our security officer to hold. In 2007 a man traveling to NYC from Puerto Rico smuggled a baby alligator in his pants. As of Dec. 7, 2009, TSA is still in the planning stages for 100% checked baggage screening at many airports. The 9/11 Act gives TSA the responsibility to ensure that the airline industry screens 100 percent of the cargo on passenger aircraft by August 2010. As of March 18, 2009, all cargo on small body aircraft only went through daily screening procedures. TSA paid out $98 million in bonuses and pay raises in 2008. TSA randomly stops passengers at city subway and bus stations to screen for explosive materials. The TSA VIPR program is meant to deter terrorists from attacking public transportation through random screenings. 50% of part-time TSA Screeners quit their job in 2006. 20% of part-time screeners left their job in 2008. July 7, 2010 Copyright © 2010 Please Remove Your Shoes
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