Stripped Searched at Miami Airport

[JohnnySharp2]

Hi
My work colleague was telling me today that she was stripped searched at Miami Airport because when she walked through the scanner it buzzed 3 times. Each time the scanner buzzed she explained to the officer that she had had an artificial hip replacement which was held together with metal bolts, 10 months ago, but was completely ignored by the officers. She and her husband were then escorted to a room and she was told to remove her clothes. Also, she was warned that she would be arrested if she did not comply. After standing there naked a different officer held a hand held scanner over her scars and of course it buzzed. She was free to leave.

She's really upset about it.

This is Julie not Johnny

 

[MidgeD79]

this really upsets me! Did she (or can she) get an official note from her dr for future trips? Things like this make me feel like terrosits are winning the war as our individual rights are slowly being "stripped" away

 

[I Love Pluto]

Stripping, in any case, is an invasion of privacy. I would have called the police myself. Is this legal?

 

[Schmeck]

She had the choice of not going on the plane - she could either submit to the search, or leave. I believe that anyone who has implanted metal is supposed to have written, official documentation to show. Wasn't she notified of that when she had her surgery? Given the documents?

 

[JohnnySharp2]

She told me she had a dr's letter for them in her bag. But they would not let her touch her stuff and the officer carried it.

She was a 2 centre holiday - 1 wk in Miami and 1 wk in Mexico. She flew into Miami before all the terrorist arrests in the UK, it was as she was due to fly to Mexico it happened when the security levels had been raised.

I think she was treated quite harshly. I think they could of used a hand scanner on the area. I hope nobody else has to go through that. I suppose it is the world we live in, now.

She said it was very scary.

This is Julie not Johnny

 

[SueM in MN]

I can't get onto the tsa website (it has been crashing my browswer recently), but in the FAQs, even recently, it said that no one would be askeed to submit to a strip search. I can't belive that would have changed, especially in a situation where someone had a letter and they would have been able to verify that the metal was where the letter said it should be by doing handheld scanner and pat down searches.
It appears that the screeners in this situation WAY overstepped their bounds.

 

[vhoffman]

I have metal implants in my body and its NOT some sort of government requirement to have written proof of that, when you travel or otherwise. I've traveled many times and always set off the metal detector. They then have me step aside and use a wand thing to search, perhaps a pat down. I do have a letter from my doctor, but no one's ever asked for it.

Miami has stricter requirements because of its position, as an International airport, etc. Also, the security is hightened right now. Plenty of people travel with metal implants, I really think the treatment this lady received was just out of the ordinary, its not really standard procedure. Probably due to circumstances, etc.

 

[vhoffman]

Schmeck,

There is no "official" documentation from doctors, etc., to the effect that a person has metal implants. I believe you're speaking here from assumptions and ignorance. I have multiple metal implants and there is not a standard, official document. I have a letter from one doctor, however, that's never asked for. There is no standard document, if there was, I'd have a book of them!

 

[Schmeck]

Sorry, I was told by someone with a hip replacement that there were special documents she had to present at the airport, from her doctor. She said she just hands the document to the screener before she goes through, and they do the wand screening as well.

 

[minkydog]

My DH has a pacemaker and he was given an official card documenting the pacemaker make & model when he left the hospital. He shows it every time we fly and he has never had a problem. They just wand him and let him bypass the metal detector.

 

[pugdog]

Anyone that recieves a pacemaker ,artifical heart valves ,stents or an ASD closeure device all get cards that state that they have them.
I can't say anything about other body parts though.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Somewhere I have a form letter from my orthopedist stating I have metal screws in my leg. I never remember it (obviously ) When I have set off the metal detector, I've been wanded or very politely and professionally - because it usually happens in Boston, home of the "the TSA molested me" accusation - patted down. That's it. I allow plenty of time to get to the airport, and at the airport, and never have an actual problem.

 

[bumpysheep]

My DH has a pacemaker and he was given an official card documenting the pacemaker make & model when he left the hospital. He shows it every time we fly and he has never had a problem. They just wand him and let him bypass the metal detector.

Same here with my baclofen pump. I also have a card issued by the manufacter of my insulin pump, that gives my docs info and my docs signature.

I'm pretty horrified that she was treated that way. I would have left and called the CRO for my airline and see what could be done if anything. At least that way one has documentation if they want to file a complaint.

 

[missypie]

Wow. I would be SO UPSET. I'd have a hard time continuing with my trip.

 

[ducklite]

My brother has screws and rods in his back, screws and plates in both heels, and screws in his elbow. (A catastrophic accident that by the Grace of God he has recovered enough to walk with a cane and drive again!) He was given a card by his rehab center for this exact situation.

Anne

 

[themooch]

She had the choice of not going on the plane - she could either submit to the search, or leave. I believe that anyone who has implanted metal is supposed to have written, official documentation to show. Wasn't she notified of that when she had her surgery? Given the documents?

My husband has a right total knee and his surgeon gave him a card with all of the information on it just for this purpose. The card should keep someone from having to go through all that hopefully.

Anna

 

[Jacky]

That was terrible to be strip searched. They had no right to do that, I wouldn't think. Was she nice or rude when she first set off the alarms? If she had an attitude-- you frigging jerk, I have a hip replacement-- or was she, oh that must be my hip replacement...... (Doesn't make them right of course) Did she fit a profile- Muslim or something???

I know if you are driving from Michigan to Canada and you say or look in some manner that they don't like, they can not only strip search you but dismantle your car piece by piece -- and they don't have to put it back either--- :-(

Look what the terrorist have done--- its awful.f

Jacky

 

[annie1995]

I read in a previous post that the woman had a document from her doctor in her bag, but they would not let her get it out. This is a statement that should be carried in hand with your plane tickets. It's horrible what they did to her.

 

[rigs32]

I know if you are driving from Michigan to Canada and you say or look in some manner that they don't like, they can not only strip search you but dismantle your car piece by piece -- and they don't have to put it back either--- :-(

If you are entering the country at a border - which can be any airport, too - the powers that be only need reasonable suspicion to strip search you. A cavity search only requires probably cause, which is what you typically need to arrest someone elsewhere.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

She is english, white and a special needs teacher, not the profile they would be looking at.

She has been traumatised by this and gets weepy when speaking about it. She has bought a house in Mexico so she will look at flying into another airport next time.

I suppose at Miami Airport they have to deal with alot of hassles as it is the gateway to South Americia and the Caribbean. But, those officers were stressed out and 'over the top' and their attitude was alot to be desired too.

This is Julie not Johnny