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TagsBY BOB HOLT
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
New Jersey's Legislature has found a common goal on which they can work together-airport full body scanners.
State lawmakers announced a resolution urging Congress to take a second look at the airport system. They said using full-body scanners at airports should be reconsidered because the machines are ineffective, are overly intrusive, and open the door to further invasions of privacy depending on how the images are retained.
The effort brought together members of both political parties and both houses of the state Legislature as well as the American Civil Liberties Union. Philly.com reports the resolution calls the scans a "gross violation" of the Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable search and seizure and says the machines' effectiveness has not been sufficiently proven.
More than 300 of the machines are being used at dozens of airports around the country. Newark began operating its first machine last month. The scanner creates a detailed computerized image of a person's body and gives screeners the ability to check for weapons or other prohibited items.
Travelers who decline to go through the scanner are subjected to a pat-down that the lawmakers said involves the touching of genital areas.An incident involving a body scanner at San Diego's Lindbergh Field over the weekend became an Internet sensation after a software engineer posted a cell-phone audio recording of the encounter.
According to the San Jose Mercury News, software engineer John Tyner couldn't board a flight after refusing a full-body scan that reveals people naked and wouldn't allow a TSA worker to conduct a groin check. Tyner tells the worker, "If you touch my junk, I'm gonna have you arrested."
Tyner says he left the airport — but only after being threatened with a lawsuit and fine for failing to complete security screening.
Back in January, according to Fox News, a man caused a security breach at Newark Liberty International Airport, causing major delays and grounding flights for six hours because he walked the wrong way through a security checkpoint.
Someone picking up a passenger told an officer guarding the exit that he thought he saw a man enter through the doors, according to TSA spokeswoman Ann Davis. TSA reviewed surveillance video before sweeping the airport, she said.
The video confirmed the man had entered through the exit, and officials made passengers leave the terminal and be rescreened.
On NBC's "Today" show Monday, TSA head John Pistole said the agency was looking for a balance between security and privacy.
Ben Franklin would have been very proud of American Hero John Tyner!