TSA Video Counters Sippy Cup Allegation
Saturday, June 16, 2007

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ARLINGTON, Va. —  The Transportation Security Administration is denying allegations that an airport screener seized a toddler's sippy cup and mistreated his mother, taking the unusual step of posting security camera footage on its Web site.

The TSA said in a statement that the incident and the videotape demonstrate that its "officers display professionalism and concern for all passengers."

At issue is whether Monica Emmerson, a former Secret Service officer, was improperly detained June 11 after she spilled water out of her child's sippy cup at Washington's Reagan National Airport.

TSA has banned most fluids at airport security checkpoints for nearly a year because of concern about possible liquid explosives.

Emmerson confirmed a blogger's account of the incident to The Washington Post but would not elaborate. She has declined to comment to The Associated Press.

The story quickly spread on the Internet after blogger Bill Adler, a Washington author, saw a note Emmerson wrote on a Web site for city parents. Adler interviewed Emmerson and relayed her account.

He wrote that a TSA screener seized her 19-month-old's cup after asking if there was water in it, causing Emmerson's son to cry. Emmerson was told she would have to leave the security checkpoint and dump out the water if she wanted to keep the cup.

As she left the security line, Emmerson "accidentally spilled" the water from the sippy cup, she and Adler wrote.

TSA, however, said Emmerson dumped, not spilled, the water on the floor.

A TSA report said Emmerson told an officer that she was a Secret Service agent, flashed her credentials and said she was exempt from the "stupid" policy restricting liquids on planes.

The video that TSA posted on its Web site Friday shows Emmerson being escorted from the security checkpoint as she appears to take the top off the sippy cup and shake it upside down.

It shows that after she was confronted by several officers, she used paper towels fetched by the TSA to clean up the spot as other passengers stream by her.

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On the Net:

TSA Video: http://www.tsa.gov/approach/mythbusters/index.shtm



No way I would work at the airport.

This is gonna cause a large portion of ARFCOM to melt down.

Why is is that lately there are so many stories where the person in it that receives a .gov paycheck reminds me of either the Sheriff of Nottingham, the Movie Brazil, or one of many Monty Python skits.

If a dog had got shot this would have it all.

Does the TSA not make anybody sick?  Sad thing is they brow beat a SS agent for this at one airport, when TSA at the next airport won't do shit about the same thing.  Their application of "security" is not very even handed.  

TSA is a joke.

I was travelling with a Federal agent a few months ago.  Flying armed on his creds, he was hassled about a water bottle.  Never mind the HK on his belt, two knives and two aditional loaded mags.

Unreal.

Read the incident report...

floor. The female passenger again flashed her badge and credentials and told the MWAA officer "Do you know who I am?' An argument then ensued

It's .gov vs. .gov.  Hilarity...

I've flown several times before and after 9/11.  Never any trouble...

Shane

Link to the Video Already posted
Article two days ago on Boing Boing

Does this mean Monica Emmerson should be praised for not following an obviously stupid policy or criticized for flashing her "gov't credentials" in order to avoid following an obviously stupid policy?

Professionalism (especially when claimed by an agency such as the TSA) is almost meaningless when one is enforcing/upholding stupid rules.

My experience with TSA agents thus far leads me to believe that
they are hiring people that were rejected by Walmart .
My last encounter at JFK was with an individual who spoke so poorly
I couldn't understand what she was saying and neither could anyone
else on that line  

Quoted: My experience with TSA agents thus far leads me to believe that they are hiring people that were rejected by Walmart . My last encounter at JFK was with an individual who spoke so poorly I couldn't understand what she was saying and neither could anyone else on that line

"Federalize will Professionalize."

Quoted: My experience with TSA agents thus far leads me to believe that they are hiring people that were rejected by Walmart . My last encounter at JFK was with an individual who spoke so poorly I couldn't understand what she was saying and neither could anyone else on that line

You should have requested a TSA agent who was an American citizen.

Hah. They both work for the same damn department ~ DHS.

Quoted: Hah. They both work for the same damn department ~ DHS.

I thought SS was Dept. of Treasury? Anyway, they seem to do things differently at different locations. Some places no problems at all, others you get strip search. I cannot agree with the actions of the SS agent, giving the old "do you know who I am?" speech. Everyone flying should know what they can carry on. If it was water, she should have popped the cap and drank it and moved on. It may not be right but it is not a situation that is going to go in her favor.

mfn

Next time I have to fly I am going to ask if I should completely empty my bladder before going thru security check becuase I know its over 3 ounces. Or do I need to pet it in a 1 quart bag. What If I have a Foley (pee bag)  becuase of my kidney surgery does that need to be completly empty before boarding.


TSA=Totally Stupid asshats.

Quoted: Read the incident report... floor. The female passenger again flashed her badge and credentials and told the MWAA officer "Do you know who I am?' An argument then ensued It's .gov vs. .gov.  Hilarity... I've flown several times before and after 9/11.  Never any trouble... Shane

Yep, I love it when different branches of the .gov get into a pissing match.  Happens alot more often than you would think.  Everyone thinks they've got a "Get out of jail free" card.

Obviously the TSA screener didn't "respect her authoriteh".

Sorry, but every time I see someone in a TSA uniform I can't help but think "loser".

Another Gov''t agency created to employ the unemployable