Whole Body Imaging- Do we have a choice?

By Natalia Ippolito

Lately, I have received questions about the backscatter and millimeter wave body imaging technology.  Passengers want to know if they have to go through the body imaging machines or do they have a choice. 

My answer is yes, you do have a choice.  Remember that you have to be screened one way or another.  For instance, you do not have to go through the metal detector if you do not want to, but you will still be screened using other methods.  Another example is passengers with a pace maker will never go through the metal detector because it will drain their battery, so there needs to be alternative ways to screen them. 

Same goes for the backscatter and millimeter wave.  Both are in the pilot phase at some airports and TSA is asking for volunteers to be screened by them.  If they are in the pilot phase, then you may politely refuse to be additionally screened.  If they are not in the pilot phase and you refuse, you will be screened by an alternative method such as the full-body pat-down.  So if your airport has the walk-through metal detector and millimeter wave and the millimeter wave is in the pilot phase, then you may opt to only walk through the metal detector and not the millimeter wave.

According to a TSA spokesperson, he says TSA is undetermined as to how passenger imaging technology will be used in the future.  Currently, the backscatter is being used in secondary screening in lieu of a pat-down and the millimeter wave is being used in primary screening in addition to walking through the walk-through metal-detector.  The backscatter and millimeter wave are still in the pilot phase at several airports and passengers are screened only on a voluntary basis.  He also stated that ninety percent of the passengers at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport prefer the backscatter over a pat-down, though, TSA’s final vote is still not calculated.

If you feel this type of technology is not offering total privacy, then opt for a pat-down. 

Go to http://www.airportbook.com/bookstore.htm for 369 tips to speed you through airport security!

For more info on Whole Body Imaging go to: http://www.tsa.gov/approach/tech/body_imaging.shtm