TSA and film [View All]

At 5am on 9/4/06 in the Reno airport I was at the security checkpoint and I loaded my stuff in the grey plastic tub. I have an artificial knee so I have very few items in carry on to make it easier because I set off the alarm every time. I handed 2 rolls of professional film to the TSA person and asked, "could I please have this hand searched?" she replied, "Is it high speed film?". I responded, "No but it's professional film and I would feel better if it was hand searched". She put my film in a round plastic tray and said, "we don't have to search any film under 800 speed if we don't want to" and put it on the conveyor belt to X-Ray it. I picked up the plastic tray and asked for a supervisor. The TSA person manning the metal detector leaned over to me and said, "I know what you're going through, I'm a photographer also".

The woman took the plastic tray from me and walked off and I went though the metal detector and set it off with my knee. No supervisor showed up nor did I know where my film went. As I was being hand scanned and then frisked I asked again for a supervisor. The TSA person searching me called for a supervisor.

A woman showed up and said, "What is your problem?" I told her what happened and she said, "So what's the problem, we're hand searching it aren't we?" I said I don't know, a woman just walked off with it after refusing to hand search it. The person manning the X-Ray screening machine then stood up and started yelling over the plexi-glass barrier at me saying, "She's doing it!!". I told the supervisor I should not have to beg for such a simple request that is outlined on the TSA website. I mentioned the other TSA employee who was also a photographer and knew the proper procedure. She responded with, "I am their supervisor and they don't know anything unless I tell them".

At this point I got mad and said, "maybe there is a problem when your crew knows the rules better than you". I knew when I said it that it was wrong to say but my anger got the better of me. The whole time the supervisor was yelling at me and the X-Ray man was standing and yelling at me over the plexi-glass screen. I ended my discussion with, "We are not cattle and should not have to beg for a simple request is covered on the TSA website." I asked her if she had seen it and she said, "NO, I know the rules and we don't have to search film under 800 speed." I asked her name and ID# and walked off.

When I arrived in Seattle and then in Spokane I asked the TSA supervisors about my encounter and both told me to file a complaint because TSA personnel should not treat people that way.

From the TSA website:
At the passenger security checkpoint, you should remove the following types of film from your carry-on baggage and ask for a hand inspection:

* Film with an ASA/ISO 800 or higher * Highly sensitive X-ray or scientific films
* Film of any speed which is subjected to X-ray surveillance more than 5 times (the effect of X-ray screening is cumulative)
* Film that is or will be underexposed
* Film that you intend to 'push process'
* Sheet film * Large format film
* Medical film
* Scientific film
* Motion picture film
* Professional grade film

If the same roll of film is exposed to X-ray inspections more than 5 times before it is developed, it is possible that damage may occur. Protect your film by requesting a hand-inspection for your film if it has already passed through the carry-on baggage X-ray screening equipment more than five times. Are you traveling with undeveloped film? Pack undeveloped film in your carry-on bag, not your checked baggage; the equipment used to screen checked baggage will damage undeveloped film. You may request that high-speed and specialty film be inspected by hand at the security checkpoint. To facilitate hand-inspection, remove your undeveloped film from the canister and pack it in a clear plastic bag.



No one asked if the film was "Professional", push or pulled development, or has it been exposed 5 times to X-Ray. They just refused to inspect it until I asked for a supervisor. We should not have to beg when their own guidelines spell out the procedure. I understand the real and the Fox News threat of terror. I know that traveling is entirely different now since 9/11. I've been pulled every time and hand searched even before 9/11 because of my knee. I have no complaints about that but I will not be treated like cattle and denied such a simple request. The supervisor's name was Diane and refused to give an ID#.

I won't be treated like cattle. Perhaps they only want me to stop doing this:





If I was a vindictive person I would organize an international "Bring Your Film to the Airport Day".


Michael Harris