Body scanners in Aus... No option to opt out?

[gumpy]

Body scanners at Australian airports to show generic image

I don't really want have more electro magnetic rays on me... will we get the option to op out when these new scanners are introduced?

 

[UP4014]

Probably, just that no one will tell the rent a cops that the passengers have more than one option.

 

[anat0l]

I would assume that you could opt out.

You may have to be content with your privates being handled in a manner your significant other has never known or tried before.

 

[Maca44]

With two metal hips I get the full treatment when going through security, so I look forward to new scanners which I hope will alleviate the pat downs. In saying that, the stick figure scans might only show 'something' and might have to go through the pad down in any event.

 

[SeaWolf]

Unfortunately I believe the rule will be No Scan, No Fly:
Official: No sexual feelings at Australian airports – Plane Talking

 

[gumpy]

Unfortunately I believe the rule will be No Scan, No Fly:
Official: No sexual feelings at Australian airports – Plane Talking

dammit... i was looking forward to being molested... I was going to make "ah" noises...

 

[cove]

Isn't it just the laughter from the scanners back room that we are all concerned about?
As long as they keep the laughter behind a reasonably sound controlled back room I think we can live with that.
Being a traveller thru LAX you do get scanned so the technology has been deployed for quite a while now.
I am happy enough keeping the bad people off our planes in OZ and doing whatever it takes to keep it that way.

 

[gumpy]

Isn't it just the laughter from the scanners back room that we are all concerned about?
As long as they keep the laughter behind a reasonably sound controlled back room I think we can live with that.
Being a traveller thru LAX you do get scanned so the technology has been deployed for quite a while now.
I am happy enough keeping the bad people off our planes in OZ and doing whatever it takes to keep it that way.

personally i'm not concerned about the image they see, as far as i'm concerned it's doing damaged to their eyes not mine... It's the rays I don't want... I was on 61 flights last year most of them domestic... I don't want even more additional radiation...

 

[simongr]

I am happy enough keeping the bad people off our planes in OZ and doing whatever it takes to keep it that way.

We haven't had a terrorist event on Oz planes with the current security measures and we even allow deadly liquids on domestic flights so who are we now protecting ourselves from?

personally i'm not concerned about the image they see, as far as i'm concerned it's doing damaged to their eyes not mine... It's the rays I don't want... I was on 61 flights last year most of them domestic... I don't want even more additional radiation...

My take on this is that I get irradiated when I fly and could easily be killed on the road to the airport so this is not much of an increase in risk for me.

What I am more concerned about is whether this will slow down the security process.

 

[pshepvic]

Yeah it's not as much the images that I'm concerned about, but more the radiation. I know they say it is "safe" but radiation exposure is coughulative. Just because that emits a dose that is considered harmless on it's own, doesn't mean I want it.

A long haul flight is the equivalent of two chest x-rays, just from the radiation in the air. I don't think we really need to add more to that.

In the US last year and earlier this year I refused to have the scan, and when questioned I simply said "because I have the right not to". They did the pat down, which, mind you, was no worse than the random pat downs they do in Australian international airports.

 

[openseat]

From this article it would seem that the whole thing is a charade

Body scanners at Australian airports to show generic image

I'm not sure if the TWU guy is using this as leverage, but if it is true that there is no effective screening of the baggage handlers then there is a problem.

 

[MatF]

It wouldn't bother me to have people looking at the images - stick figure or not, but I must admit the radiation would concern me, with ~100 flights a year. I figure I get irradiated enough already.

Is there a list of where the scanners will be installed? I presume regional airports won't have them (at least initially?).

 

[SeaWolf]

I'm more concerned about the cost of these things which, as numerous experts point out, are really just a bit of theater. That cost is ultimately coming out of our pockets every time we fly and have to pay a security tax. I'd prefer they spent it on something worthwhile like better luggage screening, rather than trying to stop people with nail clippers and hand cream.

 

[Misha]

You may have to be content with your privates being handled in a manner your significant other has never known or tried before.

depending on the aesthetics of the security officer, this could be a good option

 

[simongr]

I think given the number of us that have many multiple flights per year we are in a unique position to prejudge the likely aesthetics of the security groper... :-|

 

[Misha]

I think given the number of us that have many multiple flights per year we are in a unique position to prejudge the likely aesthetics of the security groper... :-|

LOL

fair call. but i am yet to visit all Australian airports and shall ever be hopeful.

i once had a security officer in Hawaii who wanted to 'grope' me... I seriously thought about being 'difficult' to prolonge the process mmmm hmmmm


Back OT: Apologies for lowering the tone of a serious thread... I must admit the radiation factor has never bothered me. I am more concerned about the giggles...

 

[simongr]

Where is medhead when we need him?

 

[opusman]

I agree the less radition the better, but the figures I have seen put a scan from these new machines at no more than the equivalent of an extra minute or two in the air. You only have to get stuck in a holding pattern once or twice to get a years worth of scanner radiation.

 

[simongr]

The thing is that although this is only a very small dose and we submit ourselves to much higher doses all the time - we have to consider is it a necessary increase on top of all the other necessary doses?

 

[MatF]

^^ that's my logic as well.

It's like when people laugh at the irony of someone buying 2 KFC burgers and a diet coke. Well, fair enough, but it's still better than 2 KFC burgers and a normal coke