National Opt Out Day: How Travel Is Going So Far (POLL)

Today, the day before Thanksgiving, is officially being called "National Opt Out Day." Millions of Americans will take to the skies to head somewhere for the holidays, and many Americans, who are enraged by the TSA patdowns, will choose to opt out of the searches.

So far airports are quiet and not many people are "opting out," according to ABC News.

NBC reporter Tom Costello, reporting from Washington's Reagan airport, told MSNBC that the lines were "really are pretty manageable" this morning and that "so far, nationwide, we don't have any reports" of protests.

As the day continues, HuffPost Travel will keep you posted on any breaking news or protests. Send us your photos from the airports if you see something!

Quick Poll

Will you choose to opt out today?

Absolutely, they're violating my rights!

No, not worth it.

Share your vote on Facebook so your friends can take this poll

Comments

[Raygo]

01:24 AM on 12/03/2010

How does o e opt-out?

[AugusteLumiere]

09:46 PM on 11/24/2010

Part 1 of 2:

US Constitution, Amendment 4:

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

This pertains to the limits placed upon GOVERNMENTS power to COMPEL you to submit to an "unreasonable search" AGAINST your WILL as a matter of a CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.

It insists that WITNESSES ("supported by Oath or affirmation") attest that you have committed a CRIME and that a JUDGE issues an order allowing the search ("and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause").

As anyone who opts OUT of a TSA search is FREE to do so (most likely forfeiting air travel), it is NOT a violation of the 4th.

There is NO Constitutional right to FLY.. and the TSA is NOT coming to your home, place of business or detaining you on the street to FORCE you to submit to these procedures.

They are SECURITY checks, no more, no less, and nobody is FORCING ANYONE to submit.

Therein lies the difference.

[MagicalPossibilities]

10:36 PM on 11/24/2010

Submitting people to these types of searches without probable cause IS a violation of the 4th Amendment. Get bomb-sniffing dogs and screeners who can profile people based on their body language and other cues. Groping kids and old ladies is just stupid.

[AugusteLumiere]

11:19 PM on 11/24/2010

What's the difference?

As I said, these procedures are draconian and even egregious, and CAN be challenged through civil action and legislative intervention.. but, as a matter of Constitutional LAW, they are NOT a violation of the 4th.

[AugusteLumiere]

09:46 PM on 11/24/2010

Part 2 of 2:

THAT SAID, we STILL can insist on changing these procedures through OTHER means (civil action, new legislative regulations and restrictions).. but the "4th Amendment argument" doesn't hold Constitutional water.

The fact that we allow our FEAR to dictate these draconian methods.. (checking prosthetic breasts and colostomy bags ferchrissakes) simply because one dimwit lit his BALLS on fire & another couldn't even light his SHOE, is an illustration of JUST HOW COWARDLY a nation we really are, despite the bluster.

“Home of the Brave”, myass!

[JohnHKennedy]

07:58 PM on 11/24/2010

I agree with Goodmo when he posted "The protest did not fail.

TSA changed it's policy. They DID NOT USE the scanners as the PRIMARY security screening as they were doing previously. Only individuals who alerted when passing through the regular metal scanners were subjected to these unconstitutional procedures.

OPT OUT WORKED BECAUSE THE TSA BLINKED!"

Reports backing him up are coming in from around the country. Another fact you should know about is that persons Opting Out were told to
"The Safe and Legal Way for Airline Travelers to Protest TSA Scanner Radiation Is To Just "politely" Opt for the Pat Down. Don't make a fuss. Be polite to the TSA people-They are just doing their job."

So the truth is that TSA won't tell us the truth about Opt Out Day and the Major Media wanted it to fail from the get go so no truth there either.

Opting Out is Working, people...KEEP IT UP right through New Yearss Day.

[AllWeAreSaying]

08:17 PM on 11/24/2010

Fight the power. It's working.

[AugusteLumiere]

09:47 PM on 11/24/2010

They never use the scanners as the primary screening method.

[HHarvey]

07:33 PM on 11/24/2010

I propose a ban on all bans!

[Crixus]

06:58 PM on 11/24/2010

If you don't want to be secure when you fly.. and your againsts security...

THEN DON'T FLY... its that simple.. more room for me... I don't care if they had to do a full strip search.. I'm not packing any heat... taking any b@mbs on the plane.. so whatever it takes to SECURE THE PLANE.. so be it..

now all you trollz and paid bloggers by the GOP ... posting this is some sort of bi-patison outcry against the TSA keeping us SAFE.. put it down your pie hole.. because this procedure is NEEDED .. AND ITS BEING DONE REGARDLESS..

IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT... THEN DON'T FLY... CYA WOULDN'T WANT TO BE YA

[Doctor Jones]

07:08 PM on 11/24/2010

Just because you don't mind being groped doesn't make it right that I have to be subjected to it just to travel.

I don't mind being set on fire to make sure the government knows I'm not a witch, I hope you don't mind a little kerosene.

[Crixus]

09:40 PM on 11/24/2010

bich if you got a problem with being searched groped or whatever.. then DON'T FLY

[HHarvey]

07:32 PM on 11/24/2010

You got it goin' on Crixus!

[fortressfountain]

05:39 PM on 11/24/2010

It is a big inconvenience-if you have to switch planes-you have to retrieve your luggage and go through the process for as many times as you switch planes.
How come every piece of cargo is not checked?

[Wingit]

12:06 AM on 11/25/2010

Al cargo on a commercial passenger plane is screened.

[hardrain77]

05:34 PM on 11/24/2010

They nipped the protest in the bud.

http://gizmodo.com/5698536/fliers-claim-tsa-have-deactivated-body-scanners

It begs to question: Why have them and NOT use them on the busiest travel day of the year if these machines were really effective? It seems bad P.R. got in the way of "security" to the TSA and govt.

[LRae]

04:52 PM on 11/24/2010

How about we have a National In-Grates Day.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I would be awestruck if all of the ingrates, protesting this non-issue, take a moment to remember that there are fellow countrymen & women who have volunteered to put their life on the line for all of us, including those that feel intruded upon by having their "junk" scanned or touched.

If you were maimed by a terrorist, thug, iD|0+, or anyone, would you object to having the first responders and you seeing your "junk" 5 feet away from the rest of your mangled body? Would you just Opt Out?

Sometimes it is patriotic to protest. This may not be that time.

Logic works.

[hardrain77]

05:31 PM on 11/24/2010

http://gizmodo.com/5698536/fliers-claim-tsa-have-deactivated-body-scanners

[Draupnir]

05:43 PM on 11/24/2010

In what way does this argument have anything to do with the topic of airport security? Really, it borders on the ridiculous.

[battlinbob]

04:49 PM on 11/24/2010

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-01-07-obama-report_N.htm

[brookmo]

04:25 PM on 11/24/2010

The protest did not fail. TSA changed it's policy. They DID NOT USE the scanners as the PRIMARY security screening as they were doing previously. Only individuals who alerted when passing through the regular metal scanners were subjected to these unconstitutional procedures. OPT OUT WORKED BECAUSE THE TSA BLINKED!

[PuffDragon]

04:22 PM on 11/24/2010

This is fundamental privacy issue and extremely bad policy.

The fact that the Homeland Security officer who recommended the x-ray machines secretly profited from the sale needs an official investigation.

[LRae]

04:59 PM on 11/24/2010

If no US carriers airliners are brought down by any explosive device, I'd say we all "profited from the sale ".

Let's investigate Mr Bush, Mr Cheney, Mr Rumsfeld, and other operatives from that regime.

[Bruce Forbes]

03:58 PM on 11/24/2010

The "Opt-Put" was a story that never happened. Cable news was poised this AM to report the mayhem that never happened. There's two wars going on folks...if you want to protest something worthwhile, how about hitting the streets with your "Peace" signs.

[hardrain77]

05:31 PM on 11/24/2010

http://gizmodo.com/5698536/fliers-claim-tsa-have-deactivated-body-scanners

[AmericanInLondon]

03:53 PM on 11/24/2010

Why do I smell "Bagger" behind this? Seems that the Cons are the ones screaming loudest--mostly to support their agenda of implementing racial profiling and leaving "real" Americans alone.

However, having said that, I do think the TSA and their measures are a joke, and have been ever since Day 1 (i.e. back when Bush created the agency). So I'm not surprised things are boiling over now.

[Cookie100]

03:58 PM on 11/24/2010

fanned

[Curbrunner]

03:43 PM on 11/24/2010

Fascism's foothold...This is not the America it once was...

If you object to the new enhanced airport screening measures you are now considered to be a domestic extremist.
Homeland security now considers those who are opposed to, or engaged in the disruption of the implementation of the enhanced airport screening procedures as “domestic extremists.” according to the terminology and content of an internal memo reportedly issued yesterday at the hand of DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano.
It labels any person who “interferes” with TSA airport security screening procedure protocol and operations by actively objecting to the established screening process, “including but not limited to the anticipated national opt-out day” as a “domestic extremist.” The label is then broadened to include “any person, group or alternative media source” that actively objects to, causes others to object to, supports and/or elicits support for anyone who engages in such travel disruptions at U.S. airports in response to the enhanced security procedures.

Implicit within the same section is that the recently enhanced security screening procedures implemented at U.S. airports, and the measures to be taken in response to the negative public backlash as detailed [in this directive], have the full support of the President. In other words, Obama not only endorses the enhanced security screening, but the measures outlined in this directive to be taken in response to public objections.
More here: http://homelandsecurityus.com/archives/4254

[Cookie100]

03:57 PM on 11/24/2010

thank you

[battlinbob]

04:58 PM on 11/24/2010

Same lady who issued terror watch alerts to police stations across the nation to be on the alert for veterans returning home and people with bumper stickers supporting Independent parties...
Birds of a Feather Flock Together.... I am sure the CIC is loving this...