TSA Agents Refused Service At Seattle-Tacoma Area Cafe

UPDATE: We contacted the City of Seattle Police department for comment, and they forwarded us to the Port of Seattle Police Department and spokesman Perry Cooper. When asked for comment, Cooper said he "knew nothing about this story" until Wednesday.

A restaurant near the Seattle-Tacoma airport has banned TSA agents from dining in their establishment, according to Elliot.org.

The unnamed restaurant started banning TSA agents following the increased fervor over the agency's patdown techniques last fall (remember "National Opt Out Day"?).

One cafe employee, K.C. McLawson, told consumer advocate Christopher Elliot her boss was so angry at the new procedure that the restaurants has "posted signs on our doors basically saying that they [TSA agents] aren't allowed to come into our business. We have the right to refuse service to anyone."

McLawson was also quoted by Elliot as saying:

My boss flies quite a bit and he has an amazing ability to remember faces. If he sees a TSA agent come in we turn our backs and completely ignore them, and tell them to leave. Their kind aren't welcomed in our establishment. A large majority of our customers -- over 90 percent -- agree with our stance and stand by our decision. We even have the police on our side and they have helped us escort TSA agents out of our cafe. Until TSA agents start treating us with the respect and dignity that we deserve, then things will change for them in the private sector.

Elliot, curious to find McLawson's exact place of business did some digging and says that her IP address is from the Seattle area, but cannot confirm where exactly she works and if McLawson is her real name.

Elliot might also be unable to confirm McLawson's location if she sent her email through a proxy server or used a fake email address.

Comments

[Broggy69]

03:30 PM on 03/11/2011

For those who say TSA Officers are just following the rules, well why? We the people give power to our leaders, and we the people can take it away.

All we have to do is stop listening to the leaders, sadly the US will never have protest like in the 60's, and recently like what we have seen in Egypt and Saudi.

[Broggy69]

02:26 PM on 03/11/2011

The biggest problem with the TSA, other then the policy, is how rude they are. I start off having a good day even when I arrive at the airport, and even after checking in my bag, but once I get to security, I am constantly yelled to take off my shoes, though one shoe is off, and the other is half way off when I am yelled at. Then, while I am taking of my coat again I am ordered to take my coat off. I say ok, and I am yelled at again for talking back because I said ok.

Where is the respect? If the TSA wants my respect, then treat me with respect. Stop yelling at me, and stop ordering me around. So if this story was true I'd support the Cafe in a heartbeat.

[freddychef]

02:48 AM on 02/26/2011

although I like the idea of giving the bird to the TSA, how is this different from refusing to serve a different race, creed or religion?

[Puck342]

03:36 PM on 03/10/2011

It isn't illegal to refuse service to someone based on their free choices. it is illegal to refuse service to someone for something they are born with; their gender, race, creed, religion, sexuality, etc.

For Example: you can refuse service to clowns in a given restaurant. You cannot refuse service to Hindu's.

[Mu77]

12:50 AM on 02/26/2011

I am no fan of the TSA and their new procedures, but man, that's just mean and dumb. This is painfully ironic, because I am sure the people behind the restaurant's decision probably think TSA agents are just that, mean and dumb.

Not only do these new procedures not work and they are largely unnecessary, but we have to realize that by doing something that effects some people on such a deep and personal level the policy makers at the TSA have opened a Pandora's box that will continue to provoke extreme responses and should have been best left unopened.

[Js420]

04:59 PM on 02/25/2011

ignorant & irresponsible

[libertyreturns]

06:50 PM on 02/25/2011

Yes. TSA is that for sure! We can all agree on that.

[Js420]

04:06 PM on 02/27/2011

wasnt talking about TSA. they're just doing their job. its prudes & the obese that complain about being touched

[Peerless Pillar of Power]

11:51 AM on 02/25/2011

Can't the make the distinction between a TSA personnel and TSA policies? Personnel don't make the policy. TSA employees should be served at the cafe.

[libertyreturns]

06:51 PM on 02/25/2011

They should be ashamed to be TSA agents. That's worse than being a lawyer or a hobo!

[Albyj]

10:52 PM on 02/25/2011

If you think they're bad, just pay a visit to our "friendly" officers at US Customs.

[KKSSHOE]

12:42 PM on 04/13/2011

Nazi's didn't make policy but it didn't stop them from being tried at Nuremberg for killing Jews.

[tonybklyn]

10:45 PM on 02/24/2011

This IS silly. These are hardworking individuals doing their jobs, as prescribed. I can't believe anyone truly feels discrimination is ok, if we don't like what you do for a living.

[onlythetruthcounts]

05:37 PM on 02/24/2011

It warms my heart to see that justice is still alive and well.

[tonybklyn]

10:47 PM on 02/24/2011

I deal with TSA more in a week, then you will in possibly a year, and never in my heart hold it against people who are doing a job, I myself could not do. Justice? for what, the agents are doing their jobs...they should be denied a seat in a restaurant for that? What is their individual crime?

[onlythetruthcounts]

05:24 PM on 02/25/2011

"U.S. government workers have a personal and patriotic responsibility to ensure that their actions do not deprive American citizens of their Constitutional rights. A U.S. government employee who engages in behavior that violates the rights of American citizens -- even if ordered to do so -- is himself guilty of those violations under civil law (and perhaps criminal law, depending on the violation)." (naturalnews.com)

You must be ok with government workers sexually assaulting your kids and wife.

[dnb310]

03:00 PM on 02/26/2011

It's not so much what they do, it's how they do it. Getting on a plain these days feels like landing at Ellis Island. The agents should be trained in customer service and be held accountable for rude, obnoxious behavior.

[RowingMunkeyCU]

09:49 AM on 02/25/2011

The people working for the TSA aren't being forced to work there. There are plenty of other minimum wage jobs available that don't involve violating the civil rights of the citizens of the US.

[Grey Praetorian]

05:29 PM on 02/24/2011

Like the nail clipper story, the actual veracity of this story is beside the point. The point is that people are fed up with the TSA and willing to tell a story about someone else who is also fed up. It is such a good story that it is being reported on by major news sources. If I owned a cafe I wouldn't hesitate to turn away TSA agents either.

[HairFarmer]

03:55 PM on 02/24/2011

Absolutely stupid on the cafe's part..I am an artist and exhibit at fairs and festivals all over Ca and i don't care who wants to buy my wares if the have the $$ I am happy to accept it, Fairs and fests are the only place I keep my mouth shut on politics my living depends on it....

[NRR]

02:19 PM on 02/24/2011

So they take it out on the people who are just following the policy set forth by the TSA? The people at the airports don't write policy, they are just paid to do the job they are told to do. Guess they are supposed to quit their jobs and go on welfare. Don't shoot the messenger just because you don't like the message.

[onlythetruthcounts]

05:38 PM on 02/24/2011

German soldiers were just following orders too.

[T4Phage]

07:47 PM on 02/24/2011

very weak rebuttal

[Max Shaw]

01:14 PM on 02/24/2011

Even if the TSA agents are granted service eventually, why would they want to go somewhere where they know they are not welcome? Bet the food would taste funny too...

[builderman55]

01:12 PM on 02/24/2011

Personally, I wish we had a nationwide high-speed rail network to travel on. The thought of having someone pat me down, followed by being shoehorned into a seat to eat stale peanuts and watered down soda pop is enough to ruin my day. I say, re-regulate airlines, let ticket prices rise a bit, take out of few rows of seats so 6 footers+ don't have to wear knee pads to keep from getting seat-back burns on their knees and I will look forward to flying again. Imagine going coast to coast in a 300 mph train with seas you can fully recline in while comfortably eating a good meal...

[AmIReallyOnHP]

01:41 PM on 02/24/2011

TSA searching people, in train stations, AFTER they're arrived at their destination. http://gizmodo.com/#!5768805/tsa-harasses-9+yo-boy-and-other-train-passengers-after-their-trip

This is what happens when you give up a *little* of your rights, you end up losing them all.

[rikilii]

02:07 PM on 02/24/2011

What makes you think the seats on such a train would be any bigger than the ones on a plane?  Building a rail system like that would be so big, I would assume they'd be packing people in like cattle for decades just to pay for it.

[KIVPossum]

09:59 AM on 02/24/2011

Has anyone tried to find this lady? Or the restaurant? Doesn't seem like anyone is doing more than repeating the same story that comes that originated from hearsay on one site

[JohnnyKong]

02:41 AM on 02/24/2011

It's really silly how big of a deal people make this. People who passionately take up this 'cause' are a very small minority and need to find something else more worthwhile to take up. It's not like you're having to fly every day and be frisked.

[Lisbeth35]

09:58 AM on 02/24/2011

yes. All those Americans standing up for their right to not have their rights violated a few times a year. They are just silly. Silly constitutional amendment; against unreasonable searches without probable cause. They need to find something else do worry about than a governmental agency violating the 4th amendment to the Constituion.

[delrayguy]

11:35 AM on 02/24/2011

For those of us who do fly frequently it is a big deal. Many of us are not worried about our privacy but our health. The TSA has not released radiation inspection reports which were requested in December. I assure you in the business community that this is not a silly or trival issues.

Unfortunately, some Americans listen to know-it-alls like you and don't research what a management disaster the TSA has become. I hope you enjoy your next airport checkpoint encounter.