Posted: 12:30 pm EST November 24, 2010
PHILADELPHIA -- As millions took to the skies for the Thanksgiving holiday, an area man piloted the fight against new security screenings at airports. The protest was known as National Opt Out Day. James Babb, of Lower Providence Township, Montgomery County, started the website WeWontFly.com to protest more aggressive security screenings at airports. "Passengers may be exposed to the radiation strip search, or they may opt out of that and go for the enhanced pat down, which under any other circumstances may be considered sexual assault," Babb said. As of Wednesday, more than 17,000 people "liked" Babb's message on his WeWon'tFly Facebook page. On one of the busiest travel days of the year, Babb diverted his web traffic to create a real life traffic jam at airports nationwide. "For weeks, we've been encouraging travelers to avoid the airport all together," Babb explained. "For those that must fly, we ask to consider opting out of the scan." Since the full body scanners and more aggressive pat down searches went into place November 1, they've caused turbulence on the ground. "There has to be a better way," said U.S. Rep. Tim Holden, (D) Pa. 17th District, who serves on the Congressional Transportation Committee, which drafted a letter to TSA head John Pistole, asking him to reevaluate the new procedures. "Unusual behavior, suspicious ticketing, one way tickets, all of that should raise a level of higher security," said Holden. "But from what I've seen, they have gone over the top and they're overly intrusive." Holden said he thinks there's a fine line between security and privacy. Pistole seems to agree. But the searches remain reality until compromise intervenes. "How do we best take those security issues, blend them with the privacy issues that people are concerned about in an informed way to say how can we best work together to provide that security that everybody wants," questioned Pistole. Holden said he doesn't expect Congress to take up the issue of airport screenings when they return to Washington next week. He thinks the resolution will come in the form of a closed-door compromise. The TSA said it has more security officers working Wednesday to handle the crowds and possible protests. The TSA said the new, enhanced measures are a response to the attempted Christmas Day bombing in 2009 in which a man tried to detonate a bomb in his underwear. The delayed roll-out was due to having no TSA chief until July and then security officers had to be trained. A new U.S.A. Today/Gallup poll of frequent air travelers showed a majority do not feel the security measures invade their privacy. If you'd like to voice your comments, you can leave a message for 69 News at 610-871-0074. A lot more people are hitting the road than the sky this Thanksgiving. AAA said about 39.7 million people are driving to their holiday destination. An estimated 42 million are traveling for the holiday, a 12 percent increase from last year's total. It would be the first double-digit increase in three years. "After a few years of cutting back maybe a little harder than they wanted to, I think people are now saying, 'You know what? We deserve to take this trip. We deserve to go be with our families on this important day,'" said Michael Axman, AAA. If you are planning on flying out tonight, AAA is asking you to plan ahead, be patient, and to be part of the solution, not the problem. Some people are riding to their Thanksgiving destination, instead of driving. Folks with the bus companies said they were pretty busy Wednesday. "Pretty hectic, but good," said Marel Savatoni, bus driver. "It's good for business. It's good for people traveling." Travelers we spoke with said they were headed to places near and far, from Kutztown and Allentown to Philadelphia and New York. Copyright 2010 WFMZ. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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