MIAMI (CBS4) ― The CBS4 I-Team has discovered a potential device touted by its inventor as a way to save you the hassles of flying. The device is said to be convenient as a way to save you time when you're trying to fly. but CBS4 I-Team investigator Stephen Stock found out the convenience comes with a big price, at the expense of your civil rights.
Flying today can be stressful, inconvenient and downright difficult. Just consider the crowds, the lines, the hassles and the lost luggage that often comes with a trip to the airport these days.
But what if there was a way to make it all easier? What if you had one small device, say a bracelet, which carried all your flight information and other data to make things easier?
This bracelet could even track you and your luggage.
Former United States Air Marshal Jeffrey Denning describes the idea this way: "The bracelets would take the place of boarding tickets it would also work as a GPS to track air travelers and their luggage."
Jeffrey Denning is intimately familiar with airline security. He owns his own private security company near Chicago. And he worked as a US Air Marshal for three years before quitting to start up and run his own company in 2007.
Denning says airline passengers might use this bracelet technology in place of a boarding pass but the government could use it for something else.
"And here's the shocking part," Denning said. "No pun intended. If the passengers act up it (the bracelet) would shock and immobilize them for several minutes."
That's right. If the flight crew decides that you're getting out of control or posing a threat, to them or the plane, they could simply engage a computer, press a button which would activate this bracelet, shocking and incapacitating you for as long as several minutes.
"I guess the design was that for any air passengers who would become a terrorist or be a terrorist," Denning told the I-Team. "The bracelet has a capacity to shock the whoever is wearing it kind of like a police 'taser.'"
CBS4 Investigator Stephen Stock asked Jeffrey Denning "When you got this letter what was your first reaction?"
Denning replied "You can't do that! We're America!"
The former US Air Marshal not only runs his own security business he also serves as a current Washington Times aviation security analyst and blogger. Jeffrey Denning first obtained the DHS letters from 2006 and passed them on to the CBS4 I-Team.
Jeffrey Denning\Former US Air Marshal : "It's in essence binders and chains," Denning said to describe the idea of putting these bracelets on air travelers. "(By) putting an electronic handcuff on them (passengers) and then shocking them (passengers) like a dog if they get out of line."
"That whole proposition was never part of the proposal to us," said a DHS official.
In an interview with the CBS4 I-Team John Verrico, a spokesman for DHS's Security and Technology Directorate, denies that anyone in his office ever considered these bracelets for use on general aviation passengers.
"The only use or proposal that we had received was to use it in transporting prisoners," Verrico said.
U.S. Representative Mario Diaz-Balart reacted swiftly to this idea of these bracelets being used on general aviation passengers.
"If this thing has any life still in it I guarantee I'll take care of it," Diaz-Balart told the I-Team.
The Republican Congressman who represents southwest Miami-Dade, Monroe County and part of Collier County, serves on the House Transportation committee and its aviation subcommittee. Diaz-Balart said believes that even the idea that anyone would consider using these bracelets on regular passengers crosses the line.
"This is an option obviously that is a lot more suitable for either dangerous animals or for dangerous prisoners not for normal flying customers," Diaz-Balart said.
CBS4 investigator Stephen Stock asked Jeffrey Denning how seriously he thought this idea was received in Washington.
"You've served in air marshal service for three years is it inconceivable that this would actually be seriously considered?" Stock asked.
"At first I think "No!" Denning answered. "But then again I worked for three years for the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) as a federal air marshal and I've seen some outrageous things. So I wouldn't put it past them," Denning said.
The CBS4 I-Team discovered a lot of chat on the web about this bracelet idea.
There have even allegedly been death threats made against the DHS official who sent these letters as well as against the officials in the Canadian company that posted the demonstration video.
For his part, Jeffrey Denning says he quit the US Air Marshal's service because of what he called gross mismanagement.
Denning said he's speaking out now about these bracelets because of his concerns about both the safety and the basic civil rights of every American who flies.
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Air Marshall Shooting Test cont..by pist0lkid22,862 views
"THIS IS AMERICA"...YEA,the same America that bows down to their govt and becomes weenies when the cops.show up afraid of being jailed...so, pay your taxes to the irs...they need u to continue being stupid sp they can take shit over while u walk around in a zombie state...
MotorCityPlayer 4 months ago
this seems to be a great idea at least to me it does
imachku 5 months ago
awe fuck that I would never fly again.
NatureofCircuitry 11 months ago
NO TASERS for law enforcement. Only officers with advanced training and experience should be allowed to carry firearms. This will force law enforcement to develope their communication skills and their interactions with the public. It will stop them from working from an ego and power hungry position. They will have to work on a much different level if they do not have tasers and immediate access to firearms. They would be less bullying and it would also help their public image.
YoureAlwaysRight 1 year ago
See why we need "Wikileaks".
faffaflunkie 1 year ago
@2204Alpha yup me too
pete5668 1 year ago
I think i will drive
2204Alpha 2 years ago
honestly I will tag bankers, CIA and politicians so we know exactly why they are terrorising unarmed civilians...
seyoumeye 2 years ago
YOU WILL OBEY Big Brother.
YOU will LOVE Big Brother.
HighlandFreePress 2 years ago
Hijacker wearing an INSULATING band under the bracket (wide rubber band?) attacks a flight attendant, getting the remote control. Now all passengers are under hijacker control. How quickly can a group of hijackers' bracelets be identified? Would the answer be to shock all passengers, young child and adult alike? Have heart condition? Fly, risking death because some SOB gets in a confrontation with an attendant?
SL2Fan 2 years ago