Anyone flown from LAX within the last week know if TSA is still forcing the use of body scanners?

You can opt out and take the pat down, I usually do and that isn't great but beats cancer.

LAX used the x-ray scanners that were in the news because the radiation was ten times too high. That's the main reason reason to avoid the back-scatter x-ray units, particularly for young people or pregnant women,

They all show you naked and the viewer is almost always a male so no problem for guys.

They do show you completely naked though and you are recognizable if the viewer knows you. If your personal dignity is important to you that may be reason to opt out.

They say they can't store the pictures but were caught with 2,000 of them stored on multiple TSA computers in January which is why the Senate is passing a law to make distribution of them a crime. If they didn't keep the images they wouldn't need the law would they? Scanner images from the airports will probably show up on the internet late this year.

You can see a scanner image at CBS news. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20022861-10...

LAX was one of the first airports to get body scanners. Most airports have them now, even small ones like Omaha have them. They don't harm you in any way, and the person viewing the image cannot see you, is not even in the same room as you. However you can opt out for a pat down instead if you are genuinely worried about a body scan.

The TSA cannot "force" the use of body scanners. You have the right to opt out and take the pat-down instead. This is what I have done at LAX and other airports several times recently.

I have no clue why people are so paranoid about body scanners. The person screening you can't even see you. The image of the body is just a generic one. And the body scanners screen for traces of explosives, which is a good thing. Please don't be paranoid about them and beat your fear!