Is US' TSA going too far in pat-down guidelines?

New pat-down guidelines for airplane security issued by the United States Transportation Security Administration venture to territory many passengers might feel uncomfortable with.

Beginning Friday, October 29, 2010, the TSA instituted more intrusive pat-downs, as ABC News reported:

Pat-downs are normally given at random or to passengers who set off an alarm. Right now, TSA officials are restricted as to how and where someone can be touched. But, these new guidelines now give them access to body parts that were once off limits.

This body scan machine has only been at the Fresno Yosemite International Airport for less than three months, and already security measures are changing.

TSA officials said, "If they don't want to go through the advanced imaging technology, or a metal detector, they will receive alternate screening to include a thorough pat down."

Right now, TSA officials search passengers using the common pat down method. Starting Friday, they'll be able to use a sliding motion and search parts of the body some say are too private ... like the underside of a woman's bra.

We showed a video clip of what the new searches would look like to passengers ... particularly women. Their reaction was all the same.

Pat Leppo said, "I don't think they should be able to touch anything that's kinda private."

The decision of these guidelines is timely. The announcement of the guidelines came right before the announcement Friday that British and Dubai authorities intercepted possibly explosive packages headed to Jewish targets in the Chicago, Illinois area.