What is an ion scanner and how does it work?

Question

I was at an airport and I saw someone getting.. sprayed by one? It was either spraying air or vacuuming air. What's it do?

Answer 1

The so-called "ion scanner," is said to be an "ion mobility spectrometer" (as if there really was such a thing). It's described as containing an electronically charged cylinder equipped with so-called focusing rings. Ionized molecules are collected on a swab and placed in the "scanner." After being heated to a reported 191 degrees Celsius (375°F), they are supposedly "drawn" (attracted) through the device which supposedly measures the speed of the ions. Supposedly, this information identifies the presence of molecules of drugs.

Everyone realizes that the gadget doesn't really work on individual visitors, but the correspondent asserts that the Coast Guard has "used ion scanners for years and has discovered thousands of tons of drugs." We admit that the gizzmo may be a useful screening tool to survey bulk shipments in order to suggest if drugs may be present. If so, they would be legitimately tested in a genuinely scientific way. For the miniscule traces of substances which might cling to a visitor's hands or clothing, the device must be considered a fraud. What's more, the way the manufacturer urges prisons to use the machine, clearly is an intimidation tactic intended to threaten and terrorize visitors.

People who have been falsely identified by the gadget (and there are tens of thousands of them) are strongly urged to sue the manufacturer(s) and the individual guard(s) who conducted the intrusion(s). Assert that the product is defective and defective as used, and that it is dangerous. Assert that it's a fraud and that operators and the manufacturers know that it's a fraud but continue to use it solely to violate the visitor's due process rights. In that regard, the manufacturer is an accomplice to the state's unconstitutional conduct.

Answer 2

Ion Scanner

Answer 3

on Scanner Abuse Cited By NYCLU
April 6, 2004 -- The New York Civil Liberties Union has called on the New York State Department of Correctional Services (DOCS) to suspend the use of ion scanners to screen visitors at state correctional facilities.

Donna Lieberman, Executive Director of the NYCLU says, "The scanners are supposed to help DOCS screen prison visitors for drugs and explosives. But they are highly unreliable. The NYCLU has documented numerous complaints from visitors to the state's correctional facilities who have been turned after long journeys to visit relatives or friends because of erroneous ion scanner reports. To make matters worse, the DOCS offers no way to rebut the errors."

NYCLU's Associate Legal Director, Christopher Dunn, has requested a meeting with Commissioner Glenn S. Good to discuss "… a suspension of the program and the implementation of fundamental changes that would allow the program to service DOCS's interests while respecting the privacy and due process right of visitors."

The problem with using ion scanners as the sole basis for excluding a prison visitor is not new. In fact, a 2001 U.S. Department of Justice Report cautioned on the use of the technology. Specifically, the report noted that because the scanners cannot distinguish between two different substances composed of same size ions - even an innocuous substance can be identified as illegal contraband. These "false positives" can be triggered by medicines, perfumes and even chlorine baby wipes.

Unlike New York, the Florida Department of Correction uses ion scanners as a basis for further inquiry and not as the sole grounds for denying visitation. And in Massachusetts, the state corrections agency stopped using ion scanners to settle a lawsuit.

http://www.nyclu.org/ion_scanner_pr_040604.html

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What is an ion scanner and how does it work?
I was at an airport and I saw someone getting.. sprayed by one? It was either spraying air or vacuuming air. What's it do?

Answer 5

Most scanners today have slide adapters. This would be the lowest quality manner of digitizing slides, aside perhaps from photographing a slide with a digital camera. Good quality requires a film scanner. The best quality would be to have them drum scanned. It depends upon how valuable the images are to you and how much you want to spend to have them digitized. Because so many photographers have converted entirely to digital, you can find good film scanners today for reasonably good prices--$500 to $2000.

Answer 6

That's a good point

Answer 7

--->> Tips---> https://trimurl.im/f24/what-is-an-ion-scanner-and-how-does-it-work

Answer 8

excellent responses. the state is so stupid -- especially in arkansas. thanks for the education.