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Airline Passenger Sues TSA for False Imprisonment

By Brendan McKenna

Since the Transportation Security Administration began screening airline passengers with body scans and pat-downs, people have chosen various ways to express their distaste for the measures. One such person is Aaron Tobey, who, when going through security at Richmond International Airport on Dec. 30, 2010, opted for a pat-down rather than an X-ray screening. At that point, the 21-year-old college student voluntarily removed his T-shirt and sweatpants (leaving on his socks and running shorts), revealing that he had written on his chest with marker as follows: "Amendment 4: The right of the people to be secure against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated." Although Tobey was ultimately released in time to make his flight (now, there's a guy who follows guidelines about showing up at airports early!), he was initially detained for questioning for about 90 minutes -- at least part of that time with his hands cuffed behind his back, according to his attorney. Prosecutors dropped a disorderly conduct charge against Tobey two weeks later, Wired reports. Now, Tobey is turning the tables and has sued the government (pdf), including Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and TSA Administrator John Pistole, for violating his First, Fourth, Fifth...

Full post as published by Legal Blog Watch on March 17, 2011 (boomark / email).