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Michael Roberts, Airline Pilot Who Refused to Submit to Virtual Strip Search, to sue TSA.
The Rutherford Institute ^ | 10/21/2010 | The Rutherford Institute

Posted on 10/21/2010 7:42:38 PM PDT by Tucson_AZ

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — In a case involving the continuing encroachment of modern technology upon personal privacy, The Rutherford Institute has come to the defense of an airline pilot who refused to submit to airport security screening that exposes intimate details of a person's body to government agents.

(Excerpt) Read more at rutherford.org ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: michaelroberts; privacy; rutherford; tsa
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Despite passing through a metal detector without triggering an alert, pilot Michael Roberts was required by Transportation Security Agency ("TSA") personnel at Memphis International Airport to submit to Whole Body Imaging ("WBI") scanning or be subjected to a full pat-down frisk of his person. Upon his refusal, Roberts was prevented from passing through a security checkpoint and unable to report to work. The Rutherford Institute has agreed to represent Roberts and assist him in his claim that the TSA's use of full-body scanning technology as a primary security scan violates the Fourth Amendment prohibition on unreasonable searches and seizures contained in the U.S. Constitution.

"Forcing Americans to undergo a virtual strip search as a matter of course in reporting to work or boarding an airplane when there is no suspicion of wrongdoing is a grotesque violation of our civil liberties," said John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute. "Indeed, it completely undermines our right to privacy and to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures by government agents."

On October 15, 2010, Michael Roberts, a pilot employed by Houston-based ExpressJet Airlines, Inc., attempted to pass through the security line at Memphis International Airport (MEM) as part of his commute to work. For Roberts, who had regularly passed through the MEM security checkpoint over the past 4 ½ years, this was the first time at that airport he had encountered the TSA's new security scanning technology that involves Whole Body Imaging (WBI). WBI full-body scanning devices enable screeners to see beneath people's clothing to an extremely graphic and intrusive level of detail. The scans have been likened to "virtual strip searches."

After Roberts loaded his bags onto the X-ray scanner belt, a TSA agent told him to remove his shoes. Roberts, who was in his pilot's uniform, questioned the agent about this and was told it was necessary for the WBI scanner. Roberts then stated that he did not wish to submit to the WBI scanning. The TSA agent stated Roberts could keep his shoes on, but directed him through the metal detector that had been roped off, and called out somewhat urgently to the agents on the other side: "We got an opt-out!" The agent also reported the "opt-out" into her handheld radio.

On the other side, Roberts was informed by another TSA agent that because he had refused the full-body screening, he would have to go through secondary screening which involves a full pat-down search. Roberts again refused and was told by a TSA agent that, pursuant to TSA decree, he could not pass through security without submitting to full-body scanning or a pat-down search. When Roberts asked if he was suspected of concealing something dangerous after he had passed through the metal detector without triggering an alert, or whether they believed that he had made any threats or given other indications of malicious designs to warrant treating him, a law-abiding fellow citizen, so rudely, he was told that was not relevant. Because Roberts could not pass through airport security, he was prevented from showing up for duty as required and is facing possible disciplinary action from his employer.

1 posted on 10/21/2010 7:42:46 PM PDT by Tucson_AZ
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To: Tucson_AZ

Perhaps this will be the first step in getting the “Patriot” Act declared unconstitutional and voided.


2 posted on 10/21/2010 7:44:56 PM PDT by Yet_Again
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To: Tucson_AZ

If he really wanted to win this suit he should have been wearing a burka and refused to take it off.


3 posted on 10/21/2010 7:46:56 PM PDT by earlJam
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To: Yet_Again

It does look like that people who work in the airline industry would get a good profile background check of the FBI, and have a ‘pilot’s license’ and go through the quik check lane and get aboard without the same fuss all of the other Tom, Dick and Harry’s have to put up with. Personally I don’t feel any safer after they search nuns, my 92 year old mother with a steel knee, and treat her like some Mid Eastern Male Adult with an accent carrying the Koran, and chanting in Arabic something about Allah. TIME TO DO SOME PROFILE CHECK, like they do in Israel, their airport is one of the safest.


4 posted on 10/21/2010 7:47:41 PM PDT by rovenstinez
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To: rovenstinez

I’m all for profiling. In the natural world it’s called survival skills.


5 posted on 10/21/2010 7:51:35 PM PDT by BipolarBob (Even the earth is bipolar.)
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To: Yet_Again

Hooray!
Strike down the PATRIOT ACT.
Dismantle DHS.
End the Surveillance Society.

We’ve allowed our society to change for the worse.
This is how the terrorists win.
Only Americans can destroy America.
And they’ve been doing it right on schedule.


6 posted on 10/21/2010 7:51:39 PM PDT by counterpunch (End the Government Monopoly!)
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To: BipolarBob
I’m all for profiling. In the natural world it’s called survival skills.

In my world, it's called never getting on an airplane again.

I refuse to be treated like a criminal just because criminals exist. I'm a little old lady who minds her own business, but the last three or four times I had to board a plane I was pulled aside for a pat down by some fat woman who seemed to enjoy her job.

7 posted on 10/21/2010 8:02:33 PM PDT by basil (It's time to rid the country of "Gun Free Zones" aka "Killing Fields")
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To: AdmSmith; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; bigheadfred; Convert from ECUSA; Delacon; dervish; ...
The Rutherford Institute has agreed to represent Roberts and assist him in his claim that the TSA's use of full-body scanning technology as a primary security scan violates the Fourth Amendment prohibition on unreasonable searches and seizures contained in the U.S. Constitution.

8 posted on 10/21/2010 8:03:17 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (The 2nd Amendment follows right behind the 1st because some people are hard of hearing.)
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To: earlJam
If he really wanted to win this suit he should have been wearing a burka and refused to take it off.

So sad to say you nailed it. The inmates are running the asylum.

9 posted on 10/21/2010 8:09:37 PM PDT by KJC1
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To: basil

I’m already ticked off that I have to friggin take off my shoes, remove my laptop and belts and get yelled at by some glorified security guards to stick ALL of the mentioned items into a silver plastic tray.


10 posted on 10/21/2010 8:12:13 PM PDT by max americana (Hoax and Chains, Dopeychangey)
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To: Tucson_AZ

This guy was flying from Memphis to Houston so he could go to work. He wasn’t even in uniform - he was just another passenger. I am the last person to advocate for TSA; I fly a lot (much of it overseas) and I can tell you the system here is a mess. But this guy was out of line - one day he’ll look back on when he was a commercial pilot - his career is over.


11 posted on 10/21/2010 8:16:57 PM PDT by stormer
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To: Yet_Again

I hope he wins and puts TSA oput of business and totally ends the stupid airport security crap!


12 posted on 10/21/2010 8:17:07 PM PDT by dalereed
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To: Tucson_AZ

The terrorists have got to be laughing at our insanity. They kill some of us and our response is to punish ourselves. We suffer al manner of indignities and twist ourselves into pretzels to avoid offending Muslims. What fools we are.


13 posted on 10/21/2010 8:17:21 PM PDT by Truth is a Weapon (If I weren't afraid of the feds, I would refer to Obama as our "undocumented POTUS")
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To: stormer

How was he out of line? Not that being a pilot gave him any advantage. Why should anyone go through the WBI?
I know someone who has a pacemaker. It is an absolute nightmare going through the so-called security.


14 posted on 10/21/2010 8:20:07 PM PDT by ozaukeemom (Is it 2012 yet?)
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To: stormer

Who is loading the beverage cart, while you strip down to your underwear?

Illegel aliens, more than likely.

You think this screening is anything more than a joke?


15 posted on 10/21/2010 8:23:34 PM PDT by patton (Obama has replaced "Res Publica" with "Quod licet Jovi non licet bovi.")
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To: stormer

“He wasn’t even in uniform - he was just another passenger. “

Right in the article it says:

“Roberts, who was in his pilot’s uniform,...”

Sheesh.


16 posted on 10/21/2010 8:32:46 PM PDT by battletank
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To: patton
You think this screening is anything more than a joke?

Yes, it is a make-work project for largely ignorant RAT voters.

17 posted on 10/21/2010 8:39:17 PM PDT by A Mississippian (Proud 7th generaion Mississippian)
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To: A Mississippian

Not for me to comment ... last time I did, it didn’t work out well.


18 posted on 10/21/2010 8:44:10 PM PDT by patton (Obama has replaced "Res Publica" with "Quod licet Jovi non licet bovi.")
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To: battletank

You are correct - I read an article earlier that contradicts that. I’ll see if I can find it. No matter, of all people this guy should know and understand the role of security screening - it sounds to me like he just wanted to make a political point. No sympathy here.


19 posted on 10/21/2010 9:00:41 PM PDT by stormer
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To: ozaukeemom

No question that travelling is a pain, especially so for certain people. My wife is always - and I mean EVERY TIME - pulled out for additional screening, I’m like “WTF - a dumpy 50 year old doesn’t exactly look like much of a threat to me.”


20 posted on 10/21/2010 9:03:55 PM PDT by stormer
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