Phil Mocek: On Trial For Being TSA Checkpoint Worker's Worst Nightmare

Seattle Weekly ^ | January 19, 2011 | Keegan Hamilton

[Citizen X_Area 51]

UPDATE: Mocek has been found not guilty of all four charges. (From another link FR barred me from posting part of the reason for prevailing on the ID issue is he had to submit ID along with a boarding pass just to enter security....

On November 15, 2009, Phil Mocek stepped into the main terminal at the Albuquerque International Sunport planning to board a Southwest Airlines flight bound for SeaTac. He carried with him two pieces of luggage, a boarding pass, and a cell phone capable of recording audio and video. What he didn't have was a valid form of identification--no driver's license, no passport, nothing. So when Mocek reached the front of the line at the airport security checkpoint, the TSA worker asked him to step aside for further questioning. A few hours later, Mocek's flight touched down in Washington. He wasn't on board. Instead, the 37-year-old software developer was stuck inside a cell at the Albuquerque jail.

[Citizen X_Area 51]

While on the subject of TSA intimidation, if they have no 'police' powers why do these clowns wear badges?

[HiTech RedNeck]

Kind of bizarre that an embarrassing situation of having lost the drivers license out of his wallet and not noticing it until he came up to the security gate, would have been turned into such a Federal case. I guess telling him “go away until you can bring us ID” wasn’t enough for these jackboots.

[USNBandit]

Back then the TSA hadn't started making birth dates a requirement for a reservation. You were supposed to be able to get around the ID requirement by submitting to a more extensive search (moon river...)

I bet his results would have been different if he had talked to a SWA customer service person. He didn't have to if he downloaded his boarding passes on line.

Each airline has its own security rep, usually the desk manager, who is supposed to know the rules. This is the person you talk to if you get push back over checking firearms, certain medical devices, or in this case lose your ID. I am sure they can really grease the skids for you by talking to the right person at TSA. It is something to keep in your hip pocket in case you have a problem.

[USNBandit]

After reading the article it is pretty clear he planned this whole event. He had an email from TSA that he says gave him permission to use a recording device in the checkpoint. It appears he also refused to give his name. That is a necessary piece of information for airline security. There is a difference between, "I lost my license," and "I know my rights and I'm not telling you my name."

Arresting the guy was what he wanted. They should have shown him the door and then let him walk home. I'm sure his further experiences with TSA will be full of excitement.

[Girlene]

Arresting the guy was what he wanted.

Probably so, but the jury found him not guilty on all counts. Jury Finds Phil Mocek Not Guilty of All Charges From TSA Arrest From the article:

After an hour of deliberation Friday evening, a Bernalillo County, New Mexico, jury found Phil Mocek not guilty of all four charges he faced after refusing to show his ID and using a video recorder at a TSA checkpoint in 2009. ...

.....According to Edward Hasbrouck of the Identity Project, Mocek did not testify, and defense rested on Friday without calling any witnesses or presenting any evidence.

lol, the defense didn't rebut the charges and the jury still found him not guilty. Seems the flying public is fed up, and rightly so (IMO, of course).

[zeugma]

.....According to Edward Hasbrouck of the Identity Project, Mocek did not testify, and defense rested on Friday without calling any witnesses or presenting any evidence.

lol, the defense didn't rebut the charges and the jury still found him not guilty. Seems the flying public is fed up, and rightly so (IMO, of course).

Yup. Great news IMO. We need s few more folk willing to stand up and not submit to the facist bastards. I was fully prepared to do so over the Christmas holidays, but they didn't screw with me at all that trip.

[Girlene]

Wow, you were lucky. Agree that more need to stand up against the TSA’s current “security” procedures (and win in a court of law).

[mistfree]

My plan is to refuse the irradiator and get the name of the grope-a-dope who touches my junk. I will then file a criminal complaint of sexual assault with the attorney general here in VA, you know the guy who sued (and won)against the health care bill, Cucinelli (sp?). He might just take it on since he's posturing against the administration as a political stepping stone.

[NFHale]

“...it is pretty clear he planned this whole event...”
“...Arresting the guy was what he wanted. ...”

Maybe so..but I have to give him a nod of respect here. Most people just sit and bitch about it, then go ahead grazing like sheep and let themselves be groped and otherwise humiliated by folks who aren’t qualified to flip burgers at Burger Joint...

He put himself in the Arena, took the abuse, and was acquitted in a court of law by a jury of his peers, setting precedent for others.

Pretty good, I’d say.