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A Southern California man has become the latest person to sue the federal government over what he says is an unconstitutional search of his phone at the Los Angeles International Airport.
According to his lawsuit, which was recently filed in federal court in Los Angeles, Haisam Elsharkawi had arrived at LAX on February 9, 2017 and was headed to Saudi Arabia to go on a hajj, the Muslim religious pilgrimage.
After clearing the security checkpoint, Elsharkawi, an American citizen, was pulled aside from the Turkish Airlines boarding line by a Customs and Border Protection officer, who began questioning him about how much cash he was carrying and where he was going. Elsharkawi complied with the officer's inquiries and dutifully followed him to a nearby table.
"As the questioning continued and became increasingly aggressive, Mr. Elsharkawi asked if there was a problem and whether he needed an attorney," the complaint states. "Officer Rivas then accused Mr. Elsharkawi of hiding something because of his request for an attorney."
Soon after, another agent, Officer Rodriguez, began searching Elsharkawi's pockets and discovered his phone. Rodriguez asked Elsharkawi to unlock his phone, which he declined to do. He then also refused to answer further questions without having an attorney present.
Another officer told Elsharkawi that he was not under arrest and as such had no right to an attorney—at which point he asked to be released.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 21 2018, @06:24PM (5 children)
We have said for years that the TSA and cohorts is a waste and adds no security. Which makes me wonder how things would be if there was only a metal detector, baggage scanner and a checking for a ticket? The public would like the part about it being simpler and quicker.
But I wonder if it would be any less safe? We live in a world that if there is a hijacking the passengers know how it ends and are gonna jump those fools before they can get into the cockpit.
Is there anything those scanners keep out that a metal detector won't? I mean if you are gonna do something won't you smuggle supplies in in the tubes of a baby stroller? If it is small won't you put it in the arch of your foot and opt for pat down? There are known issues with every technique the TSA uses and the real evil ones already know and use those anyway. The best attack vector is to get someone to work for the TSA and use them.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by forkazoo on Friday December 21 2018, @07:47PM (3 children)
The TSA would save dramatically more lives if instead of the metal detector, they just had a stethoscope and did high blood pressure screenings to get onto the airplane.
Humans are generally bad at assesing, dealing with, and responding to risk.
(Score: 2, Informative) by nitehawk214 on Friday December 21 2018, @10:35PM (2 children)
So anyone with elevated blood pressure would not be allowed to fly?
I am sure there can be no possible repercussions of this.
"Don't you ever miss the days when you used to be nostalgic?" -Loiosh
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 22 2018, @01:10AM (1 child)
he is talking about saving more life's, high blood pressure is the silent killer, he did not talk about reducing annoyance
(Score: 1) by nitehawk214 on Wednesday January 02 2019, @05:12PM
Well, if high blood pressure causes you to have to drive instead of fly... and you are much more likely to be killed while driving then flying on a per-mile traveled basis... could you say high blood pressure killed them? :)
"Don't you ever miss the days when you used to be nostalgic?" -Loiosh
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 22 2018, @12:36AM
but but but.....jerbs!