Federal Court: Fliers Must Complete Search Process Once Begun
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday that travelers who walk through the airport metal detector implicitly consent to a search of their persons and bags, and they can't revoke that consent once the process has started. Domestic airline searches are still legally limited to screening for items the TSA has declared to be a threat to airline safety -- such as guns and cigarette lighters. However, if drugs or other contraband are found during screening, the evidence can be used in a criminal prosecution.
Fliers Can't Balk at Search, Wired News, March 20, 2006.
