Do you waive your rights when you buy a plane ticket?
By Taskr36
@Taskr36 (13963)
United States
December 3, 2010 12:17pm CST
What about a bus ticket? A train ticket? What if you buy a lottery ticket? I'm trying to figure out what constitutes a waiver of you 4th amendment rights since defenders of the nudie scan and molestation by TSA officers often say you waive your rights when you buy a plane ticket. Now I personally don't recall signing a waiver when I bought a plane ticket over a month ago, so clearly this waiver is imaginary, but I do want to know in what other circumstances this waiver applies.
Some say you waive your rights because you don't have to fly a plane. Does that mean you waive your rights every time you do something you don't have to? If so, what other rights are we unknowingly waiving when we are doing anything besides eating, drinking, breathing, sleeping, etc.?
1 person likes this
8 responses
@MakingCents (743)
•
4 Dec 10
There as no such thing as "the right to fly" therefore, if you want to fly, and they tell you- this is what you have to do in order to fly- there is no infringement on rights. If you don't agree to it, drive your car. This is no different than when you enter a building, if a building says that in order to enter they need to search your person or your bag, then that's what you have to do. You have the right to a CHOICE, and that choice is fly or don't fly.
@rogue13xmen13 (14403)
• United States
3 Dec 10
People shouldn't waive their rights when they buy a ticket, but it seems like nowadays you have to. I think that it's ridiculous the people have to go through all of this BS just to get anything. Pat-downs, body scans, you have to have you id and social security number for everything. Where does it end?
@rogue13xmen13 (14403)
• United States
4 Dec 10
I was being a little sarcastic, sorry, forgot that people can't read sarcasm on the computer.
Anyway, I believe that the pat-downs and the x-ray body scans on normal American families is going way too far.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
4 Dec 10
I believe that you should have a photo ID before you can board a plane. I also believe that, if your mother (me) wants to go wait at the gate with you, she should have a photo ID as well. I also fully support profiling. My almost 20 year old daughter flies up north every Christmas season and I've seen many people go through the Security checkpoints while sending her off or waiting to pick her up upon her return. Some of them looked pretty spooky to me and THOSE are the ones who should be subjected to xrays and pat downs...not normal American families.
1 person likes this
@djbtol (5493)
• United States
4 Dec 10
I suppose that those who claim that 'you wave your rights' have not really thought that out. If our rights our truly waved, then TSA can proceed with body cavity searches. TSA might claim that they have that right, but just have not chosen to do it yet. Fortunately we have not yet made it to that point. I am fairly certain noone will need to set in the center seat if they start doing that.
What we have seen so far, may not be an issue of rights as much as it is an issue of treating people with respect and decency. Granted that may be hard to do when you are trying to rush a long line of people through. When you go to the doctor, they need to both see and touch your body at times. But they have learned to treat people with respect and thereby avoid the negative reactions. Would you return to a doctor that treated you in the TSA manner - cold, informal and condescending? Probably not.
The one part of the process that should certainly be challenged is the notion that once I have started the security process (showing drivers liscence and boarding pass) that I cannot change my mind and leave. In those situations, TSA is certainly overstepping their position.
When being handed a ticket, no one has ever told me that I was thereby surrendering my rights. Someplace there is probably a policy statement that is being modified to include such wording. When we encounter people that have let the power and authority of their position go to their head, then they will trample your rights as they see fit.
@dark_joev (3034)
• United States
5 Dec 10
It would be on the back of the ticket in the fine print. AS they don't tell you about the rights of you to publish the game when you but the ticket but it is on the back of the ticket when you get it though.
@EvanHunter (4026)
• United States
5 Dec 10
Task36 how dare you question their authority! What I would like to know is if you own your own plane and are a pilot do you have to search yourself before you can fly or do you still have to be searched by TSA?
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
5 Dec 10
It would depend on the size of the plane, evan. Aircraft above a certain weight are subject to the Large Aircraft Security Program.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
3 Dec 10
I haven't bought a plane ticket in a long time because my daughter's father pays for her trips up north but I do know that the rules are listed on the airline's websites. I in no way support the groping, taskr, but when you buy a ticket to fly on a plane you are agreeing to abide by their rules...the same holds for a train and a bus. The TSA was allowed to add this to their policies by the government so, technically, you did not waive any right...the government waived it for you.
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
3 Dec 10
Just to be clear, Airtran's website said NOTHING about the groping or x-rays when I bought my ticket. I neither signed, nor checked a box waiving my rights. Rules are fine, violations of my rights by federal agents are not. I'm fine with non-invasive safety protocols like metal detectors ID checks, etc. My boarding pass and ID get checked 3 times when I fly. Once when I check in, once at security, and then again as I'm getting on the plane.
You're right, the government waived my rights for me and that is strictly banned by the constitution.
I just rechecked Airtran to see if they mentioned anything about this. There is still nothing about the scanners or gropings on their site.
http://www.airtran.com/travel-info/security_information.aspx
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
4 Dec 10
Maybe this snowball will stop spinning out of control before your flight, taskr, but if it doesn't you are bound by "updated regulations". Under the guise of safety the airlines can add whatever they feel like adding before allowing you to pass through security. I'm actually considering delaying my daughter's trip up north until things calm down...if they ever do...because I do not want her going through Security in her bikini and if I see someone groping her from the other side of the rope (which you KNOW I'll be watching), I'll probably get arrested for my reaction. I worry more about BWI in MD...and have already told her father that she is NOT flying into or out of Reagan National. This entire situation is ridiculous but the airlines have us by the short hairs. I would feel safer putting her on a plane than a train and there's no way I'm letting her get on a bus with all the weirdos that ride on them.
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
3 Dec 10
I am hearing talk that some Harvard law students are sueing TSA on the grounds that the increase security measures do violate the 4th. I wonder how many others are going to sue now too. About time...it toook people long enough.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
4 Dec 10
Taskr, you already have tickets...you should find out about joining this.
@nzinky (822)
• United States
4 Dec 10
When I go through the pat down area I have a good time with I after they are done with it I tell them that's the most action I have had in years...they look at me with discuse but I don't care I just say "Thanks for the good time and have a nice day...." I know they are doing it to keep us safe and some of the overseas travel you have to take off your clothes so they can see your not carring anything. So the pat downs don't bother me...
If everyone would just have a good time with it you would be surprised at your treatment the next time.
@OpinionatedLady (5966)
• United States
3 Dec 10
It is another way our government has given our rights away by crying safety. They give rights to the transportation companies that in essence take ours away. By allowing the transportation district control of their own rules with no over sight and making the buying of a ticket essentially a contract the allow the molestation of our people, over charging and lack of decent morals.
