Originally Posted by sailman

Well here we go again. Having cleared security without incident and in the process of trying to get dressed I was severely reprimanded for not getting dressed fast enough. My attempts to obtain ID information from the TSO failed, so I sought a compaint form from the Supervisor. Whereupon he called the TSO over and she advised him that I had touched her. He volunteered that "he could call the police and she could have me arrested".

To make a long story short, at the police counter on the secure side a form was produced with the complaint of battery (actually described as a PC ###, which didn't mean anything to me). When the LA police arrived they handcuffed me and escorted me to the station.

A month later a conference call was arranged with an assisstant DA who advised that there was nothing on the video to substantiate the claim and they didn't feel it was worth their time to pursue the action. Interestingly enough the assistant DA suggested that in the future when a traveler feels that they are being abused in some fashion they should just let it go.

Wanting to file a counter claim against the TSO to make me whole only for time and legal fees, I was advised by the TSA that the video could not be made available to me as it was in the control of the DA's office, and the DA's office advised they couldn't release it because it was the property of the TSA and had to be approved by them. Upon getting back to the TSA they advised that releasing it would compromise national security, and I would have to seek relief under the Freedom of Information Act (FIA). Remember that under the Bush administration, it is up to the party to prove that the contents of the video do not contain security information, and as I don't know what else can be seen on the video, according to my attorney as such it would be exremely difficult to prove security would not be affected.

So, yes apparently you can be charged and arrested for battery for allegedly touching someone in the State of California, as anyone can sue anyone in the US. Whether or not you prevail is another matter.

Remembering that even paranoid people have enemies, I had the sense that these forms are preprinted in anticipation of having to defuse a passenger complaint.

Any thoughts?