FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - How can it not be illegal to impersonate TSA agents?
Old Aug 20, 2014 | 4:37 pm
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84fiero
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Originally Posted by petaluma1
It's illegal to impersonate a federal employee under these conditions: Whoever falsely assumes or pretends to be an officer or employee acting under the authority of the United States or any department, agency or officer thereof, and acts as such, or in such pretended character demands or obtains any money, paper, document, or thing of value, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

He didn't do any of the above.

He could have been charged here: Whoever falsely represents himself to be an officer, agent, or employee of the United States, and in such assumed character arrests or detains any person or in any manner searches the person, buildings, or other property of any person, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

http://blogs.findlaw.com/legalground...gal+Grounds%29

The TSA didn't make any great effort to find the two women so it became a moot point. Had the TSA felt these two were a threat to air travel, however, you can bet they would have been found.

The DA contends there is no law about impersonating a TSA screener.
So, based on the above quoted laws, it's not illegal per se to dress up as a TSA screener (or other federal employee), but doing so with the intent to commit the listed acts is illegal?

Originally Posted by janetdoe
http://www.hark.com/clips/fnxtqvgtjc...at-who-was-not


Definitely on my list of things to do if I feel harassed by a TSO.
Does TSA post or publish what their official employee IDs look like? I'm not sure I'd know what to look for if I asked one of them to show me.
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