Texas has become the first state to ban intrusive airport security pat downs.The bill, passed late last night, aims to make touching travellers in an 'inappropriate' way during searches a criminal offence.
The measure makes it illegal for anyone conducting pat-downs to touch 'the anus, sexual organ, buttocks, or breast of another person' including through clothing.
t also prohibits searches 'that would be offensive to a reasonable person.'
'This (bill) has to do with dignity and travel, and prohibiting indecent, groping searches,' Republican Representative David Simpson, the bill's chief sponsor said.
He believes it will keep TSA officials from treating travellers like criminals.
The Senate is yet to act on the bill however meaning the measure could be superseded by federal law of which the TSA is governed by.
'It's a way of getting attention and objecting to the intrusiveness of the search procedures,' Alan Rosenthal, professor of public policy at Rutgers University in New Jersey told USA Today.
'But I don't think any of that could pre-empt federal requirements.'
New Jersey is one of three other states to introduce similar legislation but is yet to pass its own bill. Read More
