TSA detains man with large quantity of cash, refuses to advise his rights

shaun3000 · 06-22-09, 06:51 PM

http://www.dailynewscaster.com/2009/...-st-louis-tsa/

The link contains an audio recording made by the detainee with his iPhone. He is now suing the TSA with the help of the ACLU.

Quote:

Mr. Bierfeldt was traveling from a regional meeting of a conservative political organization know to advocate sound money, small government, civil liberties and belief in The United States Constitution when he was detained and interrogated by Transportation Security Administration officials for having cash in his possession.

TSA agents claim having a large sum of money which could be any amount over $50.00 is cause to be detained and interrogated. When Mr. Bierfeldt asks if the interrogation over having cash is lawful he was threatened with further detainment and investigation by DEA and FBI.

TSA continues to threaten and detain Mr. Bierfeldt even after discovering the cash in his possession are funds belonging to Ron Paul’s Campaign for Liberty.

TSA contacts an FBI agent who quickly discovers the funds being transported are political contributions the FBI agent tells Mr. Bierfeldt he is free to go. However the lead TSA agent quickly responds that he must contact his supervisor first because Mr. Bierfeldt is a “suspicious person” in his opinion.

This incident with national police is particular chilling in the shadow of the politically motivated Missouri Fusion Center MIAC Report labeling Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX), his supporters, Campaign for Liberty, and anyone one who believes in conservative issues as a threat to national security.

Tsar Chasm · 06-22-09, 06:53 PM

If he had nothing to hide, I'm sure he would have complied with the TSA's demands. Why does he hate America?

mhg83 · 06-22-09, 07:04 PM

This really is better suited for the politics forum

KillerCannibal · 06-22-09, 07:34 PM

Isn't this an old story?

Mrs. Danger · 06-22-09, 07:54 PM

I'm glad I didn't try to get on a bus last weekend when I had my cash sales still in my pockets.

How did they know he had cash?

Dr Mabuse · 06-22-09, 07:58 PM

Police states are cool!

Heat · 06-22-09, 08:37 PM

The issue is of the TSA overstepping their authority, expanding their power. Carrying $4,700 is not illegal, and certainly not a threat to the security of the United States thus no matter for the TSA to be concerned with.

Kudos for Bierfeldt for bringing this lawsuit, the TSA needs to stick with what they are supposed to do, protect the safety of flights.

From another article on the subject:

Quote:

...The officers can be heard saying they will involve the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration, and appear to threaten arrest, saying they are going to transport Bierfeldt to the local police station, in handcuffs if necessary...

And that app for the iPhone, really cool. I wonder if there is an app which will let you record a telephone call?

shaun3000 · 06-22-09, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tsar Chasm

If he had nothing to hide, I'm sure he would have complied with the TSA's demands. Why does he hate America?

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhg83

This really is better suited for the politics forum

Not really, there's nothing political about it. The TSA servers a purpose, but it's full of so many bumbling idiots who don't even have enough common sense to use a ladder rather than climb on air probes, that we end up with crap like this. It's along the same lines as an overzealous cop pulling over an ambulance for not yielding as soon as he would have liked.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KillerCannibal

Isn't this an old story?

Apparently but I haven't seen any articles about it until now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heat

The issue is of the TSA overstepping their authority, expanding their power. Carrying $4,700 is not illegal, and certainly not a threat to the security of the United States thus no matter for the TSA to be concerned with.

Kudos for Bierfeldt for bringing this lawsuit, the TSA needs to stick with what they are supposed to do, protect the safety of flights.

EXACTLY!!!

leepyswetr · 06-23-09, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heat

the TSA needs to stick with what they are supposed to do, protect the safety of flights.

Well, they're not very good at that.

Nick Danger · 06-23-09, 10:34 AM

I know that if you're caught driving with cash, the police will confiscate it. I don't know why this guy thinks it would be any different in airports.

Dr Mabuse · 06-23-09, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Danger

I know that if you're caught driving with cash, the police will confiscate it.

Police states are lucrative!

Bandohurt · 06-23-09, 11:26 AM

I'm starting to get the sense that Dr. Mabuse likes police states...

lordwow · 06-23-09, 11:34 AM

This is why I carry a credit card with me.

SuperJim88 · 06-23-09, 01:09 PM

China sounds like a much better country to live in right about now. CHINA!! CHINA!! CHINA!!

Sean O'Hara · 06-23-09, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KillerCannibal

Isn't this an old story?

The incident happened in March, but the guy just brought suit against the TSA this week.

harrydoyle · 06-23-09, 02:08 PM

Wow, that's weird. I think I'd probably start yelling if I was caught in that same situation.

Sean O'Hara · 06-23-09, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harrydoyle

Wow, that's weird. I think I'd probably start yelling if I was caught in that same situation.

You've been reading the sabotage handbook thread, haven't you?

The correct response is:

"Am I under arrest?"

If "no," get up and leave.

If "yes," demand a lawyer.

shaun3000 · 06-23-09, 03:38 PM

That's all well and good unless you want to get on your flight. So it becomes prudent to figure out which questions you need to answer for security reasons and which questions are not related to security and violating your Constitutional Rights.

imperator505 · 06-23-09, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaun3000

That's all well and good unless you want to get on your flight. So it becomes prudent to figure out which questions you need to answer for security reasons and which questions are not related to security and violating your Constitutional Rights.

I will be visiting your great country in August for a holiday. These Constitutional Rights of which you speak - are they something I will be able to avail myself of, or do they only apply to citizens?

Cusm · 06-23-09, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imperator505

I will be visiting your great country in August for a holiday. These Constitutional Rights of which you speak - are they something I will be able to avail myself of, or do they only apply to citizens?

I think they only apply to non citizens now.

shaun3000 · 06-23-09, 09:35 PM

They apply to you while you're on US soil. At border crossings, several of them have been limited by court rulings, specifically the limit on unwarranted search and seizure. At a border crossing, you basically have no right to refuse a [reasonable] search, which includes your belongings, computer, etc.

06-22-09, 06:53 PM	#2
Tsar Chasm DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Jun 1999 Location: PDX Metro Posts: 8,951	Re: TSA detains man with large quantity of cash, refuses to advise his rights If he had nothing to hide, I'm sure he would have complied with the TSA's demands. Why does he hate America?

06-22-09, 07:04 PM	#3
mhg83 DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 6,471	Re: TSA detains man with large quantity of cash, refuses to advise his rights This really is better suited for the politics forum __________________ XBL Gamertag: bauer83 According to what I saw in Oz; I bet they'd wish their butt-hole were behind seven proxies -Navinabob

06-22-09, 07:34 PM	#4
KillerCannibal DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Behind the Orange Curtain Posts: 14,694	Re: TSA detains man with large quantity of cash, refuses to advise his rights Isn't this an old story? __________________ DVDAf Top 10 most-wanted BD titles: Mulholland Dr./Re-Animator/Death Wish/Danger: Diabolik/Godzilla 1985/Beyond the Valley of the Dolls/Prince of Darkness/Phantasm/Thief/Street Trash Horror Movie Challenges: 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

06-22-09, 07:54 PM	#5
Mrs. Danger DVD Talk Legend Join Date: May 2005 Location: With Nick Danger Posts: 14,051	Re: TSA detains man with large quantity of cash, refuses to advise his rights I'm glad I didn't try to get on a bus last weekend when I had my cash sales still in my pockets. How did they know he had cash? __________________ I'm not a Gynecologist, but, I'll take a look. www.kinkyspot.com

06-22-09, 07:58 PM	#6
Dr Mabuse DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: 75 clicks above the Do Lung bridge... Posts: 16,602	Re: TSA detains man with large quantity of cash, refuses to advise his rights Police states are cool! __________________ "To accuse others for one's own misfortunes is a sign of want of education. To accuse oneself shows that one's education has begun. To accuse neither oneself nor others shows that one's education is complete." - Epictetus

06-23-09, 10:34 AM	#10
Nick Danger DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 13,064	Re: TSA detains man with large quantity of cash, refuses to advise his rights I know that if you're caught driving with cash, the police will confiscate it. I don't know why this guy thinks it would be any different in airports. __________________ Originally Posted by TallGuyMe: hoorah for Nick!

06-23-09, 11:26 AM	#12
Bandohurt DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: a small cottage on a cul de sac in the lower pits of hell. Posts: 27,006	Re: TSA detains man with large quantity of cash, refuses to advise his rights I'm starting to get the sense that Dr. Mabuse likes police states... __________________ Visit my social networking site.

06-23-09, 11:34 AM	#13
lordwow DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 9,132	Re: TSA detains man with large quantity of cash, refuses to advise his rights This is why I carry a credit card with me. __________________ Her clam does taste like honey though. Now honey I LOVE. That alone makes her awesome in my book. - Slayer2005 Xbox Live:Wowous\|Twitter\|Join The 360Voice DVDTalk Group

06-23-09, 01:09 PM	#14
SuperJim88 DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Earth Posts: 2,706	Re: TSA detains man with large quantity of cash, refuses to advise his rights China sounds like a much better country to live in right about now. CHINA!! CHINA!! CHINA!!

06-23-09, 02:08 PM	#16
harrydoyle Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 857	Re: TSA detains man with large quantity of cash, refuses to advise his rights Wow, that's weird. I think I'd probably start yelling if I was caught in that same situation.

06-23-09, 03:38 PM	#18
shaun3000 DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 7,753	Re: TSA detains man with large quantity of cash, refuses to advise his rights That's all well and good unless you want to get on your flight. So it becomes prudent to figure out which questions you need to answer for security reasons and which questions are not related to security and violating your Constitutional Rights.

06-23-09, 09:35 PM	#21
shaun3000 DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 7,753	Re: TSA detains man with large quantity of cash, refuses to advise his rights They apply to you while you're on US soil. At border crossings, several of them have been limited by court rulings, specifically the limit on unwarranted search and seizure. At a border crossing, you basically have no right to refuse a [reasonable] search, which includes your belongings, computer, etc.