FAA Fines Passenger for Security Breach
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FAA Fines Passenger for Security Breach
I'm sure most of the folks who whose travel was disrupted would support an even larger fine for this idiot. I'm also sure his lawyer will claim that he didn't know and that the signs were meant for everbody else.
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Lasseter facing $3,300 FAA fine for security breach
He has until Thursday to respond to proposed levy stemming from incident that shut down Hartsfield
By MARY LOU PICKEL
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer
Michael Shane Lasseter faces a $3,300 fine from the Federal Aviation Administration for bypassing airport security and shutting down Hartsfield International Airport last year.
"It's the maximum our regulations allow," FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said.
The FAA found that Lasseter, 32, of Gainesville violated three sections of security regulations when he ran down the "up" escalator past two security guards Nov. 16.
Officials evacuated Hartsfield for three hours, sending 10,000 people outside. Air travel along the Eastern Seaboard was disrupted.
Lasseter got a copy of the proposed fine by certified mail Dec. 10, Bergen said, and has until Thursday to respond to the charges.
So far, the FAA has not heard from Lasseter.
He is supposed to either submit written information or meet with FAA lawyers to try to settle the fine, Bergen said.
"Occasionally cases are settled for less," Bergen said. If Lasseter disagrees with the fine, he can appeal to an administrative law judge at the Department of Transportation, she said.
Lasseter's lawyer, Robert Lipman, said Tuesday he was unaware of the FAA fine and needed to consult with his client.
But he questioned the FAA's right to impose the penalty.
"At this point I'm in between astonished and amused," Lipman said.
AirTran Airways is suing Lasseter for at least $100,000, saying he acted "maliciously and in bad faith."
Lasseter told police he had left the airport's secure area to retrieve a camera bag and wanted to get back to his young son, whom he had left with an uncle.
Sen. Max Cleland (D-Ga.), who sat on a delayed Delta plane during the incident, has introduced a bill making airport security breaches a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
<a href="http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/metro/0102/0109lasseter.html" target="_blank">http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/metro/0102/0109lasseter.html</a>
[ 09 January 2002: Message edited by: Airbubba ]</p>
______________________________________________
Lasseter facing $3,300 FAA fine for security breach
He has until Thursday to respond to proposed levy stemming from incident that shut down Hartsfield
By MARY LOU PICKEL
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer
Michael Shane Lasseter faces a $3,300 fine from the Federal Aviation Administration for bypassing airport security and shutting down Hartsfield International Airport last year.
"It's the maximum our regulations allow," FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said.
The FAA found that Lasseter, 32, of Gainesville violated three sections of security regulations when he ran down the "up" escalator past two security guards Nov. 16.
Officials evacuated Hartsfield for three hours, sending 10,000 people outside. Air travel along the Eastern Seaboard was disrupted.
Lasseter got a copy of the proposed fine by certified mail Dec. 10, Bergen said, and has until Thursday to respond to the charges.
So far, the FAA has not heard from Lasseter.
He is supposed to either submit written information or meet with FAA lawyers to try to settle the fine, Bergen said.
"Occasionally cases are settled for less," Bergen said. If Lasseter disagrees with the fine, he can appeal to an administrative law judge at the Department of Transportation, she said.
Lasseter's lawyer, Robert Lipman, said Tuesday he was unaware of the FAA fine and needed to consult with his client.
But he questioned the FAA's right to impose the penalty.
"At this point I'm in between astonished and amused," Lipman said.
AirTran Airways is suing Lasseter for at least $100,000, saying he acted "maliciously and in bad faith."
Lasseter told police he had left the airport's secure area to retrieve a camera bag and wanted to get back to his young son, whom he had left with an uncle.
Sen. Max Cleland (D-Ga.), who sat on a delayed Delta plane during the incident, has introduced a bill making airport security breaches a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
<a href="http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/metro/0102/0109lasseter.html" target="_blank">http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/metro/0102/0109lasseter.html</a>
[ 09 January 2002: Message edited by: Airbubba ]</p>
