[Tampa Bay Buccaneers News]

A federal appeals court has cleared the way for pat-down searches of fans to resume at Tampa Bay Buccaneers home games when the football season begins in August.

Tampa-area high school teacher Gordon Johnston had successfully challenged the frisking of fans entering Raymond James Stadium, arguing that it violated his constitutional protection against unreasonable searches. Three courts had agreed with him.

But a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the decision Tuesday, saying Johnston had forfeited his right to challenge the constitutionality of the pat-downs when he consented to them.

Appeals court clears way for pat-down searches at Bucs games

[suedon70]

Of course he's gonna consent to the pat-down at the time - he wants to go into the stadium to attend the game, for cryin' out loud! This is ridiculous!

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by suedon70

Of course he's gonna consent to the pat-down at the time - he wants to go into the stadium to attend the game, for cryin' out loud! This is ridiculous!

I agree. Metal detectors are one thing, and I can see a pat-down if you set one off. But no way they should do this to everyone. The troubling thing is that the courts decided he didn't have "a constitutional right to pass voluntarily through the stadium gates without being subjected to a pat-down search, even if he had not consented to one." Those stadiums are usually publicly funded. Doesn't that make them public property? A pat down without due cause is most definitely a violation of constitutional rights. Troublesome verdict all the way around.