More trouble with the TSA

By William R. Toler

A man arrested during an airport search is now suing the Transportation Security Adminsitration.

Aaron Tobey was arrested for disorderly conduct in December after he stripped down to his shorts for an enhanced pat down, according to Wired.com. In addition to making the search easier, Tobey had a paraphrased scribbling of the Fourth Amendment written on his chest in marker to protest the procedure.

Two weeks later, county prosecutors dropped the charges against the 21-year-old University of Cincinati student. Earlier this month, Tobey filed a law suit seeking $250,000.

Tobey claims in the suit that he was “arrested without probable cause, falsely imprisoned and maliciously prosocuted for the partial removal of his clothing and display of the text of the Fourth Amendment on his chest during enhanced screening procedures.” He also insists that his First and Fourth Amendments were violated.

End of inspections?

By William R. Toler

Vehicle inspections may be a thing of the past if some state assemblymen get their way. While the notion does sound ideal…don’t count on it.

The News & Observer reported last week that there is a bi-partisan bill in the NC Senate that would do away with saftey inspections in the Tarheel State. You know, the tedious thing you have to do every year…or get a ticket.

The reason for the bill? A 2008 report that “determined North Carolina motorists may not be getting a satisfactory return on the $141 million they spend annually on inspection fees,” according to the N&O. The report also alledged that there was a lack of oversight that inspections were being properly carried out.

Garage owners and the Highway Patrol both support the inspections, citing the tired excuse of saftey. “The last thing we want is a vehicle to be traveling out there that’s faulty,” said Sgt. Jeff Gordon.

The Colonel’s Legacy

By William R. Toler

Leader.

There are many words that could describe the late Col. Cecil Eason, but the word “leader” says it all.

Col. Cecil L. Eason

The fomer Air Force navigator and JROTC instuctor was himself a leader and encouraged and inspired others to be the same.

A native of Farmville, NC, he excelled at everything he did, later expecting no less from his cadets at West Craven High School. I was one of those cadets.

During his funeral, his cousin spoke about his achievements in the classroom and in the athletic arena. He was a three-sport athlete and graduated third in his class. Following high school, he graduated from N.C. State University with a degree in history. Shortly after college, he joined the USAF and upon completion of Officer Training School attended Navigation school, where he again graduated with top honors. He later served as a navigator in the F-4 Phantom.