patrick.ainge.com

The Northwest Florida Daily News is reporting that fans can no longer be "patted down" before being allowed to enter the Bucs Stadium in Tampa.

U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore issued an order siding with season-ticket holder Gordon Johnson and the ACLU of Florida who had sued to stop the fan searches that began last season.

Johnson and the ACLU sued the Tampa Sports Authority, which operates the stadium, to stop officials from conducting the "suspicionless" searches.

Whittemore said the Tampa Sports Authority failed to establish that the risks outweigh the need to protect the public from unreasonable searches.

Howard Simon, executive director of the ACLU of Florida, said Whittemore’s decision could turn out to be significant.

"It’s obviously not going to govern what’s happening around the country, but it’s certainly going to be an influential precedent," Simon said. "Other courts may look at it."

Simon said he thinks the decision shows that courts are "pushing back" at governmental attempts to violate citizens’ civil rights on the basis of a perceived threat of terrorism or crime.