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Old 05-19-2021, 08:41 AM
  #7  
Grumpyaviator
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Joined APC: Nov 2012
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Masks themselves are not federal law, they are a presidential (or state, local or corporate) mandate. Following “crew member instructions, lighted signs and placards” is not law but an FAA regulation. Failure to comply with masks, cell phones, etc., falls under the umbrella of that FAA regulation and warrants a fine of almost $14k per incident.

If you violate an FAR you’re fined and go through an appellate process without arrest. If you break a law you’re arrested, tried, and if convicted sentenced. If you violate an FAR there is no arrest, that’s why LE does not intervene unless it escalates to a disturbance or assault or something in their jurisdiction. I’ve experienced this numerous times recently, where LE did not take action after landing because an actual law was not violated. The additional problem with some carriers is open seating. Seat assignments can’t be used to ID passengers. When they walk off the plane and see LE won’t take action they won’t give the CSA their name to record the incident or prevent further boarding.

Similarly, it’s not against the law for an intoxicated passenger to board a plane, but it is an FAR violation if an air carrier knowingly boards or transports a passenger that appears intoxicated. That’s why LE will not take action against a drunk passenger unless there is some sort of public disturbance or assault. Only one time did LE arrest a drunk passenger on my flight, because the town we landed in had a public intoxication law and as soon as she deplaned she was breaking the law in their jurisdiction, as well as her drunk driving boyfriend who arrived to pick her up.

Last edited by Grumpyaviator; 05-19-2021 at 09:12 AM.
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