Congressman: TSA patdowns go too far

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- A U.S. congressman says the Transportation Security Administration has "overstepped its bounds" in using patdown screening of airline passengers.

Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., appearing on MSNBC, criticized the use of patdowns for passengers who opt out of full body scans because of concern about radiation exposure.

"I think the TSA has overstepped its bounds," Mica said. "I have no problems with using the body advance imaging or patdowns. But it shouldn't be done for primary screening.

"It should be targeted to people who pose a threat, who set off some alarm," he said, or on people on a watch list.

"But it shouldn't be used and people have already seen the videos of children, elderly and others," Mica, set to become the chairman of the House transportation committee, said.

"We've got to focus attention and our resources and technology and efforts for a small handful of bad guys instead of millions of Americans who are trying to go about this country in a free and open manner," he said.