United States v. Reid

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

YOUNG, Chief Judge.

I. Introduction

Is an airplane a “mass transportation vehicle” as that phrase is used in section 801 of the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, Pub.L. No. 107-56, 115 Stat. 272, 374-76 (codified at 18 U.S.C. § 1993) (“section 1993”), a comprehensive anti-terrorism law enacted in the wake of September 11. That is the question raised by Richard C. Reid (“Reid”), who is accused of attempting to detonate an explosive device in his shoe while aboard an international flight from Paris to Miami that was diverted to Boston after his attempt was foiled by the flight crew and…