March 12, 1989

Washington, D.C.

Background

In 1985, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) adopted regulations addressing the problem of alcohol and drug use among railroad employees

This was the direct result of at least 21 significant train accidents involving alcohol or drug use

Background (Cont.)

These accidents resulted in 25 deaths The Railway Labor Executives’

Association filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California to forbid these regulations

After going through the district court and the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the case was then heard by the U.S. Supreme Court

Samuel K. Skinner, U.S. Secretary of Transportation

Railway Labor Executives’ Association

Richard Thornburgh, U.S. Attorney General

Lawrence M. Mann

Justices for the Court

Harry A. Blackmun Anthony M. Kennedy (writing for the court)

Sandra Day O'Connor William H. Rehnquist Antonin Scalia John Paul Stevens Byron R. White

Petitioner’s Claim

That regulations requiring the testing of bodily fluids after a train accident do not violate the Fourth Amendment rights of railroad employees

Fourth Amendment

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and

effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and

no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing

the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Decision

Upheld regulations that required railroads to test urine, blood, and breath of employees involved in train accidents, deciding that such tests did not violate the Fourth Amendment

Voted 2-7 in favor of the Petitioner

Personal Opinion

I agree with the decision to uphold the regulations to test bodily fluids after a train accident because railroad employees should not be under the influence of anything while operating a train due to the many dangers involved with them