Entered An Airport Secure Area To Kiss His Girlfriend Goodbye

A New Jersey man who ducked under a security rope at Newark Liberty Airport to give his girlfriend a goodbye kiss has pleaded guilty to defiant trespass. 28-year-old Haisong Jiang will be fined $500, plus $158 in court costs, and will be required to perform 100 hours of community service.

That's a pretty expensive kiss.

Jiang's breach of security shut down Newark Liberty's Terminal C for several hours, and forced the re-screening of several thousand passengers who had already been cleared. CNN reports that scores of flights were delayed by the incident.

Jiang apologized for his actions. He told reporters after his court appearance that he "learned a big lesson in my life."

Jiang's attorney, Eric B. Bruce, said the charge is a "petty disorderly persons offense ... not even considered a crime in New Jersey."

Jiang was not arrested until several days after the incident, when a review of security camera information showed a TSA agent asking a man in a light-colored jacket to stay behind the rope. But the agent left his post for a few minutes, and the person on the video ducked under the rope and went the wrong way through the secure area to greet a woman.

Bruce said the incident will not affect Jiang's immigration status, and he'll be able to finish his Ph.D at Rutgers, where he is a student. But the incident prompted New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg (D) to introduce legislation making a similar infraction punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and 10 years in prison.  It would also mandate the use of cameras at secure exits at all terminal checkpoints.

TSA said it would use the incident as a "hard lesson" to reinforce focus and discipline at its agent's stations.

Meanwhile, Jiang and his girlfriend are still together.

FMI: www.tsa.gov