No. >> I'm sober. You think I'm not sober? >> You want to make sure of >> I'm sober. I don't drink. I don't smoke. I don't do nothing. I'm acting out. So, I'm trying to get to my baby. I told her to stop at the bar up there. >> On a night like any other, a woman walks toward her departure gate at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. She's told she can't board. The reason she appears intoxicated. She says that's wrong. Officers show up to sort out who's right. By the end of the night, one drink would cost her a lot more than a flight. Here's what most travelers don't know. An airline can refuse to fly you and it doesn't need proof. Under federal law, a carrier can deny boarding to anyone a gate agent believes is a safety risk. No breathalyzer required. That call isn't a request. It's final at least for that flight. >> Man of the hour. Security >> Don't play dumb with me. >> Something wrong with y'all. >> I was on my way to help you and get you She already got the cops on her. I ain't even mad at you. >> All right. >> Yeah, she got to get out of here. So, she has to be escorted out. >> She has a strong odor of alcohol. >> We're going to escort her out of here. She can leave anything at the bar at 9:00 p.m. >> Okay. >> They're showing literally showing favoritism to me. I'm sorry. This is me right here. >> She ain't flying. Just need to be escorted out. >> Yeah. >> Okay. All right. That's all you got to take now? >> Huh? >> That's all you need to take. You got bags or anything? >> No, I'm going on my flight. >> No, you're not going on the flight. You need to >> Why? >> You're too intoxicated. >> I'm not intoxicated. You can test me. You got to test me to tell if I'm intoxicated. >> Listen. >> Mhm. >> You don't want to go to jail, right? >> No. >> Okay. Just go ahead and get whatever you got to get and let's go to the train, okay? >> Go to where? >> The train. You can't be down here. Cuz if you're not flying, you don't have a ticket. >> I'm not intoxicated. So, what I'm saying is they wrong. >> Okay. Listen to me for a minute. You just said you don't want to go to jail, right? >> I'm not intoxicated. So, you want to call Who is your boss and your supervisor? >> 705 to 3. How close are you? I'm going to transport her via car. >> So, what? I didn't do nothing. I need to get on my flight. I got to go to my kid. So, I'm trying to see what's going on after this. Why would you tell me the next available flight when I booked my flight for this flight? I don't understand that. Why not? >> So, are y'all getting aboard or something? >> Why? I'm not making my flight. >> So, y'all not boarding because of this? >> Why would I I'm not making my flight? >> Y'all not boarding because of this? >> I paid for this. I didn't do nothing to them. Why I'm not making my flight? And I didn't do anything. Like, what's the problem? Let me start recording cuz I'm not making my flight because of what? I'm not Excuse me, ma'am. I'm serious. Cuz I have to go to my baby. I have to go to my baby. >> You need to stop asking to get arrested. You need to stop. >> What am I doing? >> You really need to stop. >> Excuse me. >> It's going to It's going to be bad when you sober up and you will be in jail. >> I'm sober. You think I'm not sober? I'm sober. I don't drink. I don't smoke. I don't do none of that. I'm at the hospital. I'm trying to get to my baby. I told her to stop at the bar up there. I need to get to my baby. >> They're not going to let you fly. I'm trying to >> Okay. I want you to stay right here and say not cuz paid for this. And this was my flight say confirmation. See? >> I got a car coming so they don't >> Cuz that's bogus. I paid for this for my baby. I only paid for this for my baby. I won't be coming back if it wasn't for my baby. I just paid $200. It's crazy. Thank you. Why it's not for today though? And I booked and I'm at the front of the line. Yeah, I need to get on this flight today cuz I got to get to my baby. So if you're not able to get me on this flight, then don't even book the flight. Don't book the flight. No, don't book the flight cuz I need to get on this flight today. >> I got female coming with the vehicle. Cuz she ain't going to be able to walk to the train like that. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So y'all need to come come over here. She going to do whatever she need to do for you. >> I need to make sure because I didn't do nothing wrong. So I'm going to see your boss or something, your manager. I didn't do nothing wrong. >> Listen. >> So I'm trying to see her boss. This is my flight I booked. I paid $200 for this. So I'm not going to just walk over there until you come No, I need to see my money that I paid for. I paid my money for this. >> Go ahead over there. >> I ain't do this for no reason. And I did this for no reason. >> to me. I need you to listen to me first. Listen to me real quick. In a second, I'm going to pull out handcuffs and handcuff you. >> I'm going to just walk out. >> Go over there. Just wait over there. Wait over there. >> I need my money back. >> Just wait over here. >> I need my money back. >> Come on over here. >> I'm sorry. I need my money back. >> I'm trying to help you out. >> Excuse me. I need my money back. >> I'm trying to help you out. >> No. >> Come on out the way. Come out the way. >> back. >> I don't want to cuff you and lock you up, but that's about to happen cuz you're not listening to me. When I reach behind me and grab these cuffs, that's it. >> You're so mean and they took my money. >> Let them do what they got to do. Go over that way. Excuse me. Go go over there. >> No, they won't let me on the plane. Yes, they are. >> Go over there. >> No. >> there. >> No. >> I'm trying not to lock you up. >> Lock me up for what? >> See, this is Come on over this way. Come on. >> Thank you. >> I didn't want to do this. You did this. >> Yes, ma'am. So what? >> This is what you did. >> Can you call your boss, please? >> This is what you did. >> Can you call your manager or your boss? Please, can you call him? >> Come on. >> Please call him cuz you finna handcuff me now. Now I feel like >> I tried to not do it. >> Please call the boss. Call your boss, please, cuz you're putting this on me now. And I ain't I'm not like Call your boss. Please call him. Call him. >> Stop snatching. >> Call your boss or your manager. You're not taking me in jail for nothing. What you handcuffing me for? Hold on, let me turn my camera. >> Excuse you. >> You handcuffing me for what? What are you handcuffing me for? >> Come on. >> What are you handcuffing me for? >> Cut it out. Cut it out. >> Please don't touch. >> Cut it out. >> Don't touch me. Don't touch me. I just told him. >> I just told him don't What are you handcuffing me for? What are you handcuffing me for? >> I I want to go that route, but you did it. That's what you did. Hold up. Hold on. Hold on. Watch out. Watch out. >> This what he doing to me. Like This what he doing. You got me [ __ ] up. >> Sorry, y'all. Have a good night, sir. You can do what you want to do. >> Come on, miss lady. Come on, ma'am. She got a bag? >> I do have a bag over there. Can you get it? >> Yeah, yeah, yeah. I got it. Come on. We got it. Come on. Miss lady, come on. COME ON, MA'AM. WE CAN CALL SOMEBODY. COME ON, MA'AM. MA'AM, go away. You live here in Atlanta? >> No. >> You got somebody you can call for you? Yeah, we got your back. Come on. I got your back. He's getting up for you. Come [laughter] on. Come on. Come on, ma'am. >> I kept trying to tell you. >> Come on. >> I kept trying to tell you. Yeah. >> Part of the job, Arnetta. >> I kept trying to I kept trying to tell you. law. >> It's not. My mama worked for the doctor. This is not part of the job. But it's okay. Because he won't be out tonight. What you said is the wrong thing. I don't drink liquor. >> Okay. >> So you're saying that that's the wrong thing. I don't drink liquor. >> Well, why are you acting the WAY YOU ACT? >> WHAT? >> WHY ARE YOU ACTING >> TO GET BECAUSE I NEED TO GET to my baby. >> Okay. >> And she was telling me that I'm not going to get to my baby. >> She said 9:52 in the morning and I'm telling her that I need to get to my baby tonight. I had a babysitter. >> You're not going to >> AND WHAT TIME IS HER SHIFT? SHE'S 6 MONTHS. >> YOU [laughter] GOT SOMEBODY YOU GOT SOMEBODY we can CALL FOR YOU? >> NO. I DON'T. >> [laughter] >> YOU'RE SCREAMING. WHAT IS IT WITH YOU? You on drugs or something? You've been drinking? What's wrong with you? >> It's a 6-month-year-old baby. >> Yeah, but you're >> Yeah, you said >> But you're not intoxicated. >> I'm not. >> you you walking [clears throat] all over the place. You're shouting. Everybody's talking in your normal tone of voice. You're over here screaming. >> I'm not. >> Okay, what's going on with you? >> drunk, for one. >> What did you take? >> I didn't take anything. I'm okay. >> you you's on something. >> Huh? >> You're on something. You're not sober. So I don't know what's going on with you. >> Babe. >> But if there's somebody we can call for you, we'll do it. Do you got somebody at the house we can call for you? So they know what's going on with you? Yes? >> [laughter] >> Who can we call for you? >> I just want to go to my baby. Like I don't want I didn't do nothing. >> Well, like like the officer told you, you're not going to be able to make IT TONIGHT. SO >> OKAY. CUZ I'LL TAKE THIS OFF OF ME. LIKE >> I WAS clearly I told her, "Stop. You going to go to jail." And the ticket agent was like, "He's trying to tell you, all right." He was begging her. >> GO TO JAIL FOR WHAT? GO TO JAIL FOR WHAT? THAT'S SO FAKE. I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO GO TO JAIL. WHEN YOU GO TO JAIL, YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING. I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO GO TO JAIL, LIKE I JUST WANTED THIS all for me. >> She doesn't accept it. For the next several minutes, she pleads her case to gate staff, a supervisor, and finally police. The officers offer her options, rebooking a ride home, a seat out of the way. She stays exactly where she's been told not to. One officer gives her a warning most people would take seriously. She doesn't. The conversation stops being about the flight. Now it's about a restricted area and a lawful order to leave it. She keeps talking. She keeps standing still. That distinction is the one that actually matters here. An officer can make a full arrest for a minor offense if there's probable cause even without proving a crime. That's the standard from Atwater versus City of Lago Vista. The missed flight was never the real issue. Staying put was. The handcuffs come out. She'd already been warned twice. >> You made the wrong decision. >> AND THAT'S THE LAW. >> I LOOKED YOU RIGHT IN YOUR FACE and I said, "You going to sober up and you going to be >> Come on. Come on. Come on. COME ON. >> WHERE IS THE BOSS? >> WHAT ARE YOU DOING? >> WHERE IS THE BOSS? >> THAT'S WHY YOU GOT CUFFS on you. >> Okay, what about that? >> That's why you got cuffs on. >> I need to see the boss. >> Come on. You getting ready to go to jail. >> I need to see the boss, please. Please. >> Come on. >> They don't want They don't want I got it. Come on. Oh, no, no. I don't need no help. I'm I'm double-jointed. >> Okay. >> You can't even trust you, but you barely walking, so I'm I'm barely walking. I know how to walk. >> And see, this is why you got cuffs on you. >> See, no, cuz she's the >> That's why we're going to get some leg cuffs on you. >> You don't want to play. Like I don't give A [ __ ] WHAT >> [laughter] >> CUZ I'LL BE OUT IN THE MORNING. >> WE AIN'T >> GOING TO KEEP talking to you. >> YOU MADE MY SHOE COME OFF. LIKE WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU? >> Come on. >> YOU MADE MY SHOE COME OFF. >> COME ON. >> YOU MADE MY SHOE COME OFF. YOU MADE MY SHOE come off. >> Hold on. Just put it down. >> You made my shoe come off. >> I got it. >> Let her put her shoe on. You made my shoe come off. Like >> You made your shoe come off. >> No, you made my shoe >> Ma'am, please [ __ ] that. I swear you could throw that [ __ ] I'M GETTING OUT I'M PUTTING charges on her FOR REAL. >> NO, WHAT? YOU GAY. I AIN'T DO [ __ ] Get your gay ass off. >> Sit down. Sit down. >> Yeah, I know. Your gay ass off. >> Come on. >> Freaky body ass. That's how I'm happy I was a [ __ ] my whole life. >> Yep. You stupid. >> Yep. Your gay ass off. Your freaky ass. And I stick that dick deep. >> Bye. Have a seat. Sit down. Have a seat. Get your feet off the door. >> Get my ass off. >> Get up. >> GET MY ASS OFF. GET OFF OF ME. >> STOP IT. >> GET OFF OF ME. Get off of me. >> You got a seatbelt? >> Put your hands so we can put the seatbelt on you. >> Hey. >> Go on the other side, Lucy. She's trying to kick and bite. >> Who's trying to kick and bite? >> That's you. >> Let me go. Miss. Miss. Listen to me. Listen to me. >> down. >> Listen to me. Ma'am. Chill out. Chill out. >> Everything is 393. You got a 393. >> Bye. Somebody [ __ ] you, [ __ ] >> Miss. >> Your gay ass off. Thank you. >> All right. Where you going? Is it international >> Can I ask you what it's for? International? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Cuz your car is over there. Yeah. Yeah, let's go over there. >> And you know what you talking about right here? Picking up someone wanting to do something to me. >> What's the charge? >> No, they not letting me out. My shoe was out. Oh, they not letting me out since they going to take me to the jail. For no reason. I didn't even do nothing but Ready? >> MA'AM. >> YES, THEY NOT LETTING ME KNOW what they doing. What I do? >> What I doing? >> Excuse me. What you doing? >> Who you talking to, your mom? >> Yeah. >> So, you going to Clayton County Jail. >> I'm going to where? >> Clayton County. >> Clayton County Jail? >> Yes. >> For what? So, I'm going to Clayton County I'm going for what? Yeah. Yes, send it. I'm going to They say I'm going to Clayton County Jail. For what? >> I don't know what he's charging you with. >> I don't know what they charging me with either, but I need to know before I go in here. Okay, I need to hurry up and know. >> Okay. As soon as you get in there, you can find out later on. >> Okay, I need to hurry up and know. So, who >> I'm not sure. In the drawer, top drawer. >> I didn't do nothing. >> Which one? >> THEY TAKING ME FOR SOMETHING. >> Come on, ma'am. >> They taking me for something. >> there. >> Thank you. Have a seat. Can I talk to them for a second? THIS IS MY BROTHER. NO, you can't talk to them cuz I shouldn't be in here. >> Okay. I need the purse from around you. >> You need my purse? >> Yes, ma'am. >> I need to >> Kicking and biting don't change the outcome. They just add to the paperwork. By the patrol car, she still doesn't know what she's being charged with. Neither on camera does the officer driving her there. What's clear is where she's headed, Clayton County Jail, not her connecting flight. The officers get a B+. They offered her a supervisor, a rebooking, and a way out of the terminal. She used none of it. Under Atwater, they didn't need a felony to make the arrest hold. A lawful order ignored was enough. Their patience had a limit. They found it without losing their composure. She gets a D. The airline's call was never hers to overturn at the gate. Arguing sobriety to an officer wasn't going to undo a decision the airline had already made. Refusing to leave turned a travel dispute into an arrest. Resisting turned a citation-level problem into a bigger one. Compliance now, complaint later would have gotten her to her baby faster than any of this did. Two things worth remembering: A boarding denial is almost never reversible at the counter, so save the argument for later in writing. And a lawful order to move isn't optional whether or not you agree with the reason for it. If you want to see how moments like this actually play out, subscribe. We break down body cam footage every week. What do you think should happen with her case? Tell us in the comments. We'll see you in the next one.