Passenger Denied Boarding Asks Court to
Terminate Orlando Bus System’s Mask Mandate

Traveler Argues LYNX’s Requirement Violates Florida

Constitution’s Privacy Clause & DeSantis’ Order

“A Face Mask Is Mandatory” sign next to the boarding door of a LYNX bus

July 26, 2021

By LUCAS WALL

ORLANDO, Florida – A fully vaccinated frequent traveler wants the U.S. District Court here to vacate what he argues is an illegal and unconstitutional mask mandate enforced by the Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority, which operates the regional LYNX bus system.

Lucas Wall, 44, of Washington, D.C., filed a legal brief this evening against LYNX asserting numerous reasons why its mask policy must be found unlawful including that it violates the privacy clause of the Florida Constitution, an executive order banning mask mandates issued by Gov. Ron DeSantis, and a new state law that took effect July 1 allowing the governor to overrule any state or local governmental agency’s dictate for people to cover their faces. LYNX asked the court July 6 to dismiss the case.

LYNX refused to allow Wall to board a bus June 2 because he wasn’t donning a mask.

LYNX Bus 11 at Orlando International Airport

“Not only have I already been injured by LYNX, but if I were to try to board a LYNX bus tomorrow, I would again encounter a strong likelihood a state employee (the driver) would invade my privacy by telling me to cover my face or I’ll be refused boarding,” wrote Wall, who is also suing CDC, TSA, President Biden, and other federal agencies to overturn the Federal Transportation Mask Mandate. “A state agent invades my privacy by making my use of a state-owned facility (a LYNX bus) contingent on obstructing my nose and mouth, my only two sources of oxygen. Unimpaired breathing is, of course, fundamentally essential to life.”

The Florida Court of Appeal ruled June 11 that any governmental mask mandate violates a person’s constitutional right to privacy.

“Only the governor has the authority to authorize any state agency take an emergency health action such as commanding mask wearing,” Wall argues. “LYNX cites no statutory or executive authority allowing it to promulgate a mask policy.”

Wall submitted as evidence a recent compilation of numerous scientific studies showing masks are totally ineffective.

“LYNX has presented no ‘compelling state interest’ in mandating masks – especially when the scientific evidence shows face coverings have done nothing to reduce COVID-19 infections and masks are actually harmful to human health,” he wrote.

The case before the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida is Wall v. CDC, No. 6:21-cv-975-PGB-DCI.

Join my new Facebook group Americans Against Mask Mandates.

Donate to my legal fund on GoFundMe at Help End Federal Transportation Mask Mandate.