Unauthorized Searches

My latest visit with friends to Regal North Hills Cinema was a bit of a fiasco. Not only did I stumble upon a $2.00 ticket price increase from just a couple of months prior and prohibition of student ID usage on Friday and Saturdays, but my friends and I were stopped for a purse search of outside food and/or beverages. In addition, we were stopped a few yards away from the door but only after the $10.00 tickets were purchased.

Considering the fact that ticket prices have increased and discounts are not allowed, is there really a considerable amount of money lost from a few Snickers bars and Gummi Bears being brought in? Regardless, an unauthorized search of personal bags is unwarranted. Let's be honest, almost every woman carries a handbag, but men also often have multiple large pockets for stashing. However, men were not searched. Despite the fact that most men carry personal effects in their pockets, I suppose the theater has not expanded their searching methods to actual physical pat downs.

The efficiency of the theater was also thrown into question as lines backed up to and out of the door for extended periods of time due to the number of women stopping to question the reasoning and validity behind this newly implemented, yet unwritten, "necessary" search.