Flat Tire for Free-Enterprise in Las Vegas

Bell Trans and Presidential Limousine, Las Vegas's largest carriers, claimed West would ''create detrimental competition'' and ''disrupt economical and efficient service to the traveling public.''

Sure.

After a year of paperwork, the three TSA commissioners tossed out West's application nine days before he was scheduled to defend it in a public hearing. One commissioner felt West's application had simply become ''too complicated.'' Colling maintains it was West's fault, since he kept missing data request deadlines.

As a result, West, Lowre and Clutter are suing the TSA in state court. Represented by the Washington, D.C.-based Institute for Justice, they're claiming that state rules go far beyond the reasonable standard of ensuring public safety and therefore violate their constitutional right to earn an honest living.

''I've never been one to go out and fight,'' Lowre said. ''But this in an injustice I can't handle.''

This article was published in Investors Business Daily December 3, 1998.