“Strip search machines,” also known as “whole-body imaging” and “millimeter wave scanning,” have been controversial as the Transportation Security Administration rolls them out around the country.

This week, a bill was introduced to limit the use of whole-body imaging. H.R. 2027, the Aircraft Passenger Whole-Body Imaging Limitations Act of 2009 does so in several ways:

• Whole-body imaging could not be the sole or primary method of screening a passenger, and it could only be used as a follow-up to other methods like metal detection.
• Passengers would have the right to opt for a pat-down search instead of whole-body imaging.
• Passengers subject to whole-body imaging would have to be provided information about the technology and the images it generates, on privacy policies, and the right to have that pat-down search instead.
• Images of passengers generated by whole-body imaging technology could not be stored, transferred, shared, or copied in any form after the passenger has passed through the security system.

Most of these protections are already TSA policy, but agency policies are relatively easy to change compared to federal law. Without limitations like this, these machines are on the natural, mission-creepy path to becoming mandatory.

Rules, of course, were made to be broken. How long do you suppose it is before TSA agents without proper supervision find a way to capture images contrary to policy?

(Agent in secure area guides Hollywood starlet to strip search machine, sends SMS message to image reviewer, who takes camera-phone snap. TMZ devotes a week to the story, and the ensuing investigation reveals that this has been happening at airports throughout the country to hundreds of women travelers.)

Here’s the current vote on H.R. 2027, the Aircraft Passenger Whole-Body Imaging Limitations Act of 2009. Click to vote, comment, learn more, or edit the wiki article about the bill.