While there are many joys to living in DC, and I, for one, tend to be often accused of looking only on the bright side of things, there is one thing that ongoingly makes me more angry than half the people anger central (and those folks are angry).
No, I am not talking about humidity (close second). I am talking about the ever increasing police stateness of it all.
The latest: the freshly announced "unannounced bag searches on the metro".
Of course, it has something to do with "raising awareness" and "increasing visibility" henceforth "making you safer" but really what it amounts to is that "unless you agree to have your bag searched when you're asked, you cannot take the train".
(mind you, if you DO have a bomb in your bag, and decide to bomb the metro from outside the metro station, there is really no method they are planning to use to stop you from doing that. Just as long as we know that all bases are "being covered".)
There is absolutely no information as to:
- when this will start
- how often it will take place (apparently only in situations of "heightened risk" but aren't we permanently in orange alert?)
- what does "inside" or "outside" the metro station mean,
- what actually constitutes a reason for suspicion (a person, a type of a bag, a...?),
- how many lawsuits this may cause
- and if one really wanted to smuggle explosives into a metro station, couldn't they just smuggle them on my body and not in a bag? (what will be next then? body cavity searches while purchasing your week pass?)
- and, of course,
- how much of your (already non-represented) tax money is going to go to these increased security precautions
....and while Washington Post did a neat little Q & A with Dr. Gridlock (!) that Cale informed me makes it all seem "not so bad" and, I suppose, we should once again be glad that we are finally catching up with New York on this issue I suggest you all start carrying fannypacks and ordering some of these "I do not consent to being searched" shirts.
Because God knows you will probably need them.
Previously in I Heart DC:
- 2/13: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use:
- 2/13: 101 Reasons To Love DC-Part 1
- 2/10: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use
- 2/9: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use
- 2/8: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use
- 2/8: Perfect Date Outfits + Outings
- 2/7: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use
- 2/6: DC News You Can Maybe Use:
- 2/2: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use:
- 2/1: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use:
God loves a cheerful giver.
GREAT!!! Now more annoying lines on my morning commute. Seriously?
It's rather absurd that DC has decided to start doing random bag searches 7 years after September 11th. Having lived in/visited cities that've been the site of subway bombings, you really have to wonder what the hold up was.
The worst part about this decision is that it comes at a time when Metro ridership is very high. Despite the recent dip in fuel prices, people are still taking the Metro in record numbers. And who's going to pay for this?
It violates the Constitution. I don't take the Metro, but if I did they would not search me without a warrant.
A lot of people will state that they will not be searched because they're blowhards, but come time, they will, which is a shame because this policy is, to use a Palinism, UNAmerican.
Sheeple.
Way to make public transportation more convenient, Metro. I already use the Metro sparingly because its such a hassle and I don't plan on using it at all if I miss a train and have to wait 12 minutes for the next one.
Washington DC, second rate capital city. Don't even get me started on those libraries
Ihre papiere, bitte [your papers, please]
sorry michael, it is constitutional, and you can thank your buddy scalia
i have to agree with patrick about the timeliness of this decision. what a joke.
and how is this worked into metro budget?? aren't they in the middle of a bailout of sorts?
if your bag is full of coke do you think they'll let you go if you tell them it isn't anthrax?
don't know about that but as of today, Metro is giving out free hand sanitizer to all who'll take it:
http://dcist.com/2008/10/28/get_your_free_hand_sanitizer.php
Dan - no it isn't.
And why would he be my buddy?
What is stopping some random dude from walking up and saying, "Let me search your bag." Then when they see something they want, they take it run without having to mug you physically the normal way.
hmm.
outside the metro could get sticky, but inside, they own you, lowered expectation of privacy, govt interest, there's probably consent language on farecards (or there will be soon) etc ... that of course doesn't mean its an unreasonable argument, but it's a loser
*our buddy scalia
since my relocation to nyc, i've noticed signs in the nyc metro that say bags can be randomally searched. i've never seen someone actually getting their bag searched. but something tells me dc will be more proactive about it, at least at first.
They will be randomly searching people (1 out of every N person will be searched, N being a "random" number) before you pass through the faregate (or get on a bus).
You can refuse the search, and you won't be allowed to enter the system at that station or get on that bus.
If you consent and they find ANYTHING illegal, you will be charged.
Furthermore, I have a feeling this doesn't really have anything to do with terrorism. I have a feeling it's some sort of response to the huge increase in crime on the Metro.
Errrrr I've been searched on the NYC subway. Right after the 7/7 bombings in London, the cops were very very visible.
As per "if they find anything illegal"...better make sure you have a secret pocket.
pathetic
i heard this dude on the metro saying that chinatown is the stop with the most reports of pickpocketing. before i had only heard a little about crime on metro, now people talk about it all the time. seems you have a point
only been in NYC for six months now, but i've only seen one bag searched - at a pretty odd time. 3PM at the broadway/layfayette stop. guy was in cuffs though.
handy PDF so you don't wimp out:
http://www.flexyourrights.org/files/Metro%20Rights%20Flyer%20(double-sided).pdf
except, that link doesn't link correctly.
second try: http://www.flexyourrights.org/subway