October 27, 2008
Random Bag Searches Coming to Metro
The Post gets out the first word of WMATA's official announcement that Metro Transit Police will begin conducting random bag searches on Metro. The policy will be similar to that of New York and Boston — both cities began random bag searches after the 2005 London Tube bombings. We'll most certainly have more on this later in the day.
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yah, im sure it will be completely random.
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So the question becomes would Metro customers rather sit in gridlock and not get their bag searched, or get trapped in a tunnel and be put through full body cavity searches? Because if you think they're going to stop at bags, you're sadly mistaken.
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Don't have enough money to build new tracks. Don't have enough money to fix the elevators and escalators. Don't have enough money to fix the switches. Can't understand a damned thing from any of the station P.A. systems. SmartTrip cards with a 100 dollar balance lose their memory if you look at them crossly. Yet, somehow have enough money to fund this project.
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It's very annoying to see all of these resources devoted to trumped-up terrorist threats, while regular crime is up on Metro. I guess it's not "sexy" enough to crack down on regular criminals and rowdy teenagers, but utter the word "terrorism" and be perpared for the usual overreaction. Hopefully some of this attitude will begin to change in the next administration.
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How much do you wanna bet that riders smuggling food and/or drinks in their bags will get ticketed from these searches?
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What a load of crap.
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At least we will see a decrease in terrorist attacks and shark attacks on the metro. Thank Jesus for effective Shark attack prevention methods.
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Metro employees actually dole out tickets??
If that's the case - at least they'll get the funds from those tickets to help repair all these issues telecomic mentioned?
But on the other hand - one has to wonder how exactly they'll enforce these tickets. Hmm.
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please, please, please, can we finally put the "holy crap, there are terrorists around every corner" meme to sleep when W gets the fuck out of here in january? pretty please?
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Caribou Barbie, the signs I've read indicate that you may not eat or drink on metro, not that you are forbidden from carrying food or drink.
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OnlyatBrandeis -- true, true, but let's be honest, when did a sign ever stop any D.C. entity from squeezing people for every dime? They just count on you not fighting back.
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Yawn. It'll be a dog and pony show around the election, New Years, and inauguration and then it'll stop because there aren't enough transit cops to keep up any sort of sustained campaign.
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Just when the Nats couldn't get any worse, now we can't smuggle a flask of bourbon to the game? Shit.
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And what will happen when you refuse one of these 'random' searches?
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Just what everyone wants when they're in a hurry to get someplace.
How about they stick to keep the trains running and fixing the escalators that are constantly breaking down?
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And what are our rights of refusing such "searches"?
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sorry arglebargle beat me to it...
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Too bad I usually store all my rotten banana peels, used sanitary napkins, peanut butter spoons and sticky sticky taffy in my purse. Anyone want to reach inside and take a look?
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And what will happen when you refuse one of these 'random' searches?
Does the term "Balrog" mean nothing to you?
You fear to go into those Red Line stations. WMATA delved too greedily and too deep. You know what they awoke in the darkness of Wheaton.
Shadow and flame.
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I'm not looking forward to the volume of material that I will now be FORCED to put up my ass.
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all it'll take is one day of this slowing the inbound commute to less than a crawl, and the suburbanites will rise up as one and overthrow this regime.
it won't be pretty.
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I just know I'm going to get searched after shopping at Pleasure Place or the Leather Rack in Dupont. Just because something has wires and batteries doesn't mean it's a bomb, you know?
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is that your bag?
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arglebargle/Rukasu: the press release states that if you refuse the search you'll be able to turn around and leave the station. They'll also be putting up signs warning of the random searches shortly before beginning them at any given location. Still, this is among the stupider ideas I've heard recently.
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now will metro riders adopt the "refusing said bag searches" policy?
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WMATA has this policy about vibrating luggage. Throwers know modern bombs don't tick.
Sorry, throwers?
Baggage handlers. But when a bag vibrates, the throwers have got to call the police. Nine times out of ten it's an electric razor. But every once in a while it's a dildo. It's WMATA policy never to imply ownership in the event of a dildo. We have to use the indefinite article, a dildo, never your dildo.
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Bruce Schneier nailed this on the head in 2005 when NYC started doing it:
"Okay guys; here are your explosives. If one of you gets singled out for a search, just turn around and leave. And then go back in via another entrance, or take a taxi to the next subway stop."
Here's his blog post about it.
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@monkey
Do you mean to suggest the trains shall not pass? How does that differ from WMATA's usual weekend single tracking?
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I wonder what exactly will they be looking for? Big bags full of anthrax? or 16 sticks of dynamite with a big old fashioned alarm clock attached...
CUT THE RED WIRE!!!
OOPS!! NO NO I MEANT THE GREEN WIRE!
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So, Metro expects us to believe that they will be able to stop terrorists from carrying explosives concealed in bags at the same time they are unable to stop commuters and tourists from carrying on food that they are actively eating and drinking while riding on escalators, walking through turnstiles, standing on platforms, and sitting on trains?
I think the fumes from the new carpet and furniture must have affected the brains of Metro policy makers.
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I wouldn't do that. Not unless you knew which wires were what.
If you know, I know.
Or maybe I knew you'd know, so I spent all day thinking about the wrong ones.
You think?
Oh, heavens, no. Not the green one. Pull any one but the green one.
I asked you not to do that!
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"In the searches, transit police will choose a random number ahead of time, such as 17. Then they will ask every 17th rider step aside and have his or her bags searched before boarding a bus or entering a rail station.
Police said the inspections would take between 8 to 10 seconds. Those who refuse will not be allowed to enter the system with their carry-on items but will not be detained. "
It doesnt seem like youd even have to go to the next station, just turn around at the top of the escalator and try again.
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After checking out the photo attached to the Post article, I'd feel a lot safer with a cop on each train car with an automatic weapon.
Screw searching bags. We just need more "Joe the Cop with an Assault Rifle" around Metro.
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I'd rather have Joe the Plumber with an assault rifle.
And WMATA will get my XXX Large anal love beads from my cold dead hands!
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If they can't keep people from spitting sunflower seeds on the floor, they can't stop a determined attacker, case closed.
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One of my friends told me that he saw these searches in action today; in fact there were no warning signs outside the station - and the searches happened on a moving train.
You'll have a hell of a time refusing a search like that: "I don't consent to any searches officer, let me just leave the area right now..."