TSA Spreads to Trains, Subways, Bus Terminals and Ferries

[The Straight Story]

TSA Spreads to Trains, Subways, Bus Terminals and Ferries

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) wants it to be clear that it is not the “Airport Security Administration.”

These days, special teams of TSA officials can be seen appearing randomly at the country’s train stations, bus depots and ferry launches. Twenty-five “viper” (Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response) teams have made 9,300 unannounced visits at various transportation centers around the U.S. These included testing passenger bags for explosive residue at a Greyhound station in Orlando, Florida; inspecting trucks at weigh stations in Tennessee; checking passengers of cruise ships in the Carolinas; and inspecting spectators at NASCAR races and tourists boarding ferries in North Carolina.

The Department of Homeland Security says the viper teams should be expanded in number and has requested funding for about a 50% increase. The FY 2011 TSA budget for non-airport operations (a.k.a. “surface transportation security”) was $110 million.

Federal officials won’t say if the TSA has foiled any terrorist attacks outside airports. But terrorist attacks on trains and subways have occurred in Spain, Russia, India and England.

http://www.allgov.com/Controversies/ViewNews/TSA_Spreads_to_Trains_Subways_Bus_Terminals_and_Ferries_120104

[ixion]

1. Disband the TSA and DHS

and restore our democratic republic.

[badtoworse]

3. The Alfred E. Newman approach to fighting terrorism - nt

[Earth_First]

8. Excuse me?

TSA and DHS are not our friends...

[ixion]

9. No, that would be what we're doing now

since you can't fight a tactic.

The Corporate Police State thanks you for your support.

[DCKit]

2. I have better odds of winning the lottery (which I don't play)...

than for the TSA and a terrorist randomly meeting up at any transportation hub.

It's Kabuki theater for the willfully ignorant masses.

[Scuba]

4. They'll be in your kitchen, family room, bedrooms and baths by this time next year. n/t

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

5. In other news, Santorum is Surging

TSA is just following typical bureaucratic/organizational/corporate goals:
Increase your headcount.
Increase your budget.
Increase your sphere of influence.
Growth is good, stagnation is death.

Cancers have roughly the same goals.

[Ichingcarpenter]

6. You think US mass transportation is slow now.... just wait

till these guys do their viper searches and stops on our archaic system.

[Justice wanted]

7. What's next Random Car Searches on the Interstate? Random searches as you enter your employers

building each day? Searching homes without permission -- Remember they did get rid of that stupid 4th amendment.


PEOPLE Remember Ben Franklin's words: "Those who give up Liberty for Security deserves neither liberty or security".

[ixion]

10. They're already doing that stuff now...

The unPATRIOTic Act allows for warrantless searches of your home.

The DHS is setting up 'checkpoints' on the interstates, as are state and local law enforcement agencies.

Depending on where you work, you already are passing through a security checkpoint.

Mr. Franklin is, no doubt, rolling in his grave.

[Justice wanted]

11. I live in Nowheresvile USA between the Ohio line and Pittsburgh. Haven't seen anything like that

yet.

[ixion]

13. It may not have reached your neck of the woods yet, but it's going on

they're starting it out in the 'Constitution Free Zones' along the borders at this point.

[Justice wanted]

14. Between states? May I ask which state you are from? Have you seen them happen?

[ixion]

15. I'm in Florida...

but I've seen these checkpoints in Texas, Nebraska and Arizona.

[Justice wanted]

18. OMG

When my husband drives I hardly ever bring my purse or ID what then?

[ixion]

20. Hard to tell. I've always had my 'papers' in order

but what you might go through if you didn't, only the DHS/TSA knows. I'm sure it wouldn't be pleasant, though.

[Justice wanted]

21. hmmm very true.

[The Straight Story]

16. I would guess CA (if not now, soon) As they have had checkpoints coming in to state for years

My first drive out there was roughly 1996, and they have stations to check and make sure you are not bringing in fruit/etc. Driven there many times (from Ohio) since then and it does not matter the route, cross the CA border and you have to stop. Would be easy to add TSA agents to the checkpoints.

[Justice wanted]

19. I think I'm staying in my home.

[The Straight Story]

23. More info and list of stations in ca here:

BORDER PROTECTION STATIONS

California’s Border Protection Stations (BPS) are the first line of defense in our pest exclusion efforts. At these stations, vehicles are inspected for commodities infested with invasive species. California established its first agricultural inspection stations in the early 1920s. Today there are 16 of these facilities located on the major highways entering the State (see interactive map). At these stations, vehicles and commodities are checked to ensure they are pest free and meet all regulatory requirements.

In 2010, more than 27.5 million private vehicles and 7 million commercial vehicles were inspected at the BPS. From these vehicles, inspectors rejected over 82,000 lots of plant material (fruits, vegetables, plants, etc.) because they were in violation of California or federal plant quarantine laws.

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/pe/ExteriorExclusion/borders.html

[bananas]

25. There have been reports of car searches

"According to at least one news report out of Brownsville, Texas, TSA/VIPR has already conducted unannounced inspections of private passenger cars and trucks."
http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/06/tsa-swarms-8000-bus-stations-public-transit-systems-yearly

"On Tuesday morning, dozens of law enforcement agents greeted drivers at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. The substantial traffic stop included a driver's license check as well as explosive and drug sniffing dogs."
http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/local_news/local_wavy_vb_cbbt_viper_training_exercise_20091027

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.democraticunderground.com%2Fdiscuss%2Fduboard.php%3Faz%3Dview_all%26address%3D389x9612118

[Blue_Tires]

12. iirc, I also saw somewhere that the TSA was consulting on how to adapt

their security techniques to major sporting events as well...

[hobbit709]

17. I'm waiting for them to start wearing black trenchcoats and harassing everyone.

[Javaman]

22. The further police stating of America. nt

[AnotherMcIntosh]

24. Just great. Somebody remind me again as to why I have to vote for He-who-is-not-Romney.

[Wind Dancer]

26. Are we safer now?

Let freedom ring!

(sarcasm)

[MineralMan]

27. They've been doing this for a while now.

Three years ago, I was in Nashville for a convention, and one of the press events was a riverboat ride. There was a TSA agent at the dock when we boarded, who looked into women's purses for whatever it was they were looking for. The DHS has a boat that patrols the Mississippi River in Minneapolis/St. Paul from time to time. They waved at me once when I was fishing on the river in my 12' aluminum boat. There's also a TSA agent in St. Paul, MN, who occasionally is present when passengers board Mississippi riverboats there.

I don't ride long-distance buses or trains, so I can't say I've seen them there.

[MadrasT]

28. TSA has been at 30th street station (Amtrak) in Philadelphia screening passengers

They also had giant TVs set up in the waiting area looping their "see something, say something" videos.

This part of the article made me LOL:

Federal officials won’t say if the TSA has foiled any terrorist attacks outside airports.

I don't believe TSA has foiled any terrorist attacks inside airports, either... have they?

Before my most recent flight, they made me take off my glasses so they could pat down the top of my head.

I feel so much safer now.

[TransitJohn]

29. NASCAR races? Really?

How is that even remotely transportation?