TSA checks IndyGo (city) bus passengers

[Newsjock]

Source: Indianapolis Star

Screeners from the Transportation Security Administration checked passengers at two Downtown city bus stops this morning, looking for weapons and suspicious behavior.

David Kane, federal security director for TSA in Indianapolis, called it a "VIPR" operation.

"It's called Visual Intermodal Prevention Response. We have plainclothes inspectors, blue-gloved uniformed security officers who are checking baggage, the behavior detection officers, and federal air marshals, which are the law enforcement arm of TSA."

... Some passengers were patted down or submitted to having bags checked.

Read more: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070802/LOCAL/70802006

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Coming soon to your town? Can't get on the bus without submitting to a TSA goon?

[Captain Angry]

1. At least this phase was optional.

The people could opt out. It looks like a trial balloon. How many people comply? How many people complain? Maybe we expand the problem.

As that (*&#ing saying goes, if you have done nothing wrong, you have nothing to hide...

[ProudDad]

2. WTF

:wtf:

Of course it was "voluntary" -- it's unconstitutional if it's not voluntary.

I wonder what would have happened if someone told them to "fuck off"... I guess that would qualify as being a "security threat", eh?

"Those who did would not be turned away, an official said, unless they otherwise appeared to be a security threat."

FUCK THIS!!!!

Welcome to the Amerikan Police State!!! :grr: :grr:


K&R

[Newsjock]

3. More scary first-person reports here

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/8/3/03736/76330

... Did people even know they could decline the search? That is unclear. But at least one report indicates that they TSA weren't even aware of local law! For those who do not know, Indiana allows licensed individuals to carry firearms and accepts permits from other states for individuals to carry firearms as well. We have the highest per capita concealed carry population in the nation and the TSA was not even aware of our laws.

http://ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=8&f=30&t=276692&page=1

Anybody know what's going on? There are TSA stations with about 20 agents each set up in at least two spots in downtown Indy, 1 is near Capitol and Market, the other is near the federal building. They're stopping and searching people getting on and off city busses and travelling on the street. This is going a little too far. Where exactly did this authority come from?

http://ohioccwforums.org/viewtopic.php?t=12532

My wife has a cousin who lives in Indy and he was one of the lucky ones volunteered for a pat-down. He, like me, recognizes the value in being prepared for one's own self defense. The screener asked if he could be patted down for weapons to which he responded "I'll save you the trouble, my licensed handgun is on my right hip." The screener thought he was joking. Once she realized he was serious she announced that there was a situation and called in the reinforcements.

He was told rudely "YOOOOUUU CAN'T CARRY A GUN AROUND HERE!" And he replied "I bet I can, this isn't an airport..." By then a supervisor walked over, took a quick look at his Kentucky CCW and asked the Indianapolis PD next to him if it was any good. The Indy cop replied that a CCW from any state or country is valid in Indiana. So the supervisor declared in a loud voice to let him proceed, treat anyone with a CCW like a cop and pass them on.

[Newsjock]

4. And these other media reports

http://wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=6877495

Indianapolis - The federal government is boarding IndyGo buses in the name of homeland security. Indianapolis is the latest city to jump on board the program which will consist of random checks of passengers on city buses.

It's a procedure normally seen at the airport: TSA security inspectors and federal marshals going through passengers' belongings. Now you will see them at IndyGo Bus stops.

... Expect more of this in the future: random checks at bus stops that will also include bomb sniffing dogs and behavioral detection specialists.

http://wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=6875491

INDIANAPOLIS - Thursday morning at a couple of downtown bus stops, riders who wanted to board had to go through a security checkpoint. It is a new effort from the Transportation Security Administration.

... IndyGo feels the whole system is already safe and hopes Hoosiers will not fear the federal effort from the people they usually see at the airport.

"They are extending that because they do have jurisdiction and oversight over railroads, bus lines, things along those lines," said Ronnetta Spalding of IndyGo.

[Kool Kitty]

16. Okay, maybe I' ve been asleep for a while,

but can someone tell me what the hell a "behavioral detection specialist" is?

[benEzra]

22. An officer who stands around watching you and decides if he things you look subversive

An officer whose job it is to watch you and decide if he things you look subversive or suspicious.

[hunter]

26. Um, someone who lost their job and moved to the U.S. when the Soviet Union collapsed?

Or are we growing our own State Security Apparatus?

[BrokenBeyondRepair]

5. this is not ok

[rodeodance]

7. no, it is not.

[northshore]

6. Welcome to the gulag!

The first step, internal exile.

Do it our way, or you can't travel.

[htuttle]

8. Did they haul anyone away in the back of a black Volga?

[AwakeAtLast]

9. I'm sure it's all thanks to Our Bushie Mitch!

I couldn't believe it when I saw it on the news last night!

Thanks for posting! :hi:

[TechBear_Seattle]

10. It is called fascism

If anyone representing law enforcement demanded to pat me down or search my bags, I would scream for a lawyer so loudly, the Junta would have to ship me off to Gitmo to shut me up.

[Sherman A1]

11. This is B.S.

I would simply refuse to board and call in sick to work then go home. Then call ALL the local media outlets raising constitutional issues.

:nuke:

[Sherman A1]

12. This is B.S.

I would simply refuse to board and call in sick to work then go home. Then call ALL the local media outlets raising constitutional issues.

:nuke:

[Dr.Phool]

13. Getting a little practice for police state activities?

The regime only has about a year to implement it's police state. This must be a dress rehearsal.

[Gonzo Gardener]

14. Ja Herr Offizier, I have mein papers REICH hier!

See ya in the camps.

[Gormy Cuss]

15. What would motivate someone to go along with this?

Who in their right mind would volunteer to be patted down in order to ride a bus?

[LeftyMom]

17. It's a small leap from a plane or a sporting event or a concert

They wand people and search bags at the freakin' state fair here even.

At the concert I was at last week people were being patted down on the way in, in a venue that doesn't even fit a thousand people. I managed to avoid it with my characteristic attitude problem but most people seem to regard it as part of the routine and sadly younger people are socialized to believe that high security security checkpoint crap is normal.

[Gormy Cuss]

20. Unfortunately, I believe it too.

I found myself explaining to my nephew who's 20 how different things were when he was born and that's why his mother and I object to it so strenuously. On the other hand, I had a long discussion with older relatives when we visited the Hearst Castle and they, like most people, stopped for the commemorative photo thinking it was a security measure while I walked straight through it (you're not the only one with an attitude problem, LOL.) Since these people are in their 70s and ultra conservative it was lots of fun to ask them why they would go along with still security photos just to look at a rich old fart's house -- it's not a top secret defense installation after all.

[clixtox]

18. Indianans Welcome Fascist State Intimidation!

Somethings happening here, what it is ain't exactly clear... Buffalo Springfield

It certainly is coming into better focus though.

Sometimes I wonder if Americans deserve to be "free"? I wonder if we are intelligent enough to understand or appreciate the freedoms we have lost already. I certainly am not referring to those of us here on DU who know what's up.

I do imagine that after a few decades, or generations, we American people will have a clearer picture of oppression with some valuable, illuminating, first-hand and personal experience. Widespread experience as abused, alienated victims, instead of as perpetrators, a role many of us relished enthusiastically for over two hundred years will be truly educational.

When the greedy capitalists could be sated with wealth appropriated/garnished/embezzled/stolen from our future and the rest of the ripped-off world, almost nobody raised any objections. Those whose words reflected this reality were treated like enemies of the state, muzzled so we could continue blissfully unaware of the true costs of our wasteful consumer culture. Costs still endured to this day in less fortunate countries around the world and among the similarly unfortunate among us and especially our southern neighbors in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The endemic hubris can only be maintained by keeping the overwhelming majority unable to figure out that they are the (apparently) willing tools of their own destruction. Our educational system and curriculum have been underfunded and dumbed down so that most folks don't have a clue about what is happening except for the lies that they are trained to receive from the (as we know, corrupt) main stream media. So long as the lumpen/proletariat masses can stay a pay check or two ahead of financial ruin, and with God on their side, they don't care, or care to know. A roof, a car and a few TVs, what else could anyone desire?

[TankLV]

19. "Your Papers Please"...

Comming soon to inter city travel near you...

[Telly Savalas]

21. Visual Intermodal Prevention Response? Sounds too New Agey for me.

[benEzra]

23. They wanted the macho-aggressive acronym VIPR ("Viper")

and came up with the lame phrase to get those letters, presumably because they think poisonous snakes sound badass. Kind of military sounding, a name you'd give to some sort of elite strike team.

Gives you all kinds of good vibes to have Federal police calling themselves "Viper" and searching people without warrant or probable cause, doesn't it? :eyes:

[benEzra]

24. Coming to bus stops, sidewalks, and Interstates near you...

if the people pushing this mentality don't wake up and realize that this is America, not 1930's Germany or 1970's USSR, and that the 4th Amendment forbids making people feel compelled to comply with warrantless searches.

[hunter]

25. This is clearly unconstitutional...

...seeing how far they can go. It's not even like a car, these are U.S. citizens who have no obligation to produce either papers or submit to unreasonable searches.

I might've gone ballistic and done my best to provoke the crowd against this illegal police state action.