Amtrak expands random security sweeps

[Newsjock]

Source: USA Today

WASHINGTON — Rail passengers from coast to coast will be subject to random security checks and may have their luggage scanned for explosives beginning this fall, according to Amtrak officials.

... How the sweeps are conducted: Teams of counterterrorism agents swoop into rail stations unannounced and randomly select passengers to place their bags on a table to be swabbed for explosives before they board their train. If there's a positive readout, the passengers' bags are opened and searched by hand.

While that's going on, undercover agents dressed as everything from businessmen to homeless people to hip-hoppers scan the crowds in waiting areas, on platforms and in train cars.

Other agents decked in full combat gear and carrying semiautomatic guns patrol the platforms. Some work with bomb-sniffing dogs.

... Citing security reasons, officials won't say how passengers are selected. The checks are voluntary, but anyone who declines will be given a refund and required to leave the station.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2008-07-10-amtrak_N.htm

[Newsjock]

1. I just want to say ...

The checks are voluntary, but anyone who declines will be given a refund and required to leave the station.

What the hell kind of Orwellian double-speak is this anyway? I'm sure that's the official policy, but why in the world does anybody stand for such whole crap?

Since I'm on the terror watch list, I guess that means that now I can neither fly nor take the train. None of us can afford to drive anymore, so I guess that leaves Greyhound, until they shut down the buses, too.

[Gormy Cuss]

5. Voluntary, as in your refusal isn't grounds for arrest.

Newspeak "voluntary" annoys me too.

As to why people stand for this crap, they're either unwilling to question authority or too scared to see the forest for the trees.

[madeline_con]

7. It's like a DUI....

You can refuse the sobriety test, and automatically lose your license, or take the chance you might be able to stand on one foot with your head thrown back and touch your nose while wasted. :evilgrin:

[Rosa Luxemburg]

2. they used to do that in former Yugoslavia

when we were travelling from Yugoslavia into Italy the 'uniformed men' would com eon the train and pick people out at random, pull them off the train go through their bags and sometimes take them away! Yikes!

Why don' they have scanning as in airports?

[blue sky at night]

3. told my nieces wing nut friend last night....

i won't fly the flag until we once more live in america...guess I may as well give the thing away, ain't gonna happen in my lifetime. she told me my talk of the collapse of the banking system was "in the clouds". she is enlisting in military intelligence as an air force reservist!!! really gives one hope for "america"!

[Whoa_Nelly]

4. Let's rachet the fear up

:woohoo:

[underpants]

6. Are they going to check for people with bags full of guns?

Like the ones who take the train down to Newport News and take a taxi over to the southside (Giant gun shops in Smithfield I believe it is) and then take the train back up to DC and Philly and NYC....well are they?

[lurky]

8. That's a perfectly legitimate patriotic activity!

:sarcasm:

[DLnyc]

9. To make sure nobody flies any trains into any tall buildings?

[AdHocSolver]

10. Equal harassment opportunity.

Some people travel by train because it is cheaper and, up until now, you could avoid the hassle at the airport. A friend of mine recently took a trip by train at my suggestion rather than fly. He saved himself about $300 in the bargain. I took a trip by train earlier this year rather than drive, and I saved money as well.

Your "guvmint" wants to ensure that relaxed, inexpensive train travel does not become the preferred mode of travel by Americans. Then the profits of the oil and airline industries (that lobby your "guvmint") might drop as people discovered the "pleasures" of train travel.

On my outbound train ride, a woman sat next to me who related her "nightmarish" experiences using the airlines. On the return trip, a woman sat next to me who was taking the train cross-country on a vacation trip. She was riding the train to save money and avoid the hassles of flying.

The same "guvmint" that wants you to believe that they are protecting you is also allowing the airlines to outsource airplane repairs to El Salvador, Mexico, and Hong Kong where there is no FAA inspection or oversight on the work done on the plane that you might fly on. To me that is scary.

[high density]

11. For what purpose?

If there is really a danger, why are we expecting "randomness" to protect us from it?

[frylock]

12. just in time for the elections

[MrsBrady]

13. l like where it says they are going to

"swoop" in.

i'd like to see them "swoop." Like they are superheros or something. :eyes:
You know, save us all from all the terrorist on the trains.
ohh, i'm so scared. Please swoop in and save me.


Maybe they meant they were going to "Shoop" ???

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKaVBVikysw
:hide: :rofl: