Originally Posted by
saulblum
You wouldn't know that from their
web site.
I hate the thought of TSA expanding into any other areas of transport, especially those that are not interstate and therefore not strictly in the purview of the federal government.
Most of the restrictions on the site you linked seem fairly reasonable:
Originally Posted by Steamship Authority web site
- Only baggage accompanied by a ticketed passenger will be permitted on the luggage carts. Unaccompanied freight will not be shipped.
- Access of personnel other than ticketed passengers will be limited to those possessing official Steamship Authority identification.
- Walk-on passengers will be closely monitored by Steamship Authority personnel and, when appropriate, law enforcement authorities.
- Once boarded, passengers will not be permitted to disembark until the vessel has departed and reached its destination.
- Random confirmation of passenger identification will be employed and random screening of passengers and their belongings may also be conducted.
- Because of the time requirements associated with security measures which may be in force, the only way to guarantee that your vehicle reservation will be honored is to arrive at least thirty (30) minutes prior to scheduled departure.
- Only those vehicles which have been properly screened by terminal personnel will be boarded.
But I am troubled by two items:
[*]Walk-on passengers will be closely monitored by Steamship Authority personnel and, when appropriate, law enforcement authorities.
and
[*]Random confirmation of passenger identification will be employed and random screening of passengers and their belongings may also be conducted.
Just what do they mean by these? Are SA personnel and cops going to be wandering the ferry, randomly demanding "papers, please" and interrogating people as to their destinations? Do they simply mean video surveillance of the public areas of the ships? Just how
closely will the passengers be monitored? And how often will your ID be demanded during these 1-2 hour sailings?
This is real Stassi and KGB type stuff, I tell ya whut.
Ve must kip you zecure. Ve are vorkink for YOUR benefeet. Failure to comply viss our zecurity offeecers vill be met vith ze most severe penalty. Pleese to be presentink your papers to me NOW. Do you vish to travel today? Travelink by boat is a privilech, not a right; ziss privilech can be rezindet by ze State at any time.
*Non-Cold War-accent translation: "We must keep you secure. We are working for YOUR benefit. Failure to comply with our security officers will be met with the most severe penalty. Please to be presenting your papers to me NOW. Do you wish to travel today? Traveling by boat is a privilege, not a right; this privilege can be rescinded by the State at any time."