TSA bus patrol coming to Houston
#16
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Boston
Posts: 821
That would be countered simply by the fact that the only reason he was on the bus on 7/7 was because the Tube had already been completely shut down, so he found another target, which was not his first choice. He was going to set it off somewhere. Although we may have WTMD and NoS in our airports, we don't have random bag searches on public transport. God forbid we ever do.
And the point that the bus was bombed because the original target was closed just underscores the idiocy of mass transit checkpoints. I've long argued that a bomb set off at rush hour right at the checkpoint at a busy station such as Times Square or Grand Central would kill scores, in addition to several cops and TSOs (no jokes, please).
I also wonder whether these searches in Houston are physical searches or ETD swabs. Both the search programs in NY and Boston started with physical searches, and once DHS got involved, moved to ETD swabs. The public-facing reason was because ETD swabs are not so invasive as a cop physically pawing through your bag. But there's a more cynical explanation: the only money to be made from physical inspections is perhaps disposable gloves. Throw in ETD and you get some handsome revenue for Smiths Detection and the like.
#17
Join Date: Dec 2004
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I know nothing about Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, but she comes across as a fear-mongering "anything for safety" idiot in the Metro press release. And the fact that she's a senior member of the House Homeland Security Committee gives me the chills.
"We're looking to make sure that the lady I saw walking with a cane...knows that METRO cares as much about her as we do about building the light rail."
Yep, we gotta be sure that the big bad terrorist men don't bomb the little old lady with a cane.
"We're looking to make sure that the lady I saw walking with a cane...knows that METRO cares as much about her as we do about building the light rail."
Yep, we gotta be sure that the big bad terrorist men don't bomb the little old lady with a cane.
#18
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: DFW
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#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 471
What is really scary is that according to her Wikipedia page she has a BA from Yale and a JD from UV. I hope that is a mistake, or my opinions of Yale and UV just dropped dramatically.
#20
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Boston
Posts: 821
Congresswoman Jackson Lee earned a B.A. in Political Science from Yale University with honors, followed by a J.D. from the University of Virginia Law School. In the 110th Congress, Congresswoman Jackson Lee was named the new Chairwoman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection.
#21
Join Date: Mar 2011
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Not giving her full credit
You also forgot that she is a media whore of the highest calibre. She will do anything to get on TV, in the press. She is the definition of self serving.
#22
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From my understanding: (1)the NYPD only searches back packs, before you enter the subway turnstile, (2) if you do NOT consent to the search, you are free to leave and enter the subway through a different entrance which is NOT manned by police officers.
[Generally the searches are conducted at stations with lots of entrances.]
[Generally the searches are conducted at stations with lots of entrances.]
#23
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Boston
Posts: 821
From my understanding: (1)the NYPD only searches back packs, before you enter the subway turnstile, (2) if you do NOT consent to the search, you are free to leave and enter the subway through a different entrance which is NOT manned by police officers.
[Generally the searches are conducted at stations with lots of entrances.]
[Generally the searches are conducted at stations with lots of entrances.]
It's a damn shame that the appeals court deferred to the "experts" of the NYPD six or so years ago and did not analyze the program on its own.
#24
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Boston
Posts: 821
http://www.chron.com/news/houston-te...rs-3492847.php
The article asks more questions than it answers.
It's pretty likely that the arrests were for drug offenses. So what would be probable cause that would lead a cop to suspect a bus passenger is carrying drugs in his bag?
Something doesn't add up.
Oh goodie.
I agree completely with the previous poster who said that these are 100% drug sweeps. The TSA was only brought on to make it look like these are anti-terrorism sweeps.
I am increasingly much more disgusted by the TSA's presence in transit systems and on Amtrak than I am by any abuses committed at airports.
The article asks more questions than it answers.
Metro spokeswoman Carolina Mendoza said several arrests were made during the sweep, but details and charges filed were not immediately available.
Riders can expect bag searches when officers have probable cause, Mendoza said.
Riders can expect bag searches when officers have probable cause, Mendoza said.
Something doesn't add up.
Metro Police Chief Victor Rodriguez said the TSA's role in the sweep Friday was limited, with no TSA officials on buses.
"TSA was present to bolster the uniform presence on the (transportation) system," he said. "They provided behavioral detection officers who are specially trained to identify aberrant behaviors that may indicate potential terrorist activity."
"TSA was present to bolster the uniform presence on the (transportation) system," he said. "They provided behavioral detection officers who are specially trained to identify aberrant behaviors that may indicate potential terrorist activity."
I agree completely with the previous poster who said that these are 100% drug sweeps. The TSA was only brought on to make it look like these are anti-terrorism sweeps.
I am increasingly much more disgusted by the TSA's presence in transit systems and on Amtrak than I am by any abuses committed at airports.
#25
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,425
...
The article asks more questions than it answers.
...
The article asks more questions than it answers.
...
"TSA was present to bolster the uniform presence on the (transportation) system," he said. "They provided behavioral detection officers who are specially trained to identify aberrant behaviors that may indicate potential terrorist activity."
#26
Join Date: Apr 2012
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Kind of ironic, huh, that the subway that was bombed in the past few years has no bag checkpoints, yet Boston, NY and elsewhere in the US do.
And the point that the bus was bombed because the original target was closed just underscores the idiocy of mass transit checkpoints. I've long argued that a bomb set off at rush hour right at the checkpoint at a busy station such as Times Square or Grand Central would kill scores, in addition to several cops and TSOs (no jokes, please).
And the point that the bus was bombed because the original target was closed just underscores the idiocy of mass transit checkpoints. I've long argued that a bomb set off at rush hour right at the checkpoint at a busy station such as Times Square or Grand Central would kill scores, in addition to several cops and TSOs (no jokes, please).
#27
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: IAH mostly.
Programs: I still call it Onepass every now and then. Platinum.
Posts: 500
I am not OK with drug sweeps and the willful violation of civil liberties. The slippery slope exists and this is egregiously wrong.
The thing is this: bribing her district with government money and big promises is key to her political existence. To be able to follow up on those bribes requires that she plays ball with other parts of the edifice, including government unions like the TSA. So she's going to ALWAYS support TSA so that the favor will be repaid by some other congressman when one of her bribes needs help. That's just part of the game.
Another thing to keep in mind - a very large percentage of, if not most, TSA agents in Houston, are lower class blacks and the percentages say that most of them probably live in a neighborhood in her congressional district (Houston is extremely gerrymandered, most black neighborhoods are in her district). To those people, TSA is nice cushy job that one aspires to over Popeye's chicken or Walmart, so to Sheila Jackson Lee, TSA is a jobs program that needs to be protected and expanded. That's why she's such an advocate.
#28
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,120
Regarding probable cause-
Is it probable cause if a BDO thinks you are acting nervous? Is that equivalent to an alert by a drug dog?
The article also states:
"The routes, Rodriguez said, "are chosen based on crime data and trends and information derived from employees (operators) and bus patrons." He declined to identify them."
Are the BDOs being rented out for nonTSA business? Clearly this is crime related, not a security issue.
Is it probable cause if a BDO thinks you are acting nervous? Is that equivalent to an alert by a drug dog?
The article also states:
"The routes, Rodriguez said, "are chosen based on crime data and trends and information derived from employees (operators) and bus patrons." He declined to identify them."
Are the BDOs being rented out for nonTSA business? Clearly this is crime related, not a security issue.
#29
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Boston
Posts: 821
Under what authority, then, can a TSO or cop search your bag on the bus without a warrant?
Of course, it is highly unlikely that a passenger will stand up for his rights when confronted by an armed cop demanding to open his bag, and the only chance this has of being struck down is a passenger so declining a search, and either being forced off the bus, or being placed under arrest.
I have the sinking feeling that Constitutional considerations never even entered into the discussion over this program.
I'd love to know its genesis: Did it start from the local police? Did it start with DHS?
#30
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: co, ba, marriot, national, avis, spg
Posts: 43
[/QUOTE]
Another thing to keep in mind - a very large percentage of, if not most, TSA agents in Houston, are lower class blacks and the percentages say that most of them probably live in a neighborhood in her congressional district (Houston is extremely gerrymandered, most black neighborhoods are in her district). To those people, TSA is nice cushy job that one aspires to over Popeye's chicken or Walmart, so to Sheila Jackson Lee, TSA is a jobs program that needs to be protected and expanded. That's why she's such an advocate.[/QUOTE]
That is an excellent point and (given my experience at IAH) probably accurately explains a significant amount of her support for this.^
Another thing to keep in mind - a very large percentage of, if not most, TSA agents in Houston, are lower class blacks and the percentages say that most of them probably live in a neighborhood in her congressional district (Houston is extremely gerrymandered, most black neighborhoods are in her district). To those people, TSA is nice cushy job that one aspires to over Popeye's chicken or Walmart, so to Sheila Jackson Lee, TSA is a jobs program that needs to be protected and expanded. That's why she's such an advocate.[/QUOTE]
That is an excellent point and (given my experience at IAH) probably accurately explains a significant amount of her support for this.^