Can anyone tell me what these devices are at US land crossings?
May 22, 2014, 5:27 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 446
Can anyone tell me what these devices are at US land crossings?
I hope this is the right forum to post in..
So I've wondered this for a while, and even debated asking the CBP officer, but never have due to wanting to come off as suspicious. They're the two white devices that are slightly higher than a vehicle in a yellow covering.
To see exactly what I'm talking about, you can see at the Detroit-Windsor crossing on Google Maps: Here
All I could find is that it's a radiation detector, but that seemed silly to me. Obviously transporting radioactive material across the border isn't good, but how often does that happen that they're permanently installed at every land crossing I've ever been to.
So I've wondered this for a while, and even debated asking the CBP officer, but never have due to wanting to come off as suspicious. They're the two white devices that are slightly higher than a vehicle in a yellow covering.
To see exactly what I'm talking about, you can see at the Detroit-Windsor crossing on Google Maps: Here
All I could find is that it's a radiation detector, but that seemed silly to me. Obviously transporting radioactive material across the border isn't good, but how often does that happen that they're permanently installed at every land crossing I've ever been to.
May 22, 2014, 5:50 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,526
Paranoia brought on by 9/11.
May 22, 2014, 7:42 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2013
Programs: NEXUS/GE
Posts: 521
They really do have radiation detectors at land crossings. Here's one at the Peace Arch that was set off by someone who had radiation therapy (complete with "Alert. Alert." sound).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAl4A...L4HVL88#t=1434
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAl4A...L4HVL88#t=1434
May 22, 2014, 8:58 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,410
They really do have radiation detectors at land crossings. Here's one at the Peace Arch that was set off by someone who had radiation therapy (complete with "Alert. Alert." sound).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAl4A...L4HVL88#t=1434
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAl4A...L4HVL88#t=1434
May 23, 2014, 10:45 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,347
I hope this is the right forum to post in..
So I've wondered this for a while, and even debated asking the CBP officer, but never have due to wanting to come off as suspicious. They're the two white devices that are slightly higher than a vehicle in a yellow covering.
To see exactly what I'm talking about, you can see at the Detroit-Windsor crossing on Google Maps: Here
All I could find is that it's a radiation detector, but that seemed silly to me. Obviously transporting radioactive material across the border isn't good, but how often does that happen that they're permanently installed at every land crossing I've ever been to.
So I've wondered this for a while, and even debated asking the CBP officer, but never have due to wanting to come off as suspicious. They're the two white devices that are slightly higher than a vehicle in a yellow covering.
To see exactly what I'm talking about, you can see at the Detroit-Windsor crossing on Google Maps: Here
All I could find is that it's a radiation detector, but that seemed silly to me. Obviously transporting radioactive material across the border isn't good, but how often does that happen that they're permanently installed at every land crossing I've ever been to.
Radioactive material is transported across the border everyday. The vast majority are legitimate shipments. However, regularly shipments are located that do not have the paperwork in order. This does not mean that the material is being used for nefarious purposes just that the paperwork is not correct. The monitors assist in verifying what is supposed to be there and verifying that the material that is not supposed to be there isn't.
FB
May 23, 2014, 12:32 pm
#8
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May 24, 2014, 11:53 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2003
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They are radiation monitors. All land border crossings have them. Seaports have them and some airports for air cargo. All the officers working frontline assignments are also issued personal radiation pagers that are worn on the belt.
Radioactive material is transported across the border everyday. The vast majority are legitimate shipments. However, regularly shipments are located that do not have the paperwork in order. This does not mean that the material is being used for nefarious purposes just that the paperwork is not correct. The monitors assist in verifying what is supposed to be there and verifying that the material that is not supposed to be there isn't.
FB
Radioactive material is transported across the border everyday. The vast majority are legitimate shipments. However, regularly shipments are located that do not have the paperwork in order. This does not mean that the material is being used for nefarious purposes just that the paperwork is not correct. The monitors assist in verifying what is supposed to be there and verifying that the material that is not supposed to be there isn't.
FB
May 27, 2014, 1:51 pm
#11
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May 28, 2014, 6:35 pm
#13
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You will often hear LEs speak some line about "Who will go home tonight, them or me" or something like that. It starts during initial training. CBP is ingrained from day one with the attitude of "keeping the bad guys out". I have vast experience handling large amounts of CBP training and that is a hard thing to break. It is cultural.
Having handling training for some of them they much prefer yelling to "thought" in many aspects.
You have to look at the pool of labour that they draw from. Some good and smart and motivated, some hick, uneducated, and feckless.
Good to here. Retirement seems so far away.
FB
FB
May 29, 2014, 8:18 am
#14
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 11
I Agree completely. I deal with police agencies all over the world, we are by far the most ridiculous in attitude and professional training (of real modern police forces..) I spend a lot of time in the UAE... they smile and shake your hand every time they see you "My friend, you were doing 100 in a 30 zone.. lets have tea while I write your ticket..." Back home.. BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM... !!!!!
Jun 2, 2014, 6:48 pm
#15
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They are radiation detectors, and I have no problem with them at all border crossings and ports. A number of years ago, there was a shipment of steel beams being transported. Upon passing the radiation detectors at a nuclear power plant under construction without any fuel having been loaded, the detectors went off. It seems that the steel company had, in error, melted a cobalt-60 medical radiation source into the steel. Keeping undocumented radioactive material out of the country could prevent a "dirty bomb" or worse. Unfortunately, weapons grade plutonium is an alpha emitter and hard to detect.