TSA at suburban Chicago train station
 

Getting on the train this morning to go to Chicago from the suburbs and I saw two TSA Inspectors watching all the people as the went by. Jackets actually said TSA Inspector. Seems their jobs expand every day.

They were at Union Station in Portland yesterday en masse rousing, demanding ID, and searching random people who were sitting there waiting for their train home. However, since they had no females present, and there's an anteroom to the women's bathroom, one could merely hide in there until it was time to get on the train.

Class job by the TSA, as usual.

were they wearing blue gloves?

what was the nature of the search, frisk, airport grope, or just bags? That really is terrible. That's a good place to get out and stretch your legs on our starlight run...

I didn't see any frisking/groping. But they were asking people questions and looking in bags, and at oh god o'clock on a dreary, rainy MLK Day morning, I just didn't have getting interrogated and being asked where my parents were in me.

I thought yesterday was one of the 260 government holidays? What were the TSA doing working on MLK day? Was I paying their Overtime or were they volunteering their own time to "help others" in the spirit of Dr. MLK (as many US companies ask their employees to consider doing on MLK day)?

TSA's been seen on the Phoenix-area light rail trains, too.

I found myself wondering if this was a nice cushy source of overtime. Nevertheless, apparently they needed to inspect the bags of others in order to help them...I guess it's some sort of perverse government thing. Most of the people they were "helping" were moderately to very attractive women under the age of 40; I guess our underwear is more of a threat to freedom or something.

Were people simply able to say buzz off? It seems that on most Metra platforms there are plenty of places to get on the train and at least two entrances to the platform. Were they blocking the entrances or walking around?

Which station were they at?

And if one declined their "help"?

Or refused to show ID?

Hinsdale, a relatively small station.

Before the sex gropes at the airport, that's the last thing I would have thought. Now, you have to wonder. There is no such thing as a random search done in this fashion; the human brain just doesn't work that way. So if they were hitting the sub 40 y/o group of women, there you have it.

Just a show. Just letting "us" know "they" are here.... It would be better to have a federal train marshal on the train...

Just shows how their mission keeps expanding. Perhaps bus stops will be next.

You have to ask? With so many other entrances, any small TSA presence is an absolute waste of money.

+1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2taqlvOlzx0

:rolleyes:

I've heard that you can be walked to the train counter to get your ticket refunded.. Have not heard any reports of people denying to show ID and being allowed to board..

Great

Now I guess I have to make the choice to not travel by plane or train now.

Can't wait for the TSA checkpoint AIT scanners on state borders for all major roadways.