Pittsburgh - Random ID/bag checks on the T

[cybrus]

I didn't see anything about this already:

http://www.wpxi.com/news/18795143/detail.html

TSA, Port Authority Officers Swarm South Hills "T" Station

"Authorities were not responding to a threat. It was all an exercise in security.

Dozens of officers and some bomb-sniffing dogs descended on the South Hills Village “T” station.

Some travelers were asked for identification and some were told to open their bags for inspection."

Now - what the heck is the legal basis for doing this? If you don't agree to furnish ID or submit to a bag check, can they do anything at all? Not allow you to ride? Arrest you?

I wonder what they'd do if you were OCing...

[69chevy]

They already do this in DC and NYC.... it was only a matter of time before it creeps to the rest of america. In DC they go through your bags... and in NYC they have security checkpoints for cars on the street. In case you haven't noticed, the bill of rights (or the constitution) no longer applys. This is all being done to acclimate people for martial law. Welcome to Amerika!

[Emptymag]

That's a bunch of shit.
(Unless the report left out important info)

They were doing some crap like that on buses somewhere. People were "permitted" to refuse being searched, but officials kept THAT part quiet.

I'd give them a "bag" to search alright.

[giantdad]

N.Y.C Subways are the same way. If you refuse to open your bag you must leave the station.

[CommonHighrise]

N.Y.C Subways are the same way. If you refuse to open your bag you must leave the station.

Under what authority? I had the understanding that the public transit terminals were different than, say, privately owned airport terminals. They can not force you to leave under any circumstance that wouldn't be justified on a city sidewalk.

[addicted2freedom]

Gahhhhhhhh! Make it stop! What the F is going on in this country?

[cybrus]

To be fair - I didn't see anything indicating that they were asking people who refused to leave the station - that was the reason I posted. I wanted to find out what they were doing - did anyone see/hear anything on this?

[edstephan]

Here is what I posted in the comments section.

Blatant disregard for our US Constitution specifically the 4th and 14th Amendments.
They need RAS (Reasonable Articulated Suspicion) to even ask for ID much less inspect your property

An OC Activist and 1 of the 3%
Ed

[LittleRedToyota]

Here is what I posted in the comments section.

Blatant disregard for our US Constitution specifically the 4th and 14th Amendments.
They need RAS (Reasonable Articulated Suspicion) to even ask for ID much less inspect your property

An OC Activist and 1 of the 3%
Ed


An OC Activist and 1 of the 3%
Ed

they actually do not need RAS to *ask* for ID or to *ask* to inspect your bags.

they need RAS or PC to make *demands* (RAS v. PC depending on what they are demanding), but not just to ask.

of course, a lot of people assume a *request* from an officer is actually a demand...but, it isn't. people should say "no".

[addicted2freedom]

they actually do not need RAS to *ask* for ID or to *ask* to inspect your bags.

they need RAS or PC to make *demands* (RAS v. PC depending on what they are demanding), but not just to ask.

of course, a lot of people assume a *request* from an officer is actually a demand...but, it isn't. people should say "no".

Very good point. Gives me an idea for a simple t-shirt:

"I Do Not Consent"