IP: Re: Amtrak 'Sharing' Information With D.E.A. (fwd)

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> X-Sender: jnoble () pop dgsys com
> Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2001 18:57:38 -0400
> To: farber () cis upenn edu
> From: John Noble <jnoble () dgsys com>
> Subject: Re: IP: Amtrak 'Sharing' Information With D.E.A. (fwd)
> Cc: David Farber <dave () farber net>
>
> > > Something to think about next time you decide to ride the rails:
> > > Amtrak has acknowledged that one of its ticketing offices has been
> > > "sharing information" about passengers with the Drug Enforcement
> > > Administration, and then taking a 10 percent cut of any assets
> > > seized from drug couriers.
>
> It get's better ...
>
> "We provide a limited amount of information about our passengers to the
> D.E.A. and other agencies as a part of their law enforcement activities,"
> said Debbie Hare, an Amtrak spokeswoman. "I can't tell you how long it has
> been going on, but this program exists all across the country."
>
> So it's not "one of its ticketing offices," but "all across the country."
>
> "A computer link from Amtrak's ticketing terminal in Albuquerque to the
> local D.E.A. office allows agents to peruse passengers' names and
> itineraries and to see whether they paid in cash or credit. The information
> determines which passengers will be questioned or have their luggage
> searched by drug-sniffing dogs."
>
> Names, itineraries, cash/credit. This is profiling. They don't give you a
> pass when you use a credit card, because then you could beat the
> surveillance by using a credit card. They can't investigate everybody who
> pays cash because they don't have the manpower. All they get is a vague
> indication of wealth and possible preference for anonymity. So they go to
> names and itineraries -- national origin, race, gender, religion,
> urban/rural. Now we're cookin'. Maybe they toss in the ticket agent's flag
> based on his "gut feeling." I wonder if he gets a bonus when he's right.
>
> John Noble



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