Random baggage searches coming to Maryland commuter trains

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Steven J. Manning" <sjmanning () fymc com>
> Date: October 29, 2009 11:30:44 AM EDT
> To: dave () farber net
> Subject: Re: [IP] Random baggage searches coming to Maryland  
> commuter trains
> Reply-To: sjmanning () fymc com

> Good morning, Dave.
>
> For IP if you wish.
>
> Random searches are an archaic idea, conceived and likely somewhat  
> effective sometime ago.  Those may in fact still be somewhat  
> effective relative to the least harmful potential threats.  It is so  
> more in the same manner as putting those tiny (silly) locks on soft  
> luggage:  keeping otherwise mostly/marginally honest people honest.   
> Not effective against those who seek to cause significant  
> catastrophic events and meticulously plan those.
>
> That is even more accurate as related to the "typical" wrongdoers  
> these days who do not value life as the readers of this do.
>
> I recall with some discomfort but not criticism being searched every  
> time I went through various airports in Europe, at least twice  
> monthly, during the '90s.  The threats then were nefarious gangs  
> such as the Baader-Meinhof, the Red Brigades, Basque separatists,  
> the ubiquitous Croatian nuts, the occasional middle-easterners,   
> various misanthropes looking for plane rides to nowhere and their  
> brethren.  By contrast, those appear to have been the "good old  
> days" of terrorism threats.
>
> Search away.  Keep the ordinary "nuts" on edge.  And maybe get lucky.
>
> I will gladly invest the extra hour or two or whatever it takes,  
> every time I fly (that is often) if the TSA searches every  
> traveler.   Thankfully we can never run  out of interesting things  
> to read while in interminable lines.
>
> I did feel somewhat uncomfortable watching an 85-ish, very infirm  
> looking man in a wheel chair being thoroughly "disassembled" in a  
> random search at LAX recently.  It was painful to watch the diligent  
> TSA people trying to take some of that essentially immobile man's   
> clothes off.  Now, there was a fine piece of profiling.  And my  
> limited ambivalence on the subject.
>
> Best.
>
> Steve.
>
> Dave Farber wrote:
> > Begin forwarded message:
> >
> > > From: Bob Drzyzgula <bob () drzyzgula org>
> > > Date: October 29, 2009 10:29:56 AM EDT
> > > To: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
> > > Cc: ip <ip () v2 listbox com>
> > > Subject: Random baggage searches coming to Maryland commuter trains
> >
> > > http://www.gazette.net/stories/10282009/montnew182943_32530.shtml
> > >
> > > | MARC commuter train passengers soon will need to give
> > > | themselves extra time to board their trains, as random
> > > | security screenings start Friday.
> > > |
> > > | Federal air marshals will be conducting the screenings
> > > | initially to train Maryland Transit Administration police in
> > > | screening techniques and in using the equipment, said MTA
> > > | police Maj. Fred Damron.
> > > |
> > > | [...]
> > > |
> > > | As to the effectiveness of random searches, Gary D. LaFree,
> > > | director of the National Consortium for the Study of
> > > | Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism at the University of
> > > | Maryland, said there is no empirical evidence as to whether
> > > | screenings work as a deterrent.
> > > |
> > > | "Probably the true answer is we don't know if it works,"
> > > | LaFree said.
> > > |
> > > | [...]
> > >
> > > Press release:
> > >
> > > http://www.mtamaryland.com/news/press/index.cfm?id=553&year=2009&month=10
> > >
> > > | 10/26/2009
> > > | source - MTA
> > > |
> > > | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
> > > |
> > > | Police Security Checkpoints at MARC Stations
> > > |
> > > | Random Security Checks Planned for MARC Stations:
> > > | Customers Urged To Allow For Extra Time
> > > |
> > > | BALTIMORE, MD (October 26, 2009) – Focused on enhancing
> > > | security at MARC commuter rail stations along the Penn,
> > > | Camden and Brunswick Lines, the Maryland Transit
> > > | Administration (MTA) police in partnership with security and
> > > | canine teams from the Maryland Transportation Authority and
> > > | the Transit Security Administration will begin random
> > > | security screenings at stations beginning October 30, 2009.
> > > | Screenings can potentially involve the check of luggage,
> > > | packages, or other carry-on items customers may have in
> > > | their possession. While every effort will be made to conduct
> > > | the security checks in a timely fashion, customers should be
> > > | prepared that extra time may be required to board their
> > > | train.
> > > |
> > > | “The MTA continually engages in methods of ensuring customer
> > > | safety and system preservation,” said Lt. Colonel John E.
> > > | Gavrilis, Acting Chief of Police. “These exercises
> > > | underscore our commitment to the safety and security of our
> > > | customers and systems. If you hear, see or smell something
> > > | suspicious, call 1-800-492-TIPS (8477). ”
> > > | The MTA police thank customers for their patience and
> > > | cooperation as the agency works to enhance security
> > > | throughout the MARC system.
> > > |
> > > | For general information on MTA service, visit the MTA
> > > | website at www.mtamaryland.com. Customers can also call the
> > > | MTA Transit Information Center Monday through Friday from 6
> > > | A.M. to 7 P.M. at 410-539-5000 (TTY 410-539-3497) or
> > > | 866-RIDE-MTA (866-743-3682). To sign-up to receive email
> > > | announcements about service modifications and delays, go to
> > > | www.mtamaryland.com and click “Email Notification.”
> > > |
> > > | # # #
> > > |
> > > |
> > > | MEDIA CONTACTS:
> > > | Jawauna Greene             Cheron Victoria Wicker
> > > | Office: 410- 767-3936     Office: 410-767-3936
> > > | Cellular: 443-392-2983  Cellular: 443-386-8605
> > Archives        
>
> --
> Steven J. Manning
>
>
> Artifex Virtus
> FYMCorporation          Clean Thoughts On A Dirty Wall™
> www.fymc.com            www.Ctoads.com
> sjmanning () fymc com
> Telephone:   310-601-3119
> Telefax:  310-275-9978
>
> CONFIDENTIALITY AND SECURITY OF COMMUNICATIONS NOTICE:
> This message as well messages that may be threaded to it, as well as  
> documents, files and previous emails that may be attached to it are  
> confidential and may contain privileged information intended for the  
> use of the individual to whom it is addressed.
> If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are  
> hereby notified that any distribution, dissemination or copying of  
> this communication is strictly prohibited.  If you have received  
> this communication in error, please notify us immediately by E- 
> Mail.  Do not disclose the contents to anyone or retain any portion  
> of this message.
> E-mail can be altered, intercepted and read by persons other than  
> those for whom the messages are intended!  Therefore, unless  
> encrypted and signed, the integrity of this and all other electronic  
> communications cannot be guaranteed.



-------------------------------------------
Archives: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/247/=now
RSS Feed: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/247/
Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com