I’m Glad I Have A Bike
![New Signs!! [Click for Multilingual Version]](http://www.thecolonialist.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/bag_check_signs.gif "cropbag")
New Signs!! (Click for Multilingual Version)
This makes me uncomfortable, it makes the City Paper’s Eric Wemple uncomfortable, too:
Instanalysis on the bag searches: You might be thinking, hey, these are going to be random searches and won’t likely affect me. But the point is that if they’re to have any terrorism-deterring value, they’re going to have to affect you, and me, and the next guy. Otherwise no one–especially a hardened terrorist–will pay them any heed.
I agree with Wemple inasmuch as I think it will have an effect on everyone who rides the metro. That might be because WMATA says:
When MTPD begins screening passengers’ belongings, the inspection locations will not be announced ahead of time. They could take place at any Metro facility at any time. All passengers’ carry-on items will be subject to inspection. However, just prior to beginning the inspection process at a specific location Metro Transit Police will post signs alerting riders about the security initiative.
Outside of that, I can’t really figure out what Wemple is trying to suggest when he says “pay them any heed.” What I mean is: random bag searches have nothing to do with whether or not anyone — even “a hardened terrorist -[-] will pay them any heed.” Heed or no, the bag searches are intended to find things that’ve been secreted away, not to scare people with the ominous specter of the Potential Bag Search.
Wemple makes it sound like this is an attempt to scare terrorists into keeping their bags free of explosives and we have to suffer the consequences (random searches) in order to turn the tables on those “hardened terrorist[s]” and terrify them…or at least gnash WMATA’s collective teeth at them…or at least make them think twice…or something. The Fear Factor Wemple is suggesting doesn’t seem to be supported by what WMATA says:
Individuals who refuse to have their bag or bags inspected will not be allowed to enter the Metro system with those carry-on items. The [sic] will be free to leave the system with their items.
This doesn’t seem to do much to stop terrorism.
But Kirk, what do you mean?
Well, bombs work everywhere, so a “random” search which people can opt out of doesn’t actually protect anything except the physical structure of the metro system. Even more, it seems like the searches will only be at one stop at a time, so they won’t even do that…they only protect the physical structure of one metro stop for a short period of time.
Oh, my! you think. Who does this initiative “catch,” then?
Well, I figure it’ll cause the arrests of:
- The metrorider with weed in his/her bag who needs to get on the metro because he/she is going to work
- The highschool kid riding back to Franconia after he/she met his/her older brother/sister in Tenleytown to get some alcohol for the sweet ass sweet party he/she’s totally getting laid at tonight
- Sundry people in the process of commiting similar “crimes” — like having some weed or some pills or a knife or whatever
- Anyone who isn’t a terrorist
Just because you’re stopped during an explosives search doesn’t mean police can’t find other illegal things on your person. I don’t want to hear that bullshit Yeah, but if you’re not doing anything illegal, there’s nothing to worry about because there is something for me to worry about: I don’t want the police — or anybody else — rooting through my shit “random[ly],” especially if it does nothing to guarantee my safety.
I know this is a dead horse, but what ever happened to probable cause?!
Oh well, here’s a video of WMATA’s Czar announcing the plan:
I have another bike I’m looking to sell, anyone interested?
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Comments
This also happens in New York. There was a search station that everyone had to stop at and I had two massive bags. I didn’t bother stopping and went right through. No one did anything.
Spot on, Kirk. We don’t normally agree but you’re exactly right about the false-deterrence effect this has. A terrorist with a bomb will find another way to blow himself up. Protecting civil liberties should be our priority.
Yeah honestly– wouldn’t a bomber intent on killing people in the metro just detonate the explosive when asked if he would mind his bag being searched?
What a little conundrum! If they enforced the searches (i.e. you couldn’t opt out of the search) then there would be serious issue with the right to privacy/Fourth Amendment (The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized). However, by not enforcing the searches, someone carrying an explosive could just say “No thanks, I’d rather not be searched”, walk half a mile or less to a different metro station, and set off the explosive there.
The whole makes me feel confused and more than a little concerned. I do not want people rummaging through my stuff, particularly if it accomplishes nothing. Furthermore, how “random” does anyone think these searched will be and how long till metro police start targeting searches for things other than explosives (i.e. “Hey that guy looks like he’s carrying drugs, let’s randomly search him”).
But, what is the better solution? Metro security needs to be amped up because it is an easy target to do a large amount of damage to this city. I don’t want to live in a police state, but I also do not want DC to be exploded.
CONUNDRUM!
I would just like to point out that the first three things you listed in your bullet points are actually illegal. So it’s not like they’re innocent people being taken advantage of. Sorry, but marijuana isn’t legal yet.
Furthermore, I think the fact that the searches are random is stupid… if you’re going to search bags, search everyone’s. They do it in theatres, sports arenas, airports… people know that, in certain public places, your bags are going to get checked.
That having been said, I don’t necessarily support such a rule, I just think that would make more sense in terms of actually preventing weapons or other illegal things from getting on the subway. However, given that I don’t think this will eliminate the threat of terrorism (I won’t repeat that which has been noted in previous comments), I don’t see the point in doing any searches at all.
YA YA CULTURE OF FEAR!
To piggyback off loren’s point…did you see how awesome the dog is in the video. Now THAT is something I can support.
“I would just like to point out that the first three things you listed in your bullet points are actually illegal. So it’s not like they’re innocent people being taken advantage of. Sorry, but marijuana isn’t legal yet.”
Provide me with an intelligent reason to believe that marijuana should be illegal, and then I’ll cease to consider people falling into groups (1) and (3) “innocent.”
many, many, many people use the metro every single day, at least once. you don’t go to theaters, sports arenas or airports every single day–unless you work there, and in that case you’re probably not going to have to submit to a search of your affects.
we know for a fact–one that can be supported by empirical proof–that people working in most locations of authority do not have the best interests of most people in mind.
for me, this is about rejecting or embracing a culture of fear.
fuck dc. ok, now that that’s out of my system, i’m going to stay positive.
fuck the metro.
positivity: my cats are really cute!