New Yorkers show tolerance on first day of bag searches on subways - ( ACLU struck down again! )

http://www.azdailysun.com ^ | 7/23/2005 | Max

[StudentsForBush]

New Yorkers show tolerance on first day of bag searches on subways
By Jim Fitzgerald Associated Press Writer 07/23/2005

NEW YORK (AP) -- It's generally not a good idea to pick a New Yorker at random, go through his things and slow his rush to the subway. Nobody needs another irritation on a hot, crowded, smelly commute.

But city straphangers submitted calmly Friday as police inspected their bags and briefcases after the latest attacks on London's Underground. Some were skeptical, some were critical, but most said they were glad for the extra security.

"It doesn't bother me," said Davon Campbell, 24, a security worker who waited about four minutes while an officer rifled through his rolling suitcase and two shoulder bags at a station in the Bronx. "I can understand why they're doing it. It's important."

Ron Freeman, 25, a stockbroker whose backpack was searched, said, "They should have done this a long time ago, ever since 9/11."

And Amy Wilson, 28, said the officers' work "makes me feel safer. I like knowing they're here."

At Woodlawn, Sgt. Kevin O'Connor used a bullhorn to alert riders. "If you do not agree to this inspection, you must exit the transit system immediately," he added. He said he hadn't seen anyone turn around and his officers hadn't met with any resistance.

Police had promised there would be no racial profiling, and when a woman in what looked like Muslim dress was selected by Officer Richard Dixon, he said he was simply picking "every fifth person with a bag." The woman wouldn't comment.

Richard Collins, 48, a black man with a beard and a white knitted skullcap, said he didn't think he was tapped because he looked Muslim, but he was "a little perturbed."

"Not because of the religion thing," he said. "They're taking two minutes out of my time."

The NYPD said there had been no arrests and no seizures of weapons, drugs or other contraband by late afternoon. Some people left rather than submit to searches, however.

Random searches were also being conducted on buses, ferries and trains to the suburbs. Outside a Long Island Rail Road station Thursday night, police charged a man after discovering a taser, a police-style baton and a pair of chukka sticks in his car, but said he had no terrorist links and had made no threats. The man was arraigned Friday on two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

On the city subways, which are used by 4.5 million people on the average workday, the inspections started on a small scale Thursday afternoon and were expanded Friday.

Baggage and packages carried by bus and rail passengers in New Jersey will be subject to random searches starting Monday, authorities said. Travelers using facilities of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey also will be searched starting Monday.

The New York Civil Liberties Union opposed the searches, saying they violated the Fourth Amendment. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said he hoped the NYCLU would recognize that the city had struck the right balance between security and protecting constitutional rights. He said the bag-checking program is part of a policy to "constantly change tactics" and "may, or may not, be there tomorrow."The mayor declined to say how much the program cost.

[RoyalsFan]

I got a bad feeling they're treating everyone like an equal threat. I think it's time to start racially profiling.

[SevenMinusOne]

Unless we are "profiling" when we do searches of bags (which we are not!!) then these searches are USELESS! (all they do is all Gov't officials to play CYA while at the same time feeling good about themselves).

Additionally the real answer is to kill them over there before they can get here (and in the mean time PROFILE those who we search!) - Without profiling we are simply wasting energy and giving Gov't more powers then they deserve.

[inquest]

This is so idiotic. Are they also going to randomly check the bags of people who walk through downtown markets? This just rewards the terrorists.

[SevenMinusOne]

Correction - (all they do is ALLOW Gov't officials to play CYA while at the same time feeling good about themselves).

[keats5]

My theory is that they do racial profiling, but they also search obviously innocent people to make it look like they're not doing racial profiling.

[smoothsailing]

The ACLU should be stripped of govt. (taxpaper) funding,stripped of it's tax-exempt status, and declared by the govt. to be a subversive group.

If the ACLU doesn't like it,they can take it to court.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

This is more government PC nonsense. Now, if searches were based upon solid profiling, I would be completely behind it. This would also send the approriate message to the swarthy bastards who are currently threatening our way of life -- (for which they should be obliterated). Following a few more attacks, with casualties in the tens of thousands or more, perhaps then we will wake up. Meanwhile, I heartily suggest purchasing many guns and lots of ammunition. You will be needing it.

[StudentsForBush]

 

"When there's a 100 percent chance, it ceases to be a profile -- it becomes a suspect description," Coulter said. "They all have the same hair color, eye color. They're all males. Half of them have the name Muhammad."

- Ann Coulter

 

 

[RoyalsFan]

You are a police officer on the New York City subway station. Two people with bags are about to get on the subway and you can only search one of the two. Do you search:

A.

or

B.

[airborne]

Which means they will let prime candidates to walk right by!

[D.P.Roberts]

People who won't defend their freedom don't deserve it.

The constitution- invalid in New York.

[StudentsForBush]

ACLU suggests we search them both A and B equally, its only fair !

[RoyalsFan]

I agree.

[StudentsForBush]

U.S. Constitution: 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.

---

First is is encouraging that the liberals are ACTUALLY reading the constitution, but secondly lets take a look at what it says:

but upon probable cause (2 terror attacks in London in subways within 2 week period), supported by Oath or affirmation (posted signs, TV reports, newspaper warnings), and particularly describing the place (London , New York Subways) to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

But just for future reference, I prefer the term "Limbaugh-bot" a lot better, thanks !

[smoothsailing]

My gripe is with the ACLU as an organisation.Period.Un-knot your knicker's.

[Soul Seeker]

I hate to break this to you, but the people of N.Y.C. seem to be relatively fine with it. And they aren't "Bushbots" by a long shot. Since it is affecting them, if they don't like it, they can do something about it. No one is preventing them from civil protests. No one is stopping them from venting displeasure in their elections.

[ZOTnot]

The tide is beginning to turn against the ACLU. They can't keep up with the number of cases they would like to take on. John Roberts is just the first step in crushing them once and for all.

[smoothsailing]

Good,now if that old ACLU buzzard Ruth Bader Ginsberg would just step down....

[inquest]

but upon probable cause (2 terror attacks in London in subways within 2 week period)

That's not what probable cause means. I advise looking it up.

[StudentsForBush]

tell me what it means then.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

We can all sleep better now that little old ladies are having their bags searched.

[Miss Marple]

Your quarrel is with Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly. This is a NEW YORK CITY program. The feds had nothing to do with it.

[CWOJackson]

Interesting. Seems like only the ACLU and a few others are all that bothered by this...the average New Yorker is just taking it in stride. Good for them.

[smoothsailing]

That's a neat new tag-line,Miss Marple! :^)

[Miss Marple]

Why, thank you! I don't often use tag lines, but I got some amusement from thinking that DU lurkers would see it and become infuriated.

[smoothsailing]

LOL! A dual purpose tagline!

Impress FReepers and infuriate DU lurkers!

[ZOTnot]

We're on our way! A conservative Court is within sight. Whether she steps down or not, she is likely to end up in the minority on Opinions which are rendered forthwith. We are finally able to take our country back, and judicial tyranny is about to end!

[smoothsailing]

I like your optimism,and quite frankly I share it! FRegards...:)

[inquest]

You can find the full definition in a law dictionary, but basically it means you have to have a solid reason for believing that the particular person you're searching or seizing has committed or is about to commit a crime.

[Kozak]

The real answer here is to profile, and concentrate on the likely bombers: 20-35 year old ME males. 90% of the searches should involve them. The rest SHOULD be random, to prevent them from being confident they can get by with a ringer.

We have limited resources, and MUST concentrate or forces while keeping the enemy off balance. Anything else is doomed to fail, and frankly madness.

[inquest]

90% of the searches should involve them. The rest SHOULD be random, to prevent them from being confident they can get by with a ringer.

Should this include any place where people crowd together, including open markets?

Just to put things in perspective, the chances of dying in a terrorist attack of this nature are minuscule, considerably less than the chances of dying in a traffic accident. Subjecting people to searches only makes them more nervous and edgy, and that gives encouragement to the terrorists.

Keep in mind that Britain has a more extensive surveillance apparatus than we do, and it doesn't seem to have helped them. That's because they allow Islamic extremists of every stripe into their country. A better policy for us is to just find the terrorists and kill them, and in the meantime, make sure we keep out aliens who pose any kind of security risk.

[SunnySide]

LOL! Oh I'd definetly search the raggedy old broad pictured in #B who needs a desperate appointment with a hair salon. And a beauty bath in a swimming pool.