I'm back...

My posts may still be infrequent, but there will be more regular posting once again.

One observation from my trip:

We drove a moving truck cross-country. As expected, we had to go through the California Department of Agriculture at the Arizona-California border. In the past, when I've been stopped crossing into Cali, I've been asked if I have any fruits in the car (or something along those lines). There was a lane for cars, one for RV's and one for trucks - we went into the the truck line. I don't know what happened in the other lines, but we were stopped in the truck line and asked to pull forward and sit tight. I suddenly remembered that we had some orchids in the car we were towing and thought that was the issue when they asked my husband for assistance with their search. While we were parked there, at least half a dozen commercial semis were waived through without being asked to stop, which seemed odd. When my husband returned to the truck, he said they saw some "saw dust" near the gate of the truck and asked him to open it so they could look inside. He complied and they saw pretty much everything we own in the back and let us move on through.

My guess is that the CA department of agriculture was doing Homeland Security work. We got to the border on the morning of Sept 13th and were driving a "box truck." That is, we fit the description of the supposed 9/11 anniversary terror threat that never happened, and only a couple of days after 9/11. Commercial truckers were not under suspicion, they didn't ask us about fruits and vegetables, and didn't care about our plants. I will say that if there was saw dust on our truck, it was there before we picked up the truck 14 days and 4000 miles (we took a circuitous route) earlier. In other words, the saw dust was imaginary. We weren't in the mood to put up a fight - we just wanted to get to our final destination as quickly as possible, so we didn't question their bogus claim.

Does the average person think it is right that the relatively narrow mandate of the state agriculture department and their border inspections is being repurposed as another arm of the police state?

Backscatter vans: Coming to a street near you

I read about these types of devices when I first started this blog. The idea is that governments can scan vehicles for contraband. Aside from one report on a VIPR search at a truck stop, I have not heard much about the deployment of these scanners. Apparently Forbes covered a company that is making these machines, and The Truth About Cars has a good write-up about it. The scary part?

Hundreds [of the Z-backscatter devices] have been sold, to customers as diverse as the Department of Defense and small-town law enforcement agencies. The NYPD is one of AS&E’s thrilled customers.

I checked out the company's website, and, sure enough, they list various purchases of their devices to US and non-US government agencies alike. Furthermore, they have a contract from DHS to make general aviation scanners (to scan a whole plane).

Security theater at the ports

The TSA has mandated that all port workers get expensive ID cards (aka TWIC) with even more expensive ID card scanners:

Starting in January of 2009, workers at area facilities like Port Fourchon were required to carry Transportation Worker Identification Credentials, a card about the size of a driver’s license.

To get the card, workers must apply with the Transportation Security Administration and undergo a background check. People convicted of conspiracy, terrorism, use of explosives or similar charges can’t get the badge. Convicted felons can only get them seven years after the offense, or five years after leaving prison.

The card costs $132.50, and is valid for five years.

As you might imagine (and seeing as how we're 30 months into the mandate), the roll-out has gone swimmingly and closes all security gaps at the ports:

A dock at Port Fourchon was the first to catch workers using counterfeit TWICs — in February of 2009, two men were caught after officers found spelling errors on their cards.

...
“There have been a few instances where a crew member on a boat that is docked will go out and get drunk,” Terry said. “They’d be denied into the facility because they are under the influence, and then they try to sneak back onto the boat.”

Currently, guards visually check the TWICs to make sure that everyone entering sealed dock areas is certified. The TSA is currently in a pilot program to test electronic readers, but that program has yet to be widely implemented.

“There’s still not a scanner that works on a regular basis.” Chiasson said. “Everything still works on sight.”

Parfait has used his TWIC card in ports all over the country. He’s never seen the electronic test system — he says guards usually just ask him to show the card.

Plus, the cards are not too hard to come by - 1.7 million have been issued and there are certainly some unscrupulous port workers out there. But, even if you don't have your TWIC on you, the guard may wave you in anyway if your buddy has one.

How you (can't) avoid the TSA

I'm not sure what to make of the last sentence:

Somehow, playing this cat-and-mouse game seems silly. Shouldn't we be welcoming the screening instead of running from it?

but the rest of this article has useful and accurate information, and I think it gives some good publicity to the cause.

Random searches of passenger buses

There was a sad and highly-publicized fatal bus accident this year that, naturally, has led to a Congressional inquiry. As part of that inquiry, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration lamented that they do not have the authority to conduct road-side inspections of the many popular, inexpensive and convenient (okay, those are my words, not theirs) passenger buses that are in operation along the eastern seaboard (also referred to around here as "Chinatown" buses because they often stop in the chinatown areas of NY, Philly, and DC). From the Sun article:

But what Anne S. Ferro, head of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, told members she is seeking seems more than reasonable — bigger fines for companies that violate the law, the ability to regulate on-line brokers and to shutter so-called "reincarnated" companies with serious safety problems in their past.

That would seem more than justified given that half of all bus-related deaths over the past decade can be traced to operators with safety issues. Frequently, they involve drivers who work far more hours than federal regulations allow.

One way Congress could dramatically improve bus safety would be to allow random road-side inspections. Small charter bus operators often don't have a fixed terminal or regular schedule, so conducting inspections otherwise can be challenging.

And, it concludes:

'Wasteful spending' at ports

Is there any other kind when the TSA and Congress are involved?

To protect our ports, the federal government committed $420 million to work badges.

...But even though many workers have [biometric ID] cards, WFTV found secure entrances at Port Canaveral that had no equipment to scan their thumbprint.

Champing at the bit to 'secure' Amtrak

It will come, it's just a matter of time. That is, unless, more Americans join you and I in opposing the TSA. There was an article titled Amtrak train wreck reveals security weakness. The title says it all: after a deadly train wreck, it was unclear exactly how many people were on board the train at the time of the accident. "What!?!" you say, "They aren't tracking and monitoring the every move of train passengers?!? People can buy tickets and board without ID? They can get off early if they choose to do so? Their luggage is not screened for drugs, bombs, and money? They can move around on the train as they please without an assigned seat? What country is this? The wild, wild west of the American fronteir?!?"

I think that rant pretty clearly illustrates what I think about "securing" the rails against imaginary threats. Although I can see that knowing exactly how many people are alive or dead in an accident is desirable information, the fact remains that this will never be possible and trying to correct this will erode liberties in a way that will change riding the train for the worse. If they want to open up competition on rails and stop subsidizing Amtrak and regional rail, then we can see if "Secure Rail" starts operating with draconian security measures. I won't hold my breath (for either free rails or "Secure Rail").

I do want to comment on something coming from a politician that was noted in the article:

In response [to concerns but no imminent threat about bin Laden targeting American rails], U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, pressed the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to institute a "no-ride" list similar to the Secure Flight program used by airlines, in which passenger lists are compared with terrorist watch lists.

I fully believe this is likely to happen. And it's disgusting. I also fully expect that, down the line, we'll hear people say "Taking the train is a privilege. If you don't like it, don't ride!"

One final note directed at Amtrak: Due to the draconian airport security measures, I and many others will not be taking commercial airlines until the TSA and its ilk are disbanded. This means increased ridership on your trains including sleeper-car purchases. Don't make us boycott you, too.

Police state on Greyhound

A reader, Adolfo Leon, shares his recent experience traveling by bus:

On July 4, on the bus (Greyhound) trip, I had to change bus at West Palm. The bus driver pulled into the parking space. He then got up and told us to wait for the two men standing out side the bus to come in and inspect. These two men were dressed in a green uniform with a "Border Patrol" label. They asked me, as well as the man across from me, "How are you doing?" I said, " I am doing good." Second question, "are you a citizen?" I said, "yes."

They moved to the back of the bus. The bus driver came in and asked, if they were finished with the two of us. They said, "yes" and the driver told us to go to the next bus.

Based on the bus driver actions, this seems to be happening on a regular basis.

Interesting the question was citizen, not citizen of the US.

A new general aviation start-up

This startup will charge a subscription fee instead of a per-ticket fee, thereby allowing lower budget travelers access to general aviation carriers. Initially, service will be limited to select mid-Atlantic cities.

(Oh - and please ignore the islamaphobia in the opening paragraph of the linked Examiner article. After all, when a foreign carrier partners with an American one, that foreign carrier will have to impose our draconian anti-civil liberties laws on foreigners! If only American carriers were forced to live under judeo-christian law instead of the state-religion law. We might actually have our rights respected!)

Security theater: Coming to a train near you?

To follow up on Kevin's comment to an earlier post, of course the TSA (or some copycat security theater agency) is coming to the trains and roads if we don't stop them now, at the airports. Amtrak is claiming to hold out for now, but, as Amtrak is essentially a government entity, holding out won't last for long.

So much for the ports

Between this story about TSA/VIPR at a port in Texas and the story of British cruise passengers being harassed by US Customs in California, I'm starting to feel lucky that my cruise was comparatively benign!

The joy of avoiding the airport

I recently took a cruise that departed out of the Port of Baltimore, which meant I didn't have to board an airplane to have a wonderful vacation with my family. I just want to note here some observations about security on that trip.

Boarding the boat

To my surprise, there were metal detectors and x-ray machines for carry-on luggage at the Port's terminal building. The agents working at this checkpoint were Port of Baltimore employees, according to the logo on their uniforms. This makes them employees of the state of Maryland (via Maryland's Port Administration). Their bravado was similar to TSA agents in some ways, but less so in others (which I explain below). Since this is a state agency, and states are always short on money while the ports are never doing as well as they need to, I'd be surprised if naked scanners showed up anytime soon. Such a move would be most likely if the federal government started mandating scanners and/or providing grants to buy scanners.

I'd also like to contrast this with the "good old days" of cruising. First, I recall when my parents went on a cruise in the 90's (from Philadelphia) that we (my grandmother and siblings and I) walked with my parents right up next to the ship. (If you're reading this, Mom and Dad, do you remember what the boarding process and security were like?) My husband and his parents have been on cruises in Europe (one just weeks after 9/11/01). Of course, there weren't metal detectors at the ports - just at the airports getting to and from Europe. There are also photos of a cruise they took leaving from San Diego when my husband was a baby. Before the cruise left port, there was a champagne toast where family friends came on board and toasted "bon voyage" to his family! Yes - times have changed, and not for the better. (Do any readers know when this practice stopped?)

Back to my trip...

How to avoid the TSA and still get there fast

It just costs a bunch more. But if you're traveling with a large group, it may not be as unaffordable as you think.