TSA checks IndyGo bus passenger

[Ron]

Star staff
August 2, 2007
 
Screeners from the Transportation Security Administration checked passengers at two Downtown city bus stops this morning, looking for weapons and suspicious behavior.

David Kane, federal security director for TSA in Indianapolis, called it a "VIPR" operation.

"It's called Visual Intermodal Prevention Response. We have plainclothes inspectors, blue-gloved uniformed security officers who are checking baggage, the behavior detection officers, and federal air marshals, which are the law enforcement arm of TSA."

Security stations were set up at bus stops at Capitol Avenue and Market Street, and Ohio and Meridian streets.

Some passengers were patted down or submitted to having bags checked.

TSA said the searches were “by-permission,” meaning patrons could decline to be checked. Those who did would not be turned away, an official said, unless they otherwise appeared to be a security threat.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070802/LOCAL/70802006

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make sure you have your papers in order in Indy

[LadySmith]

TSA is expanding to city buses now? Wow. I suppose all forms of public transportation falls under their jurisdiction. How soon do you think before the "by-permission" searches become mandatory? I really don't want to be searched or groped just trying to go about my business if I have to take transit. They can have my car when they pry my cold dead forehead off the dash. Of if the price of gas gets prohibitive. In that case, I have a bicycle. Don't make me use it.

[Perd Hapley]

blue-gloved uniformed security officers

Two by two...

[wmenorr67]

Maybe they needed more nail clippers to sell on Ebay.  The fiscal year is coming to a close and they probably need the money and/or need to justify their jobs.

But if they are at the city bus terminals who was doing the screening at the airport.  I know when I flew out of Tulsa and Dallas back in May they didn't seem to have enough screeners on duty as it was.  Now maybe I know where they were.  It is just now that someone is talking about it.

What is next?  TSA screeners at toll booths before you are allowed to use a toll road?  If they do that in Oklahoma no one moves from Tulsa or Oklahoma City very far, very fast.

[Manedwolf]

TSA said the searches were by-permission, meaning patrons could decline to be checked. Those who did would not be turned away, an official said, unless they otherwise appeared to be a security threat.

So if there's an actual terrorist, they're going to say "No, you cannot search me." Um. What does this accomplish, again, besides wasting taxpayer money?

[client32]

blue-gloved uniformed security officers

Two by two...

I see I'm not the only one that thought that.

[Risasi]

What does this accomplish, again, besides wasting taxpayer money?

It accomplishes the task of customizing sheeple to random searches of their person.

[Ben]

Two by two...

I was gonna say the same thing. Life is imitating art.

[Devonai]

But those guys look friendly by comparison.

[ilbob]

What does this accomplish, again, besides wasting taxpayer money?

It accomplishes the task of customizing sheeple to random searches of their person.

thats about 50% of what it is about. the rest is naked empire building. we need to just eliminate TSA altogether along with 30 or 40 other government agencies that serve no real purpose, or whose functions could easily be outsourced.

[Stickjockey]

Two by two...

Great minds think alike, I see.

[Ben]

Well that and we've all probably watched every episode 867 times. 

[SomeKid]

So, for the rest of us who haven't a clue what the 'two by two' means but wonder if it involves children because it sounds Michael Jackson style weird; want to let us in on the secret?

[Manedwolf]

So, for the rest of us who haven't a clue what the 'two by two' means but wonder if it involves children because it sounds Michael Jackson style weird; want to let us in on the secret?

Firefly. "Ariel" episode.

[Stickjockey]

SomeKid-

One of the characters in the series "Firefly" is a shadowy organisation/company called Blue Sun. Certain representatives of this organisation closely resemble the Men In Black, always travelling in pairs, and always sporting the blue nitrile gloves. But wait; remember the MIB memory-eraser dealie? Yeah, the blue-hand guys' dealie makes your brain explode inside your head. Really creepy types.

Two by two,
hands of blue...

[jnojr]

TSA is expanding to city buses now? Wow. I suppose all forms of public transportation falls under their jurisdiction. How soon do you think before the "by-permission" searches become mandatory?

I expect that this will continue... "DUI" checkpoints more frequent, TSA showing up at more and more locations... if they introduce this a little bit at a time, in 10 years when you have to go through TSA checkpoints for any form of public travel or to cross state lines won't be so shocking.  Some people will wistfully remember a time when they could travel freely, and most of the sheep will line up, bleating quietly, waiting for their turn to show their papers.

[RevDisk]

So if there's an actual terrorist, they're going to say "No, you cannot search me." Um. What does this accomplish, again, besides wasting taxpayer money?

The chance for federal employees to feel people up for personal amusement?

I indirectly know a guy who assaulted a TSA agent who was in the process of sexually harassing his girlfriend.  Here's a clue for any TSA personnel reading.  Before you feel up a nice looking well-endowed young lady, ask her beforehand if her boyfriend is a member of any local National Guard unit.  You never know when an angry boyfriend will be standing about 20 ft away wearing BDU's, carrying an M16A2 and have other buddies in BDU's nearby.  A properly executed "buttstroke to the head" series is a rather painful but educational experience. 

[SomeKid]

Maned/Stick

Thanks guys. I have seen the episode, it didn't come back readily till you guys mentioned it.