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TSA at Amtrak Austin

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 12:13 am
by ghostrider
http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/aust ... mar-amtrak" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: TSA at Amtrak Austin

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 12:19 am
by Andrew
And the VIPR strikes! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visible_In ... ponse_team" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: TSA at Amtrak Austin

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 7:22 am
by anygunanywhere
Better have your papers in order.

Anygunanywhere

Re: TSA at Amtrak Austin

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 7:54 am
by C-dub
I don't remember. Can a CHL not carry on the train in Texas? It would seem like one could not be prohibited since it is government owned, but it is owned by the fed. Does that make it off limits.

Re: TSA at Amtrak Austin

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 7:58 am
by jimlongley
Time to write the legislative representatives again.

“The security at airports has increased so the bad guys are now traveling on the trains and buses,” said Robinson.

Since when is TSA's job to catch "bad guys"?

Re: TSA at Amtrak Austin

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 8:23 am
by anygunanywhere
jimlongley wrote:Time to write the legislative representatives again.

“The security at airports has increased so the bad guys are now traveling on the trains and buses,” said Robinson.

Since when is TSA's job to catch "bad guys"?
TSA doesn't want to catch the bad guys. TSA wants to cavity search them.

Anygunanywhere

Re: TSA at Amtrak Austin

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 8:27 am
by MeMelYup
It appears they are political.
"Notable special events they have worked include the Presidential Inauguration, the Special Olympics, the Democratic National Convention, NFL games[17][citation needed] and others.[18]"

Re: TSA at Amtrak Austin

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 8:58 am
by Slowplay
I travel a lot and it's truly disgusting to see, on many occasions, more blue shirts at security theatre checkpoints than traveling passengers. It's very obvious there is very poor management of how they allocate their labor resources (and I use that term very loosely). TSA is just another bloated federal program with an unwritten mission to make itself even larger.

Another apparent mission is to make their blue shirt presence as widespread and transgressing (4th Amend.) as possible. It must be part of a National Overt Transportation Security Initiative. The blue shirts will be everywhere and always in our business, in order to keep us safe. :mad5

Re: TSA at Amtrak Austin

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 11:04 am
by VMI77
Slowplay wrote:I travel a lot and it's truly disgusting to see, on many occasions, more blue shirts at security theatre checkpoints than traveling passengers. It's very obvious there is very poor management of how they allocate their labor resources (and I use that term very loosely). TSA is just another bloated federal program with an unwritten mission to make itself even larger.

Another apparent mission is to make their blue shirt presence as widespread and transgressing (4th Amend.) as possible. It must be part of a National Overt Transportation Security Initiative. The blue shirts will be everywhere and always in our business, in order to keep us safe. :mad5
Well, blue shirts are prettier than brown shirts, aren't they?

Re: TSA at Amtrak Austin

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 1:10 pm
by G27RR
"Random security checks are voluntary, but a way to keep criminal activity from taking place on-board."

So if you refuse they let you board anyway? :headscratch

Re: TSA at Amtrak Austin

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 1:16 pm
by filmtex
G27RR wrote:"Random security checks are voluntary, but a way to keep criminal activity from taking place on-board."

So if you refuse they let you board anyway? :headscratch
That's a great question.

Re: TSA at Amtrak Austin

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 1:34 pm
by RX8er
I know it is a fine line but isn't this a violation of the 4th, especially since they had "drug" sniffing dogs?

Re: TSA at Amtrak Austin

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 1:45 pm
by Andrew
filmtex wrote:
G27RR wrote:"Random security checks are voluntary, but a way to keep criminal activity from taking place on-board."

So if you refuse they let you board anyway? :headscratch
That's a great question.
No. The screening is voluntary, just as it is at airports. If you won't voluntarily submit to screening you can't board.

Re: TSA at Amtrak Austin

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 1:56 pm
by Abraham
CHL and armed on a train in Texas = Yes? / No?

Re: TSA at Amtrak Austin

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 2:25 pm
by Andrew
Abraham wrote:CHL and armed on a train in Texas = Yes? / No?
Very much a no. It took an act of congress for Amtrak to allow checked weapons. Here's the policy http://www.amtrak.com/firearms-in-checked-baggage" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; it's actually worse than dealing with the airlines. You have to notify 24 hours in advance. If any leg of your itinerary doesn't include coaches the have secured checked bagage compartments, that nixes the whole trip.
The Texas Eagle (San Antonio to Chicago) always has superliners for secured checked baggage, as does the Capitol Express (Chicago to Washinton D.C.). If the D.C. rally does get organized I'll be taking the train. $450.00 round trip. Lounge car, Dining car, Restrooms, comfy seats, beats 3000 miles in a car. just sayin