Vere are zee papers -- TSA hits the roads in TN

[Mark@Sea]

It won't become common practice because it's unproductive? And how many terrorists has TSA intercepted in the last ten years? Lemme do the math on this... Let's say 100 billion, decided by ZERO terrorists...

I don't think cost effectiveness figures into TSA ops planning. As far as stopping just short of violating constitutional rights, I'd say that was pretty much toast the first time a TSA 'agent' rammed his hand down some ladies' skirt.

A lot of people dealt with this crap by refusing to fly. They try pulling it at random roadblocks, I have a feeling that about 2 hours after they fondle some good ole boys 6 year old daughter, they'll find all the 'terrorism' they can handle. Well, I tell a lie. Given their track record, it'll find them.

[TMF]

The reason it caught on in the airports is because 4 planes were hijacked and around 3,000 people were killed in one day. If that happens on the highway at the hands of terrorists, then yes, I believe that TSA would play a much more active role. For now, I'm not too worried.... money drives everything and this looks like it will cost too much to reproduce on a regular basis.

[daddyo]

It's the height of stupidity to think that the terrorists would try to repeat 9/11. Ever hear of the element of surprise? After the towers fell, they no longer had it. But, boy howdee, we showed 'em!! We stayed one step ahead of 'em by searching everyone at the airport AFTER they murdered 3K of our fellow citizens!!! That'll larn them tarists!!!

Give me a huge effin' break already.

[gregintenn]

The reason it caught on in the airports is because 4 planes were hijacked and around 3,000 people were killed in one day. If that happens on the highway at the hands of terrorists, then yes, I believe that TSA would play a much more active role. For now, I'm not too worried.... money drives everything and this looks like it will cost too much to reproduce on a regular basis.

You do realize that the TSA hasn't stopped one single act of anything resembling terrorism since the agency was started don't you?

[sigmtnman]

It won't become common practice because it's unproductive? And how many terrorists has TSA intercepted in the last ten years? Lemme do the math on this... Let's say 100 billion, decided by ZERO terrorists...

I don't think cost effectiveness figures into TSA ops planning. As far as stopping just short of violating constitutional rights, I'd say that was pretty much toast the first time a TSA 'agent' rammed his hand down some ladies' skirt.

A lot of people dealt with this crap by refusing to fly. They try pulling it at random roadblocks, I have a feeling that about 2 hours after they fondle some good ole boys 6 year old daughter, they'll find all the 'terrorism' they can handle. Well, I tell a lie. Given their track record, it'll find them.

Thank you!

I have not flown since the first time I had to take my shoes off and watch everyone be dehumanized, tossing "dangerous" liquids into the trash right there next to everyone line. It was such apparent and utter BS that I swore at that point, come hell or high water, I was not getting on another plane until everyone came to their senses. It still hasn't happened and I have turned down lots of job $$$ protesting what I feel is wrong, watching everyone else herded like sheep.

When I was a little kid, I was afraid of the dark; then I grew up. WTF is wrong with everyone that they are so scared that they have given up our country? My fellow Americans have bowed down to whoever committed 9/11, given up our freedom and act like scared women.

This really has me riled up as now they are going to force me to stay off federal roads in order to avoid the stupidity.

The only terrorists I have to deal with work for the .gov. Die with yer freakin boots on people and pitch the apologetic high heels.

[56FordGuy]

I just happened to be driving a commercial vehicle while this was going on, and had the opportunity to appreciate the experience in Manchester. I haven't read the articles, though. I don't know what they say they were looking for, I don't know what they say they found. I do know what they did when I was going through the scales.

Frankly, this seemed like nothing more than a larger scale version of what the DOT scales do to commercial drivers every day. By larger scale, I mean instead having 2 officers at the station there were 20 or more. It didn't seem more thorough, it didn't seem more invasive, it just seemed like more drivers were subjected to it. They checked your weight like usual, paperwork (log books, load paperwork) like usual, and load securement.

Sure, it could spiral into all sorts of invasion and craziness. As a fan of freedom and liberty, it does concern me that the government can stop my commercial truck at any time and inspect both myself and it. I doubt there would be very many folks cheering for the elimination of semi truck weigh stations and load securement/ hours of service rules though.

[Guest TresOsos]

I don't disagree that we should be cautious, but the law is always going to stop just shy of violating our Constitutional rights. This is why those parameters are set in the first place. The second that they step over the line I'm all about there being some accountability.

You must be living in some dream world somewhere, if you think the Fed's are going to stop just shy of violating our rights. They already violate our rights every day.

I know one thing, if we, left, right, Democrat, Republican, Independent, white,black,yellow, red or what ever don't band together and stop this growing tyranny and people that's what the Federal Government is becoming. Our grandchildren and our great-grandchildren will curse our names while they drag the chains we are allowing to placed on them and ourselves.

Stopping us in the course of free travel without a specific reason to do so and search our vehicles and persons with out probable cause is a violation of our Constitutional Rights. And the big bad boogie man war on terror does not cut it as an excuse for probable cause with me.

I'm sorry I just can't understand why more people aren't outraged and don't see the mission creep here, this is just the Beginning people, they won't stop at this.

[Guest bkelm18]

You must be living in some dream world somewhere, if you think the Fed's are going to stop just shy of violating our rights. They already violate our rights every day.

+1

[sigmtnman]

You must be living in some dream world somewhere, if you think the Fed's are going to stop just shy of violating our rights. They already violate our rights every day.

I know one thing, if we, left, right, Democrat, Republican, Independent, white,black,yellow, red or what ever don't band together and stop this growing tyranny and people that's what the Federal Government is becoming. Our grandchildren and our great-grandchildren will curse our names while they drag the chains we are allowing to placed on them and ourselves.

Stopping us in the course of free travel without a specific reason to do so and search our vehicles and persons with out probable cause is a violation of our Constitutional Rights. And the big bad boogie man war on terror does not cut it as an excuse for probable cause with me.

I'm sorry I just can't understand why more people aren't outraged and don't see the mission creep here, this is just the Beginning people, they won't stop at this.

I agree with most everything you say. Just need to clear one thing up.

We do not have "Constitutional Rights". We have rights endowed by our Creator (God given rights). The Constitution defines the government's rights/restrictions and how it is to function.

Edited October 21, 2011 by sigmtnman

[Guest TresOsos]

I agree with most everything you say. Just need to clear one thing up.

We do not have "Constitutional Rights". We have rights endowed by our Creator (God given rights). The Constitution defines the government's rights/restrictions and how it is to function.

Cleared up and agreed upon, Our rights are endowed to us by our creator, the Bill of Rights in the Constitution just enumerates them.

[TMF]

Stopping us in the course of free travel without a specific reason to do so and search our vehicles and persons with out probable cause is a violation of our Constitutional Rights. And the big bad boogie man war on terror does not cut it as an excuse for probable cause with me.

I would agree with you if this had actually happened. The only stops that took place were at weigh stations, where trucks are often inspected anyway. This time the TSA just happened to be there. Now, if a trucker had told the TSA to pound sand and was subsequently detained and had his vehicle searched without probable cause then I would agree that this was a gross violation of rights.

I have a question about commercial trucking: aren't trailers being hauled for commercial purposes subject to searches at weigh stations anyway?

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Searches? Not being a trucker, but I think the weigh stations are for ensuring weight limits

on roads and safety is the main concern for the state weigh stations, but I could be wrong.

If they are for searches, that could eventually extend to cars easily.

I imagine they can check log books licenses, also.

[TMF]

Searches? Not being a trucker, but I think the weigh stations are for ensuring weight limits

on roads and safety is the main concern for the state weigh stations, but I could be wrong.

If they are for searches, that could eventually extend to cars easily.

I imagine they can check log books licenses, also.

I think a LEO here can probably answer that. I was under the impression that commercial trucking was subject to regulations that made them searchable by DOT to ensure they're complying to certain laws.

Now, here's the next question, local law enforcement sets up sobriety checkpoints all the time; is this not similar with the exception of it being a federal agency?

[BrasilNuts]

DOT can search the cargo space of a commercial vehicle at any time.

Weigh Stations are for checking weight of commercial vehicles, but in some states, if I remember correctly, they are called Commercial Vehicle Inspection Stations.

They can tell you to pull around and inspect/search the vehicle. I'm not sure how this applies to the cab of a OTR driver.

Edited October 21, 2011 by BrasilNuts

[sigmtnman]

So let's here the apology for the bus stations.

[BrasilNuts]

So let's here the apology for the bus stations.

Yeah, I'd like to hear a first hand account of what they did at the bus stations.

[TMF]

Yeah, I'd like to hear a first hand account of what they did at the bus stations.

Me too.

[56FordGuy]

DOT can search the cargo space of a commercial vehicle at any time.

Weigh Stations are for checking weight of commercial vehicles, but in some states, if I remember correctly, they are called Commercial Vehicle Inspection Stations.

They can tell you to pull around and inspect/search the vehicle. I'm not sure how this applies to the cab of a OTR driver.

I have had the cab of my truck searched during a regular truck inspection. In addition to looking for illegal items, they also check to ensure that there is only one active (filled out) log book in the cab of the truck. Otherwise, a guy could theoretically run two log books to show he is within the hours on service on one, when the other shows he would be over his allowable driving hours.

[BrasilNuts]

Otherwise, a guy could theoretically run two log books to show he is within the hours on service on one, when the other shows he would be over his allowable driving hours.

Theoretically...

[TMF]

I have had the cab of my truck searched during a regular truck inspection. In addition to looking for illegal items, they also check to ensure that there is only one active (filled out) log book in the cab of the truck. Otherwise, a guy could theoretically run two log books to show he is within the hours on service on one, when the other shows he would be over his allowable driving hours.

So that answers that. It doesn't seem anything out of the ordinary was conducted other than the involvement of the TSA (which I agree is a waste of time and not their lane). Now, the question is their involvement at bus stations.

[56FordGuy]

So that answers that. It doesn't seem anything out of the ordinary was conducted other than the involvement of the TSA (which I agree is a waste of time and not their lane). Now, the question is their involvement at bus stations.

I personally think it was more of a publicity stunt than anything. "Oh, look at us. Look how hard we're working to keep you safe. We're inspecting things! We're searching things! Don't you feel safer?"

[TMF]

I personally think it was more of a publicity stunt than anything. "Oh, look at us. Look how hard we're working to keep you safe. We're inspecting things! We're searching things! Don't you feel safer?"

Exactly... and always wonder: "to what end?" Follow the money. Budgets are getting schwacked all over the federal government. The TSA has to look like they're innovative and relavant. They are neither.

[Guest pfries]

I personally think it was more of a publicity stunt than anything. "Oh, look at us. Look how hard we're working to keep you safe. We're inspecting things! We're searching things! Don't you feel safer?"

Exactly... and always wonder: "to what end?" Follow the money. Budgets are getting schwacked all over the federal government. The TSA has to look like they're innovative and relavant. They are neither.

+1 to both of you I could not agree more.

[bonzii34]

So that answers that. It doesn't seem anything out of the ordinary was conducted other than the involvement of the TSA (which I agree is a waste of time and not their lane). Now, the question is their involvement at bus stations.

is it considered comm vehicle also?

[Timestepper]

is it considered comm vehicle also?

Yes. A bus is indeed a commercial motor vehicle. They just have slightly different rules to follow than us truckers (and with obvious reason). For instance, in most states buses are not required to stop at Weigh & Inspection Station/Port of Entry facilities which would explain the "TSA involvement at bus stations."

...TS...