camwyn: (Real Life (stupid))
camwyn ([personal profile] camwyn) wrote2005-07-22 08:47 am

(no subject)

So.

New York City's gonna do random searches of people's bags if they wanna get on the subway and 'people who don't want to be searched are perfectly free to turn around and leave the station'.

Show of hands- do I start carrying a bag full of mousetraps, or should I start carrying a bag full of some formulation of Play-Doh that feels like dog crap if a cop puts his hand on it? Not that I dislike the members of the NYPD; I'm very fond of cops in general. But since the city doesn't seem to think that the Constitution matters any more (small surprise, since Washington doesn't either)- or that this constitutes a reasonable search and seizure- I'd like to make it plain that if you're going to search me, ever, you are going to have to pay for that privilege.

I'm thinkin' the play-doh. Or a can of non-dairy creamer with a lid that comes off easily- no, then they'd go "ACK ANTHRAX" and I'd be late for work. But you get the idea.

Suggestions?

[identity profile] stakebait.livejournal.com 2005-07-22 05:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Among other things, they're reserving the right to search after you've entered the system as well.

[identity profile] zsero.livejournal.com 2005-07-22 07:41 pm (UTC)(link)
If you refuse, can you simply leave the system, and get your $2 back? If so, then I still see no constitutional problem. Even if that dumps you in an undesireable area, so long as that area isn't so undesireable that it puts you in actual danger.

[identity profile] stakebait.livejournal.com 2005-07-22 11:58 pm (UTC)(link)
My impression was no, but the article I saw that quote in didn't go into further detail, so I'm not sure of that.