(no subject)

[camwyn]

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?

Comments

[stakebait.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking a whole bunch of us should start carrying large backpacks entirely full of copies of the Bill of Rights. It could be an art project.

Heavy, though. Perhaps printed on tissue paper and crumpled up to take more room?

[feonixrift.livejournal.com]

I like that idea. :)

[zsero.livejournal.com]

I do generally carry a copy of the constitution in my tote bag. Just in case it ever comes up in conversation. I'm not sure quite how it would help, though, since I believe a lot of cops are not very familiar with the constitution, or with the place it occupies in USAn law. So they may well incorrectly believe that a) they are violating the constitution, and b) this doesn't matter, because the order or law under which they are operating somehow overrides the constitution.

[stakebait.livejournal.com]

Really? I only know a few cops, but none of them seem not to understand the preeminence of the Constitution, although we may differ strongly in its interpretation.

[zsero.livejournal.com]

You may be right. I'm going by anecdotal evidence, and we all know what that's worth.