TSA will now be randomly searching vehicles in Tennessee

[smokin3000gt]

PORTLAND, Tenn. – You're probably used to seeing TSA's signature blue uniforms at the airport, but now agents are hitting the interstates to fight terrorism with Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR).

"Where is a terrorist more apt to be found? Not these days on an airplane more likely on the interstate," said Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security Commissioner Bill Gibbons.

Tuesday Tennessee was first to deploy VIPR simultaneously at five weigh stations and two bus stations across the state.

Read more... http://www.newschannel5.com/story/15...vipr-statewide

Sweet! How long until my home is randomly searched? Remember, in the 1990's Timothy McVeigh had a house that wasn't randomly searched and look what happened!

[SCSTILLER]

This is crazy! How random is the randomness going to be? Are they going to pull over 3 towel heads (yep, I am not politically correct) driving a white work van towards a military base/nuclear facility, or are they going to pull over the Smith's in their Chrysler minivan with the 3 children in the back seat. You know, we don't want to offend anyone!

Also, it seems like our government agencies keep expanding their scope of operations. It really worries me!

[smokin3000gt]

This is crazy! How random is the randomness going to be? Are they going to pull over 3 towel heads (yep, I am not politically correct) driving a white work van towards a military base/nuclear facility, or are they going to pull over the Smith's in their Chrysler minivan with the 3 children in the back seat. You know, we don't want to offend anyone!

Also, it seems like our government agencies keep expanding their scope of operations. It really worries me!

You know it's going to be the soccer van. US would rather infringe on the rights/feelings of everyone then of a few. Don't forget to search grandma's diaper for jihad!

If TSA was doing that shit down here and tried to pull me over, it would probably be the first TSA high speed chase ever.

[The Patriot]

All you have to do is refuse a random search, and then step back. If they search you anyway, you can take it to the courts (if you really feel like it). Just because something is made law, doesn't mean the courts will uphold it.

[7SteelGal43]

Are they going to pull over 3 towel heads

Speaking of towel heads, have y'all noticed how many of them are now driving 18 wheelers ?! Made me wonder W T F is goin on.

[Godfather]

Sweet! How long until my home is randomly searched? Remember, in the 1990's Timothy McVeigh had a house that wasn't randomly searched and look what happened!

Don't give them any ideas.

[suitanim]

I know I will never ever be searched. I'm white. I drive a newer car. I keep it clean. I don't have window tint. I have short hair. I wear a suit during most of my driving. I'm a good driver, and obey most of the rules of the road (although I drive 8-10 miles over the speed limit, especially on the highway. I have also never had a speeding ticket in 26 years of driving, and part of my job involves a lot of driving). I don't do anything wrong, and my profile is that of a businessman doing business while obeying the law, which is entirely accurate.

This is a fine policy if they profile, based on suspicion. If they don't, and start randomly stopping little old ladies and 16 year old girls like the the TSA retardedly does in airports, this will be a problem. Even if they just have roadblocks like sobriety checks, I don't have a problem. But you can't just start randomly pulling over every third car and start searching it. Unconstitutional.

[Craic]

Once again, I have to wonder how many people have read the article.

1. VIPR is being done at weigh stations, which already has a REQUIREMENT that trucks pull off the road to be inspected. The fact that they're being inspected for something other than weight to axle isn't a big deal. It's not private citizens.

2. Bus stations are just as likely a target as an airport, and IMO, represent the same purview.

If they were stopping cars randomly, then I'd have a serious problem with it. But they aren't. I understand and really appreciate being leery of govt. encroachment. However, It's also a good idea to make sure we're not seeing boogeymen behind every badge and action as well. No one is being stopped here that would not be stopped otherwise. No one is being inspected that would not be inspected otherwise.

Now in a completely separate issue (only linked together because Drudgereport put them in the same frame), there are random narcotic stops being made in Michigan. That is the same as DUI checkpoints and may or may not stand up in court. I where I live, there often are DUI check points. I'm not at all comfortable with the idea of a narcotic check point, even if I am sympathetic with the problem they're trying to solve.

[suitanim]

Once again, I have to wonder how many people have read the article.

1. VIPR is being done at weigh stations, which already has a REQUIREMENT that trucks pull off the road to be inspected. The fact that they're being inspected for something other than weight to axle isn't a big deal. It's not private citizens.

2. Bus stations are just as likely a target as an airport, and IMO, represent the same purview.

If they were stopping cars randomly, then I'd have a serious problem with it. But they aren't. I understand and really appreciate being leery of govt. encroachment. However, It's also a good idea to make sure we're not seeing boogeymen behind every badge and action as well. No one is being stopped here that would not be stopped otherwise. No one is being inspected that would not be inspected otherwise.

Now in a completely separate issue (only linked together because Drudgereport put them in the same frame), there are random narcotic stops being made in Michigan. That is the same as DUI checkpoints and may or may not stand up in court. I where I live, there often are DUI check points. I'm not at all comfortable with the idea of a narcotic check point, even if I am sympathetic with the problem they're trying to solve.

I'm talking about sliding down the slippery slope. I personally, have nothing to worry about, so I'm not worried about even the most egregious of violations of constitutional protections (from a practical standpoint, meaning I have nothing to hide so there's nothing to find).

I've learned to accept sobriety checkpoints over the years (although they are hugely ineffective. In Ohio they cost tons of cash and less than 1% of the cars stopped net a drunk driver), but that is the extent of stretching illegal search and seizure laws. I'm not comfortable with what TN is doing because I expect it to get worse, but my main point is that I'm not going to be personally affected either way.

[GoSlash27]

First they came for the truckers, but I did not speak out because I wasn't a trucker...

/highly troubling