Are cops allowed to stop and search your bag for no reason whatsoever in America?

Question

Why did cops in NYC search my bag on the subway for NO reason?

I'm just a young girl minding my own business. The new rules of random stop and search in subways and buses...is this necessary?

Subway has thousands of entrances that terrorists can get thru with no detection. Does Bush think manning only a handful of entrances is going to stop a terrorist?

Soon the govt will have the right to stop me anytime anywhere to seach my bag for NO APPARENT REASON. I was just WALKING for godsake! What is this..Communist China?

MEANWHILE, MEXICAN AND CANADIAN BORDERS ARE WIDE OPEN!! WHO'S MANNING THE BORDERS

open4one..no..you are the confused one.
YOU tell me why it is ok to search anyone anytime ...but not ok to man our borders?

Answer 1

I'm wondering how many time are you going to ask this? So, far I've counted 26 times. I think that's a new record.

Answer 2

Law Enforcement has every right to search someone's baggage if they feel the search is warranted. It's called probable Cause. Probable Cause could be attained from the simple fact that as you approached the security checkpoint, you looked the other way, you looked nervous, or you tried to get past without a search.

Also, typically, going through a checkpoint at an Airport, Subway, Bus terminal, they will search "X" passenger as they pass through. Most of the time, it's completely Random.

Were you the only person going through that you saw that had a bag? Or did others have one? If others did, then you were the unlucky one that they decided to search, simple as that.

And I would say, with a big emphatic "HELL YEAH!" that random searches is necassary, not only for your safety but for mine too. Perhaps you shouldn't be so angry with the search itself, but should be happy that they are searching at all.... that is unless you want to be one of the unfortunates in a Subway that a terrorist is on and blows up... like they did in England a year or more ago? Personally, I would prefer to be searched over blown to bits.

No, this isn't communist China. If you want, go there and see how different it is. You may change your mind.

The borders are not wide open. If you haven't been to Mexico, check it out. There are fences down there. Yes, parts of them are wide open, but you were being general. If your so concerned about the borders, hire into the government agency that monitors them. Then you can tell people that it's YOU that is manning the border.

Anywho, have a nice day. Don't stress about the stupid things. And try to relax a bit.

Answer 3

The cops didn't search your bag "for no reason" or just to harass you. They are searching bags for weapons, explosives, drugs, any sort of illegal items. However, there aren't evnough cops to search the bags of every single person, so they have to take a random sampling of people and hope the odds are on their side. I know, you'll argue, why a random group of people, why not focus on the suspicious looking people? Well, because that's not really fair either - just because someone LOOKS suspicious doesn't mean they are dangerous, and just because someone LOOKS innocent doesn't mean they are.

And yes, the police have the right enforce reasonable safety measures in public places - a brief bag search is a reasonable measure, but a full body-cavity search would be excessive and totally unreasonable. If you don't like it, then don't ride the subway - it's not a great choice, but you still have the choice to avoid the search.

And spare me the drama - have you ever BEEN to communist China? They have the right to haul off citizens to jail and keep them there indefinitely without giving them any reason, chance to ask for help, right to a jury... now THAT's a violation of civil rights. And there are hundreds of officers manning the nation's borders, especially to the south. But I dare to you walk over hundreds of miles of desert to see how effectively YOU can guard every inch, 24/7, from every person who might try to sneak in.

So cut the police a little slack - they are out there try to keep people safe, and they keep doing it, no matter how ungrateful people are about it.

Answer 4

You answered your own question. If they are screening for terrorists then the search isn't for no reason (legally). There are a few schools of thought to your question though.

A) If you have nothing to hide you shouldn't be worried.

B) Complain all you want but won't you feel better if a plot is thwarted. Of course if they slip through and pull off another attack people will complain regardless.

C) Sure it's unfair and possibly illogical given our current border policies, but it's a small price to pay to prevent another attack. One should also keep in mind that NYC was the target on 9/11 so it would make sense that NYC would impose greater security measures.

Answer 5

If you live in NYC you should know that random search is to protect people's lives. Would be okay with you if they just search people from Middle-East, or African-Americans, or Hispanics?

They cannot judge a book by its cover, so they have to search anyone. A terrorist does not necessarily looks like a criminal, it can be your neighbor or your new friend!... Don't you remember how the terrorists from 9/11 look like?

BTW Why you ask the same question more than 20 times?

Answer 6

No,
They need to establish reasonable cause prior to a search. Even if the policeman did find something illegal, it would be very tough to pin on you in court as it is an unlawful search and subsequent seizure. However, this line has been blurred recently as the Patriot Act amoung other things have severly hampered our rights, in addition to cutting a lot of the red tape that cops and other law enforcement have to go through.

This last comment is for the comment for US Citizen above:
Where is the line drawn on where it's necessary for the government to combat terrorism and where our rights get infringed upon? The line was crossed with the introduction of the Patriot Act. The act, named the Patriot act obviously to gather support, violates our right not to have unlawful searches and seizures. So what happens after the next attack when they require anal exams at the airports now? Are you still going to say oh it's just a minor inconvience, like I said where is the line?...

Answer 7

I can understand and its for safety after 9/11. Its whole new ballgame Who is manning the Border? Its the Border patrol who under staff like the National Guard. Would you like to join up with the Border Patrol?

Answer 8

In severe probability components mutually with subways and airports, the place terrorist assaults have happened, you're randomly searched. in any different case in all probability reason is mandatory. i don't have a topic with it, i'm happy to nicely known that the government is definitely doing some thing to stay away from yet another attack. "Subway has hundreds of entrances that terrorists can get via (sic) with out detection. Does Bush think of manning basically a handful of entrances is going to end a terrorist?" So are you asserting that in view that we can't cover all entrances, there is not any evaluate even attempting? it rather is ridiculous. it extremely is like asserting "we can't treatment all and sundry with maximum cancers, so enable's only provide up". the front somebody is guarding only might desire to be the single a terrorist walks by. people want to kill us only using fact of the place we've been born, i think of it is needed to might desire to placed up with some minor inconveniences to help end those "people".

Answer 9

Melanie, I replied to this same question before and one of your not-too-happy responders gave you a rude reply; I replied with the same rudeness but the infantile idiot chose to report me... it seems that he can dish it out but can't take it; so, I suggested he put a band aid on his tender, gentle feelings and go play in traffic (among other things). Some guys love to use rudeness but can't stand it when it's thrown back at them and they complain like little spoiled sissy boys!

I'm also as upset with this Third World Tyranny going on in this country; WE, the public, are responsible for tolerating it, but, of course, most people see the guns and are intimidated (which is the reason they display the weapons, to intimidate us and herd us like cattle) and the illegal seaches (I refuse to be searched; I simply ride the buses instead of the trains).

Answer 10

Remember, it is NOT O.K. to racially profile people.

Just because EVERY PERSON involved in the 9/11 attacks was named Muhammed Ackbar, or some variation, we can NOT search more Muslims than other people. We have to search you and the little old ladies, and let Useph Ali-Bin Gama go through.

Answer 11

By my count, you've posted this well over 20 times.

Look up the term probable cause and you'll have the answer.

Take care and remember...the voices you hear are fake. The voices only speak to me.