Yet another reason to stay home

[ltmurnau]

BC Ferries to screen passengers

This is bloody ridiculous. What are they going to screen passengers for? Will I have to leave my nail clippers at home when I want to visit my dad on Pender Island?

Even in the crazy days after 9/11, when the commuter ferries from Bainbridge and Vashon Island to Seattle had an actual armed escort of Coast Guard cutters, Washington State Ferries never did this.

Ordinarily I'd suspect it's just a plot to keep people in the terminal a bit longer, so they can watch the giant TV and buy the overpriced coffee and trinkets. But this is just one for Stupid Security.

Comments

No warrant... no search!

[espressoman.livejournal.com]

The B.C. Ferry system is part of the public highway system.

I would imagine a charter challenge on any regularly occuring
"random" searches.

I use the system regularly - If some rent-a-cop came up to
my wheels and said: "we wanna look in your trunk..."
I would say: "No warrant? Then UP yours..."
I would make a fuss.. They would suggest that I "turn around"..
I would not and then they would arrest me. Pretty simple.

Like America, Canada is slowly turning into a Police state...
certainly not as bad as the UK where there are 1 video camera
per 12 U.K. residents (It is estimated that there are some 4.2 million Closed Circuit TV (CCTV) cameras in Britain, one for every 14 people. An individual might be captured by more than 300 separate cameras on an average day.) -- in the USA and Canada there is less than 1/10th the amount of video snooping that goes on in the U.K.

Still, all this terror talk is utter bullshit used
to power a false economy on the verge of global collapse.

Have a nice day!

Re: No warrant... no search!

[ltmurnau.livejournal.com]

Do you remember the brief furore when the police brought their drug dogs along for a ferry ride a few times, several years ago? Thin edge of the wedge, buddih... and if the ferries are part of the highway system, then the police are perfectly within their power to look you and every bit of your vehicle over, just as they are entitled to pull you over on the Malahat or anywhere else.

The ferries seem to operate in a weird zone between "highway" (provincial jurisdiction) and "marine traffic" (federal jurisdiction). nocturnalmuse above points out the relevant Transport Canada memo about levels of maritime security.

They seem to be playing some kind of absurd catch-up against non-existent threats to ship traffic in the Straits. Witness the near-future deployment of a "marine commando regiment" at Comox; it's supposed to be there to protect against threats to ferries and cruise ships. Someone's been watching Speed 2: Cruise Control, I betcha!

Re: No warrant... no search!

[espressoman.livejournal.com]

A BC Ferry would be about as useful as a weapon
as the good year blimp...

What are you going to do, run it into Pender Island? Or ground it somewhere?
Their top speed is, what, 16 knots?
I can run faster than that for Chris-sakes...
(especially when motivated!)

Hey. Could we get into trouble just by talking about this stuff???
Hang on... someone is knocking at my door.....

Re: No warrant... no search!

[espressoman.livejournal.com]

Remember the times that the FUZZ were jumping onto
the BC Transit system and forcing people to open
up their bags because there was some event in town?

I can tell you that if I was riding the bus
across town to attend a party and some
oink wanted in my pack-sack to see if I
had any Wine...
I mean - the whole point of riding the BUS across town
is to GO to that PARTY with my WINE and enjoy myself.
Aint no way I am opening my bag and giving up my 12$ plonk
thanks very much.

Grrrr. fookin oinks.

Re: No warrant... no search!

[ltmurnau.livejournal.com]

I remember that. In fact, I got searched myself last Canada Day, and got to stand in a pool of vomit for the rest of the trip downtown. The fact that I was quite of age and had nothing in my bag but my Walkman cut no ice with the "nice" constable - I could have been a Zima mule for those uncontrolled youngsters!

Re: No warrant... no search!

[espressoman.livejournal.com]

Say What? Our Lt. was searched by the oinks?
You willingly submitted yourself to this indignity?
I cannot believe what I am reading!
Surely the Great Lt. would have faced house arrest before opening his
kit-bag to a dime-store reener.

My god man! Give you head a shake.
If you are not part of the resistance, you are part
of the quiet doping populace.
Pardon me now while I retch into my recycling basket.

Re: No warrant... no search!

[espressoman.livejournal.com]

"I got searched myself last Canada Day"...

Damn. I am not done yet.
Reading about this shit happening in MY country
makes me fookin furious.

Fcuk!