Airport Vehicle Searches

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MoonMan

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Recently at the Manchester NH airport (a county-owned facility), they have begun random vehicle searches, even for those just picking up or dropping off.

For what are they looking? I have a license to carry, the pick-up/drop-off area is not a prohibited area. If the search turns up my firearm, will there be a problem for me?
 
Noticed the same thing in St Louis.

They don't stop or search the parking shuttles which could be comandeered, packed full & driven into the terminal. Looked like the check point for cars was so lame it could have been bypassed by anyone with serious intent.
 
The searches are being conducted following an order by the Dept. of Homeland Security. (and I have no idea why.....neither do they I think)

A number of airports have refused to comply usually citing potential violation of the state constitution. To my knowledge they have not challanged the order as a viiolation of the the US Constitution.
 
:banghead:

Someone once said.....a person accepts a condition or problem until they become sick enough of its existence to do something positive to change it....I often read threads that, while having a valid point, fail to portray any intent of action to try to correct the problems described.....So, in the end, we receive what we are willing to accept. Yes, it is unlikely that "one" person can change the overwhelming problems existing....as no war is ever fought with only one Solider....but every "group" taking positive actions begins first with one person's dream.
 
I can't speak for the current situation since we raised the threat level, but back in September at Lambert in St. Louis the search they were conducting of all vehicles entering the parking garage was laughable. The security person may have discovered a big black ball with a fuse coming out the top and BOMB stencilled on the side in the back of my Expedition. Then again, maybe not....

My guess is the random searches are more to fool the sheeple into thinking their federal government is protecting them then they are to actually increase security.

Jeff
 
All it will take is one person to say no, be searched anyway, and the file suit. This is how the system works.

Worst case scenario: SCOTUS rules that driving into an airport implies consent to have one's vehicle searched. Then at least everyone will know in adavnce, and there will likely have to be signage to that effect.

Mike
 
All over the news today in Atlanta... Allow THREE hours, at least, for check-in, parking etc at the Airport.

I can drive the 130 miles to Birmingham, park, check-in, and kill an half-hour or so and still save time instead of the 36 mile drive across Atlanta to the airport.
 
I've seen the news coverage of these "random" searches. The reporter at one airport said police were stopping every fifth car. That's not random.

How can a human make random searches? We follow patterns, we allow outside influence to affect our choices, and we follow orders.

Computers and dice can make random choices.
 
I recently noticed this myself; obvious waste of manpower.
Especially the leo posted there.:rolleyes:
 
Last year at the Burlington, Vt airport they had the Nat Guard searching every (light traffic at this airport) car in to the lot and drop off. I was dropping off my GF in my cherokee w/ the dog in the back w/ the seats folded down. I had just come from the gun shop and had a case of ammo and a .22 rifle mostly covered by a jacket behind the drivers seat. They opened the rear hatch and asked me to hold the dog. The dog is now standing on the ammo and rifle. The two soldiers pet the dog and let me through. I guess all you need to be a terrorist is a Yellow Lab. What a waste of manpower.
 
Population control everybody. Look at the number of people who don't fly anymore. Keep everyone in their own area. Just watch and see what happens next.
 
I'm still left wondering what would happen if their search turned up a person carrying legally.

Would they try to turn him/her away, or do nothing?
 
Legally's the key, moonman.

FAIK, it isn't illegal to have an "arsenal" o' guns long as you don't go past the "secure area." Boatload of shooters shouldn't be any big deal in your auto - 'course doubtful if the "security aparatus folks" have any clue as to what the law is.

I do wonder how many "bad things" these guys have "caught."

Assuming there's proper security in place to keep ne'r-do-wells from boarding, what in the world purpose could be served by searching a car? :rolleyes:
 
Word is that the Bad Guys are considering pulling stunts at softer areas of high-value targets. For instance, recall the El AL shootout in the pre-security area? Stuff like that. A crowd of travellers standing outside the terminal at curbside check-in would be a nice target for a car bomb or well-executed drive-by. I suspect they're trying to address this issue.

Mike
 
I am glad I heard about this as I occasionaly work on fuel trucks and other equiptment on local air ports. I wouldn,t want my little secrets in my service truck to give anybody the willies. I'll disarm before I respond to an airport service call and add on another 'service charge' for working unarmed.......:cool:
 
Mike,

"A crowd of travellers standing outside the terminal at curbside check-in would be a nice target for a car bomb or well-executed drive-by. I suspect they're trying to address this issue."

Granted, but a similar-sized crowd standing around waiting to get into a movie isn't?

Point being that there are too many "soft targets" to list & searching cars coming into an airport isn't doing anything to stop any of it - any more than there's any protection for all the other soft targets. Searches at airports get "priority" merely because planes were used to do in the 2Towers & have "visibility" to make us feel safer.

Can you say boxcutters? That & the will to use them+ to their desired result allowed 911 to happen. No security apparatus can ever prevent a similar occurance. If it isn't another plane, it will be something else.

Even with a complete/total lock-down on everything, still something can (& will) get through & will allow another "event."

Still, for all I can find regards fed & CO law, it isn't illegal to possess a legally carried firearm (CO is legal to CCW in any mass-transit facility with proper "license") anywhere in & around an airport, long as you don't try to walk through "security." Read that last as the "check point." Up to, by all accounts, you're good to go.

Pena Blvd, the road to DIA, has signs (well before 911) that states "vehicles subject to search/FAA Area, yada." OK, well & good, & I'm all for keeping the random Mad Car Bombers from accessing the 'port, but I'd just betcha that any of these fine young men (& wimmons) don't have any clue as to what the laws are & they'd jack you up toot sweet for having a legally possessed firearm if "breaking the barrier."

Just a consideration & mention.
 
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