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TSA Orders Searches of Valet Parked Car At Airport
schwit1 writes "Laurie Iacuzza walked to her waiting car at the Greater Rochester International Airport after returning from a trip and that's when she found it — a notice saying her car was inspected after she left for her flight. She said, 'I was furious. They never mentioned it to me when I booked the valet or when I picked up the car or when I dropped it off.' Iacuzza's car was inspected by valet attendants on orders from the TSA."
Valet parked cars may remain in front of the busy area of the airport for a while before being parked.
Already-parked cars aren't near the airport.
If you're going to park a car full of explosives, you can either create a small crater in a car park, or you will go for the airport - so cars that are left outside are checked.
Yes, people who are parking the cars should be informed beforehand. That way they can choose to park themselves and make their own way to the terminal building if they don't want their car searched.
This is the problem with more and more property being private and subject to conditions. On true public ground things like the 4th amendment matter. On private property, you're subject to the whims of the owners.
'tis a slippery slope :(
You know the secret of big whoop?
This country is out of control. We have no more 4th amendment. Pretty soon the TSA will be expanding their highway searches from commercial trucks to every passenger car. Your freedom is gone. That being said, I would never trust my car to a valet. I park it myself. You are just asking for trouble otherwise.
We'll be hearing about the TSA searching us while they drive around in vans equipped with backscatter x-ray scanners. Oh, wait, that's old news. .
sysadmins and parents of newborns get the same amount of sleep.
According to the article, the valets themselves. Mot TSA agents, minimum wage, no-background-check valets. They're the last people to be in the car, and they decide where to park them. Anyone else see the two glaring problems here?
oh, so the poor valet schmuck who finds a bomb, and it gets detonated, is the one who will suffer loss of limbs and/or life? I'd hate to be paid minimum wage doing two jobs - one of them being a bomb detector.
They'd probably like to be able to search any car that comes to the airport. Even so, I imagine they restrict searches to valet parked cars for two reasons: 1) they've the keys in hand and so it's easy; 2) more importantly, some lawyer probably told them that they could make the case in court that valet parked cars have no reasonable expectation of privacy.
He may not live past his first term but at least he'll shut down the TSA.
At every airport I have driven in to I have seen large signs on the road leading to the airport that inform the public that their vehicle is subject to search. Your rights don't magically come back just because you paid for a valet to park your car. This is not news to me and I'm not surprised.
If it looks like a police state and it lives like a police state, how is it different from a police state?
You know the secret of big whoop?
I love you.
http://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights-constitution-free-zone-map
Rochester isn't on this map, but I'm sure its in there...
This whole operation falls apart at the words "TSA Regulations." There's no acceptable justification for routine searches of these cars under the fourth amendment. They're not getting on the planes, therefore the (already questionable) reasoning being used to have passengers searched doesn't apply here at all.
In SOVIET RUSSIA... erm...NSA AMERICA, the Internet logs onto YOU!
I wonder what would happen if you had separate keys for the ignition and glove-box/trunk?
do burn outs
change radio presets
the nicer the car and the lower the tip the more of stuff like that happens.
All this does is give the TSA a new place from which to steal. Don't leave anything of value in your car; it may (probably) won't be there when you get back. Without a crowd watching them, the agents will be even more tempted to take what isn't theirs.
Am I the only one who think it odd that the TSA is looking for terrorists that.. use Valet parking?
i wonder how long it will take for somebody to start rigging their trunk with some sort of oh Powder Bomb (which would engulf the valet with glowing talc). Of course i would be polite and have the trunk taped shut and a bumper sticker stating "Contents can not be inspected without owner present".
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Don't take your car to the airport unless a family member or good friend drives it home for you. Other option is just take a cab.
~~ Behold the flying cow with a rail gun! ~~
He'll shut down the TSA the same way Obama shut down Gitmo.
He is rubber, you are glue.
Well I don't mind most of the security measures taken by the TSA, I do have a problem when they blind search someones space. If your going to search a car after someone leaves then fine but at least tell them your going to do it. If you tell me your going to search my car when I book my trip, or when I park the car and I'm given time to prep the car then I don't have an issue. I've had cases where I've had control substances ( not drugs ) in my car, if a TSA agent found those then what was going to happen? First of all the TSA doesn't require a high level or even medium level of intelligence for employees, I don't trust the judgement of most TSA agents and I certainly don't trust them when I'm not present or given time to prepare my space. Someone needs to speak up and ban this practice, it's just completely unfair.
Well if they're turning a valet parking invitation into a free inspection, there's also nothing stopping you from putting these 100dB contact-break alarms on basically everything including the trunk, glove compartment, etc. Let's see how mister TSA wanna-be likes his job when he gets 100 decibels in his face any time he touches anything but the steering wheel.
I live in an apartment and it has one of those pathetically insecure chicken wire cages upstairs for additional storage. A $1 wire clipper and you can steal everyone's stuff so I put 4 of those contact break alarms under a cardboard box containing my stuff. Then I drew an arrow and "do not move or touch - pressure-sensitive alarm will sound" and that's the last thing anyone will steal. It'd work just as well for car searches except put the alarm on the inside so instead of a deterrent, it's a punishment of sorts.
All of the cars that I've purchased in the past 20 years come with a valet key.
I wonder what would happen if you used that?
If I had a bomb or other nefarious contraband in my car and wanted to do harm at an airport, why the hell would I valet the car? This is one more example of TSA and other nation security state powers being used for infringing on the rights of people. I mean really...
"What the American public doesn't know is what makes them the American public." -Ray Zalinsky (Tommy Boy)
Your life and freedom are at the whims of soulless government agents most of which are stupider, less educated, low paid, and resentful of anyone with the means to travel.
Democrats want to expand this experience to the whole country.
Republicans want the same thing but give you a pass if you are white and not obviously poor.
Who can I vote for who will support an addendum to the 4th amendment: Government agents are required to obtain a warrant in order to get ANY information not readily available to the public.
Bomb sniffing dogs would be effective for all vehicles and much less invasive, not to mention constitutional and generally accepted by the public. Must be why they don't do it. :P
If the TSA knows you're away, I guess they will soon consider it OK to enter your house/apartment and perform a search. Of course, they will leave a nice note informing you've they've broken in. It will also explain your missing iPad or other desirable electronics. Good luck reporting *that* to the police.
When the hell is the government going to learn that 1984 was not an instruction manual?
If telephones are outlawed, then only outlaws will have telephones.
Snowden was here... Snowden was here... Snowden was here...
There have been several stories right here on Slashdot about TSA employees stealing stuff from passengers.
I am too lazy to look the articles up. Sorry.
When we hit back.
The TSA are there to protect people that get on the plane. They are NOT there to protect people at the airport. They do not have the legal authority to check cars.
Why? Because going to the airport is not any more dangerous than going to any other place. A police officer would have needed a warrant to check a parked car in that situation (i.e. no obvious threat such as stray wires, count down clocks, wierd boxes attached to the car) , as would the TSA agent or the valet for that matter.
I personally would sue the TSA and the valet company.
The mere fact that some psychotic paranoid is afraid of you does not give them the right to search you - not even if they have a badge. They need a specific law (or legal ruling) to do that.
Banks have these explosive ink packs that permanently mark everything. They throw them in with the bags of money when they are being robbed. This helps trace the money and often also stains the criminals so that they can be spotted easily.
I suggest anyone planning on parking at the airport to throw a few of these ink packs in the trunk, and then when you get back you make sure to closely question the kid with the purple face.
If telephones are outlawed, then only outlaws will have telephones.
It sounds conspiratorial, but stories like this make it easier to believe that it's less about the stated goal and more about looking to push the boundaries of authoritarianism. By using a third party they look to blur the lines of legality and constitutionality and giving them a possible out or scapegoat. Not cool...
"Now, I doubt any of you would prefer a rolled up newspaper as a weapon against a dictator or a criminal intruder."
The TSA is not involved in the Rochester airport. Little known fact, but airports are allowed to hire private security companies to do the passenger screening again as long as they follow TSA guidelines.
We are really asking valets guys to "inspect" a car?
Now the valets become the triggering device.
For at least the last 5 years that I've been flying in and out of PHX, and as you drive through the airport thru fare, there's a posted sign every quarter mile that clearly states "Your vehicle is subject to search."
So if I decided to valet my vehicle and I have handed over my keys and property, I would fully expect them to take advantage of the sign. If they don't have my keys, they're not going to break into my vehicle unless it has triggered some sort of detection device. Valet vehicles are parked in high traffic areas if they're only around for a short time or if the valets are busy, think about the damage that could be done with an explosive.
It's seriously as simple as that... Last thing I want to do is advocate for the TSA, but c'mon, these signs have been posted for years.
of course, could be lying http://reason.com/blog/2013/07/18/it-wasnt-us-tsa-says-of-car-searches-at
They can do pretty much what ever they want in the name of your safety. http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2012/02/29/the-tsa-is-coming-to-a-highway-near-you/
Seems to be how weapons laws go. It is rare to find a country with gun laws that are entirely sensible. I think part of the reason is that when restrictions are enacted, they are often written by people who hate guns and thus know very little about them. They then never trouble themselves to consult with their military or the like to get some information. So, you get a silly law.
No one here is bothered the search is conducted by a non law enforcement personal? Ya there needs to be a warrant for every search and it should be done by law enforcement not a car parking attendant.
Jack of all trades,master of none
The net change in safety of searching for 'car bombs' after a vehicle has already entered a 'protected area' is effectively zero, and in a free society it is neither possible nor desirable to protect everything that could possibly be attacked at all costs.
Or are you advocating a search of all of the vehicles prior to arrival in the area they're trying to 'protect', at a hardened entry-point that would prevent a sufficiently-motivated driver from bypassing the search by driving around/through? Maybe we should place these entry points on every highway, and in front of every building, just in case some terrorists have a car bomb!
This is just another pretext for expanding 'security creep' into ever more arbitrary realms of American society to enrich the security-industrial complex and widen the influence of the security state and its minions.
And nothing is done. Not by the left, not by the right. Not by the libertarians nor the socialists.
Why are we content to allow a security surveillance police state to evolve right in front of our eyes?
> I don't oppose them giving a quick glance around the interior of the car (you did give them permission to get inside) or underneath it, but opening the trunk is going too far in my opinion.
I'm thinking you're looking for a bomb that is 25 kilograms or more, it almost makes more sense to look in the window and glance in the trunk - no need to "inspect" the interior of the car.
Sure, a kg of HE would make a loud, scary bang, but major damage would be hundreds of kilograms - not hard to see by glancing in the window and peeking in the trunk, with no significant "inspection" needed.
a case of security is good but charging for valet parking is better?
Not only did we park your car, but we made sure someone didn't sneak 4 tons of explosives in it for free! Don't you feel safer, America?
Iacuzza rhymes with Yakuza. That's too obvious a connection for the TSA to ignore.
“I was furious. They never mentioned it to me when I booked the valet or when I picked up the car or when I dropped it off.”
Most people don't read signs. It worked at a festival and that had a camping area. There was a rule that no glass was allowed in the camping area as it was an athletic field. Many times when I told people to put away the glass they replied that no one told them glass was not allowed. This was even though the following had been done to inform them;
1. It was in the release they signed.
2. It was in 4 in high letters within 5 feet of the venue entrance.
3. It was in 4 in high letters within 2 feet of the camping entrance
4. It was in 1 inch high letters on a 2'x4' placard, that displayed all the rules, next to the camping entrance
The sign was probably up there but she just didn't read it. This "they didn't tell me" excuse is more indication of the lack of personal responsibility. Inform yourself, read signs, look things up, stop making excuses.
The searches are concerned with bombs. Any adult would be suspicious about a bunch of sticks with the explosive has-mat logo on it or a bunch of drums with wires running out of them. I bet the valets are told to contact security if they find something suspicious. It does not take training to do that. Is it perfect? No. Might it be helpful? Yes. Might it help stave of the claim that the TSA failed to use every available asset to protect airport security? Definitely. I can just see the headline;
TSA fails again to secure airports as massive bomb explodes in valet parking.
Is that: "Iacuzza said she doesn't mind the security measure. She just wants to be told if her car is getting searched." Somehow knowing that it happens make her ok with it. After all, she doesn't have anything to hide. She's is consenting to continued violations of the 4th Amendments because she's bought a season pass to the security theater.
Just like mccarthyism dying, it took people a while to wake up that hunting communists would eventually mean them too. Hopefully, with the nsa spying story we have turned the corner and can start to dismantle the tsa.
Sorry, I just thought the name was funny.
The valet kid is at best worse trained, if at all, than the TSA droids. Whose attention locks on to mini speakers for mp3 players, shampoo and the like.
"This looks suspicious" will require TSA to go to the car, reasonably keeping others away while they look.
Unless obviously harmless, next it's the bomb squad and the airport, or at least the parking, shuts down.
"Wow, it was some geeky electronic gadget, but better safe than sorry!"
TSA does not have the authority to do that. Or at least, nobody has any obligation to follow those so called "orders". First, the TSA are not police, they are security guards.
Second, your consitutional rights are RIGHTS, which means you can require a court ordered warrant.
This may be the 1st time the Valet's have been "ordered" to inspect your car, but I assure you they have been doing it all along.
errr....umm...*whooosh* *whoosh* Is this thing on ?
nothing to see here, please start to get used to this so that it seems normal to you, thank you citizen
Working in support of or in cooperation with the US government is very bad for your business. The government might shut you down for a moment until people start complaining that they can't get service any longer. But eventually the message will be clear and it will be heard. Money interests will cause the government to respond. Especially state and local government.
He did NOT claim to want to shut down the TSA, just to privatize it.
That way we'd have a completely different class of thugs (not even employable by the current TSA) molesting us.
That's it. It's time for the fourth box - the one for ammo.
They do it because they can. It is one more step down the slippery slope (and since the valets already have the keys so there is no evidence if something a TSA agent wants "disappears"). I'm sure that in a few years all cars will be required to have TSA approved locks on them so that they can check them in the other lots as well. A few years after that the police will start using them to do "random" security checks on parked cars. etc.
Next up.
TSA visits homes/apartments of people while they are away.
Better hid anything that can be pawned off by TSA!
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Rochester is a small airport - every time I've flown out of there (or Syracuse for that matter), from the time I enter the property, park, walk to the terminal, go through security and get to my gate, no more than 20 minutes has passed.
If you really need valet parking at a small airport with a parking lot next to the terminal, you're just fucking lazy.
This just goes to show how unbelievably rare terrorists are. You have this huge, massive, exploitable hole that literally *everyone* know about....yet it goes unexploited.
That's because the number of terrorists who have the inclination to actually do something like this is almost 0.
Airport security is a solution looking for a problem. 9/11 was (1) a fluke and (2) airport security is it is now wouldn't have stopped it anyway!
With the first link, the chain is forged.