My biggest complaint is they choose people based on city pairs. The fact that I'm traveling from Chicago to Salt Lake City on a train in my own country should not be enough reason to question me. And yet it seems to be enough.. since I've been questioned for just that. I've mentioned it before on this board, but my personal experience was...
On Board Amtrak, in my Roomette, prior to departure from Chicago
- Officers Greet me, tell me they are conducting "random" security screenings and says "Can I ask you a few questions " - I agreed.
- Proceeds to question me "where are you traveling? why are you traveling? why did you choose the train? did you pack your luggage? was your luggage in your possesion while at the station? do you have any weapons, illegal drugs, or large sums of cash?
- After answering all the questions
Office: "In order to verify what you just said, will you allow us to search your luggage?"
Me: "if I have a choice, then no"
Oficer: You don't wish to allow us to verify that you are telling the truth?
Me: I don't understand that question.
Officer: Is there a reason you don't want your luggage to be searched?
Me: I don't want my luggage searched unless it is required
Officer: Well it appears that you are nervous about your luggage being searched and that concerns me.
Me: I'm not nervous, I'm just confused. Do I have a right to deny the search on my luggage?
Officer: Yes you have that right. But I have the authority to insist that your luggage is searched by a canine before you travel, and I can't guarantee that I can arrange that before your train departs.
Me: So If I deny the search, than you are going to take my luggage off the train?
Officer: Correct for a canine search. Or we can search your luggage here, in your presence.
Me: Then go ahead and do the search.
Which they did... opening every zipper in my luggage, opening a small pelican case, opening my camera bag, and even tearing open a plastic laundry bag (the kind you get from hotels, I had tied it shut).
Again... I was traveling from Chicago to Salt Lake City. Alone. In a Roomette. That is it. I have no police record, no history with drugs, nothing.