Amtrak Police shook me down in Reno

shop deals on amazon
Advertise with us
Shop deals on ebay
Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum

Help Support Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Status
Not open for further replies.
OTownDog

OTownDog

Train Attendant
Joined
Feb 25, 2010
Messages
43
Location
Orlando, FL
I'm on the California Zephyr westbound and this morning in Reno I was outside smoking and was approached by a plain-clothes Amtrak Police officer. He proceeded to ask to see my ticket, ask me how I paid for it, who I was traveling with, what car I was traveling in, and what business I had in Northern California. I answered his questions and though that was the end of it. Nope, no sooner did I get back to my roomette and the same officer proceeded to ask me if I "had anything in my room I shouldn't". I replied "no" and he said "then you won't mind if I take a look through your things". I complied without any comment because I did not want to get kicked off the train, and he proceeded to empty and/or rifle through my 2 carry on bags and my toiletry bag. The reason for the search was "to find people transporting drugs and laundered money".

This interrogation and search was extremely embarrassing as other passengers could see and hear what was happening. This was nothing short of a shakedown as far as I'm concerned. I was the only one to whom this happened. If I wanted to be treated like a criminal I would have flown to California instead of taking the train. It's disheartening that we are subject to this nonsense. If they thought I was such a threat to the safety, they should have done something 4 days ago when I began my trip in Orlando.

I understand the need for security on a train, but it was the manner in which this police officer was treating me, as if he already knew he was going to find something in my bags, that really upset me. I'm trying to not let this ruin my day, but I wanted to put this out there for others.. these Amtrak Police thugs will shake you down at any time.

Other than that the trip has been wonderful. I'll post a full trip report later.
 
Hi,

I suggest you see it as a compliment.. maybe you look a character, rather than a bland nobody? I am so looking forward to my first shakedown.. It's all just so American!!

Ed :cool:
 
I'm very sorry to hear that, but if we continue to sit on our ass we will see Amtrak become a future casualty in the war on a civil rights. We need to speak up and demand our protections back, not just to fellow AU members but also to our congresspeople and senators and our president.
 
Sorry it happened to you, dont let it spoil your trip! Doont know why they singled you out, could be because you are a single traveler, fit some "profile" that this so called officer has in his mind but it doesnt really sound that this jibs? You said he was a plain clothes

guy, was he DEA or HLS or a local??? I dont believe that locals work Amtrak trains unless they are called by the conductor for specific reasons so chance are he was a fed! Did he show you ID, tell you what he was looking for/why he singled you out? Unless Im mistaken they have to have probable cause for searches, Im not a lawyer but since you consented it probably was a legal search! Lots of our members are concerned wioth this happening more and more on trains,IMO using dogs might be allright but to randomly search passengers rooms and luggage is not OK! Be sure and let Amtrak Customer Relations know about this when you get home, and as was said enjoy the rest of your trip, hope it doesnt happen again!
 
I'm assuming he showed a badge, etc., etc.?

If this happens to anyone else, make sure, (usually AFTER they are done is better, unless you enjoy enjoy confrontation, like me) you request their FULL NAME, and verify the spelling (even if it is "Smith", God they hate that) and get their EMPLOYEE and or BADGE NUMBER.

You can also turn on your phone video, and once on, TELL them you are recording the event for your security and their security. It's important to TELL them you are recording, as some states/feds claim it is illegal to video them without their consent. They can back that up, because the video also records AUDIO, which is, in some cases, illegal to record, without the person's consent.........

Wonder what AGR would do if you were "detained" by Amtrak police/Border Patrol, but then later let go, (after your train had left) with no charges?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Sorry, things like this brings me back to my youth, Viet Nam, Uncle Sam, Big Brother, Military Industrial Complex, JFK, MLK, Robt K, Malcom X , Iran, Iraq, Afghanastan. Mena Ak, Venice Airport, Bobby Seal, Native Americans, LBJ, Reagan, Clinton, BCCI, Bush, 9/11 etc etc etc!!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/railfreak/4649658857/in/set-72157624160213094

Sorry,

Just Struck A nerve!!!

I Need A Train Ride!!!!!
cool.gif
 
There are several things that come to mind:

1. Maybe something about you looked suspicious to this character.

2. Maybe he felt sure that there was nothing suspicious about you.

Why the second? It gies him a statistical point that he has checked out potential problems, and to avoid risk to his own hide he has picked someone that he considers to be of no threat to himself.

What makes me suspect that? A high school that my kids were in had a policy of "random" drug tests. One particular girl got picked almost every time that would never even dream of taking anything much stronger that an occasional soft drink, and a couple of kids that were known druggies, at least to the other kids, were never picked for these "random" tests. Why you ask? It made the statistics for the school look better by making sure that they looked like the had a low percentage of druggies.

Also: Think of the ATF: They are more than willing to go after gun collectors that are a threat to no one at all, but try to get them to go after the illegal weapons in the hands of urban gangs? Not happening. That might put their own hides as risk, and while at it provide some true improvements in public safety.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
A "shakedown" is when the police hassle you with the intent of having you bribe them to go away; it's an extortion. Did the Amtrak police officer seem to be soliciting a bribe? Did you offer him a bribe?
 
Ok, so lets start this off on the right foot before everybody jumps on the 9-11 governemnt conspiracy BS. This is a very common occurance in Reno and it is NOT the Amtrak Police, but rather the Reno Police Dept. The are looking for people traffic drugs along the I-80 corridor and quite frequently (at least once a week) make a bust, a very substancial one at that. This has NOTHING to do with terriorism, but rather illegal drugs. The Reno Police will meet the train in Truckee or Winnamucca and go through the manifests looking for people who fit a certain criteria, I dont know what that criteria is. I would guess, and this is strickly a guess, but Orgin, Destination, how the ticket was paid for etc. A cross country trip, one way, paid cash, booked at the last minuete would likely set off a red flag so to speak. Once the officeres have determined who the passengers are, they interigate them in Reno. Will there be some that get questioned that are legit, yes it does happen, unfortionatly. They also are very professional and fast. In my expirences I have witnessed them have a K-9 board in Reno and the dog will be walked by a suspisus person or persons accomidations. If the dog alerts they will then search the person and their belongings for drugs. Othere instances the officers have simply asked said person if they would object to a search of their belongings for drugs, if the person objects they have a dog on site that can alert and give probable cause. Hope this helps to clear the situation up.
 
Hi Jeff, I read your text outloud when I received it this morning. The young man (will) sitting next to me said the same thing happened to him and he was happy that it happened to someone in first class. (he was in coach). Will is 30 years old and kind of looks like a hippy. He has beautiful long blonde hair.

FYI - I have met Jeff and he is clean cut and does not look like a drug runner or money launderer. If I were profiling, I would profile Will and NOT Jeff.

I am on the CZ approaching grand junction.

Penny
 
Asst Conductor OKJ said:
A cross country trip, one way, paid cash, booked at the last minute would likely set off a red flag so to speak.
Click to expand...
Yes, this works so well. There was an outstanding example several years back where a man bought a Nashville to New Orleans plane ticket cash as a walk up. He endured quite an ordeal. Finally, and I think after he had missed his flight, he was turned loose after all the things he told them had been exhasutively checked.

The simple and basic facts were:

He had a lnadscaping or some such like business, which tended to be mostly cash and he as a practice did not use credit cards.

He was buying a vehicle from someone down that way and was going to drive it back.

It is kind of hard to get someone to verify your employment when you work for yourself.
 
pennyk said:
Hi Jeff, I read your text outloud when I received it this morning. The young man (will) sitting next to me said the same thing happened to him and he was happy that it happened to someone in first class. (he was in coach). Will is 30 years old and kind of looks like a hippy. He has beautiful long blonde hair.

FYI - I have met Jeff and he is clean cut and does not look like a drug runner or money launderer. If I were profiling, I would profile Will and NOT Jeff.

I am on the CZ approaching grand junction.

Penny
Click to expand...
Better put your Tylenol away.
 
So it is local LE from Reno! Wonder if Reno has so little crime that these wanna-be DEA guys have to go to California or other Nevada towns to find "action"! I wouldnt have any problem if dogs were used to sniff ALL luggage, thats different than profiling,aka guessing,and then digging through peoples stuff on a LD train! Also since when is anAGR award trip a tip off to cops, guess lots of us might be getting hassled in the future, watch out traveler! :eek: Id think Reno might be a good place to avoid, from what Ive heard their business is way down, casinos are closing, unemployment is high, couldnt happen to a better place if this is the way their so called law enforcement treats tourists!
 
George Harris said:
There are several things that come to mind:

1. Maybe something about you looked suspicious to this character.

2. Maybe he felt sure that there was nothing suspicious about you.

Why the second? It gies him a statistical point that he has checked out potential problems, and to avoid risk to his own hide he has picked someone that he considers to be of no threat to himself.

What makes me suspect that? A high school that my kids were in had a policy of "random" drug tests. One particular girl got picked almost every time that would never even dream of taking anything much stronger that an occasional soft drink, and a couple of kids that were known druggies, at least to the other kids, were never picked for these "random" tests. Why you ask? It made the statistics for the school look better by making sure that they looked like the had a low percentage of druggies.

Also: Think of the ATF: They are more than willing to go after gun collectors that are a threat to no one at all, but try to get them to go after the illegal weapons in the hands of urban gangs? Not happening. That might put their own hides as risk, and while at it provide some true improvements in public safety.
Click to expand...

Dang, I had totally overlooked those options, and they are absolutely accurate. I have several friends (some now retired DEA) in law enforcement, and they have told me this EXACT same scenario over and over.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Back
Top