TSA Stormtroopers at your home

[layoutshooter]

"They can't verify your addy any other way?? If not then what good is the background check??"

Well, as I stated before, for higher level DOD clearances this is how it has been done for decades. Why they are doing it for this stuff now I don't know. Just putting down an address does not mean that one really lives there. It COULD even be fake.

As to being asked about my guns, that was a Canadian official, NOT U.S.

 

[Rocketman]

You're not missing anything but who wants to deal with this kind of stuff on their OFF time at home? With the administration that we have in charge now, who can say how far they can go and who do you report to if you feel they've gone too far? They can't verify your addy any other way?? If not then what good is the background check?? When you have people reporting that they've been asked at the border how many guns they have AT HOME, it makes one wonder. If I remember correctly, that was a Canadian border agent but it's wrong all the same and again, who can you talk to about it? Who's on our side in these things??

But, what happens when a terrorist gets through the system and blows up something big (911...'ish). If I remember correctly, everyone was upset as to how the 911 terrorist were able to get through the system and take flying lessons in the US.

Who do you report too? I would suppose that you would talk to a lawyer if your rights are violated. If the police come to your house right now and do an illegal search, what do you do? Same difference.

 

[AMonger]

But, what happens when a terrorist gets through the system and blows up something big (911...'ish). If I remember correctly, everyone was upset as to how the 911 terrorist were able to get through the system and take flying lessons in the US.

Who do you report too? I would suppose that you would talk to a lawyer if your rights are violated. If the police come to your house right now and do an illegal search, what do you do? Same difference.

Maybe it comes to that, but only after they crash through the door.

 

[layoutshooter]

"If I remember correctly, everyone was upset as to how the 911 terrorist were able to get through the system and take flying lessons in the US."

Yep, this is 100% correct. That is not to say that the government cannot get out of control but they are kind of "darned if they do and darned if they don't" so to speak.

 

[Rocketman]

That is not to say that the government cannot get out of control but they are kind of "darned if they do and darned if they don't" so to speak.

Exactly. I am as tired of being regulated as anyone, but I don't see a huge intrusion here according to the OP's quotation. If they do more than what is stated, then I might have a different opinion, but the original statement doesn't look intrusive to me.

The act of obtaining the clearances is optional/voluntary.

 

[layoutshooter]

"The act of obtaining the clearances is optional/voluntary."

Right to the point. IF one CHOOSES to accept the responsibility of a security clearance one must accept the investigations that come with it.

 

[RLENT]

Government Officials Visiting Drivers
If you are qualified to handle specialized shipments, including shipments regulated by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), please understand that these agencies could visit your home to verify your address, discuss your responsibilities, or inspect your vehicle while laden with regulated cargo. These visits or inspections are a normal part of enforcement activities. These visits are rare, but we wanted to alert you to this possibility to avoid surprise. You may want to consider asking for identification from the inspector to confirm their identity and also may want to consider informing your family members of the possibility of these visits. As always, please do not hesitate to contact Contractor Relations with any questions or concerns.

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

 

[layoutshooter]

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

The original post said NOTHING about entering homes, searching homes or seizing anything. Cargo in a truck, government cargo at that, can be inspected at any time by authorized persons.

This is not a 4th amendment issue. The transportation of sensitive or classified shipments is 100% voluntary and subject to security verification. As are government clearances.

Don't haul those load and don't get a DOD clearance. Neither is mandatory. No one will bother you. Pretty simple.

 

[EASYTRADER]

You keep assuming this is DOD, when the hitch in the gidyup is and TSA regulated loads. My understanding is ALL loads are TSA loads which is why VIPER teams are staging at scales and bugging every one.

I see this as a major red flag as to what the future portends. However so many of my fellow americans are willing to submit to whatever nonsensethe Gov comes up with just because the gov comes up with it. Anyway, don't be surprised when you get that knock on the door.

 

[Turtle]

I'm a firm believer in crossing the bridge when you come to it, rather than wasting a lot of time speculating that the bridge isn't even there.

 

[LDB]

So if it's nothing new, how often are those at FECC subject to it?

I've been with them 40 months now and supposedly have top secret clearance etc. for any type load there could possibly be. In 40 months, including the last time they came to check everything, I've had them show up a total of zero times.

 

[cannedmeat27]

I don't remember getting any msg about this

 

[greg334]

FECC sent out a message the other day saying that the TSA will going to our personal residences to do inspections and to verify whatever it is they verify. The message aslo instructed us to comply.

Regardless, the question is has this been confirmed by asking fedex about it?

 

[purgoose10]

FECC sent out a message the other day saying that the TSA will going to our personal residences to do inspections and to verify whatever it is they verify. The message aslo instructed us to comply.

Am I the only one who is bothered by this?

I think the only thing TSA will verify at my house is a slammed door in their face.

Government Officials Visiting Drivers
If you are qualified to handle specialized shipments, including shipments regulated by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), please understand that these agencies could visit your home to verify your address, discuss your responsibilities, or inspect your vehicle while laden with regulated cargo. These visits or inspections are a normal part of enforcement activities. These visits are rare, but we wanted to alert you to this possibility to avoid surprise. You may want to consider asking for identification from the inspector to confirm their identity and also may want to consider informing your family members of the possibility of these visits. As always, please do not hesitate to contact Contractor Relations with any questions or concerns.

If you have your own authority DOT will come to your office and revue your filing papers and inspect your DOT compliance. They do it to the biggest companys down to the one and only owner operator. Most owner operators work from home and that what they mean, nothing more.

 

[cannedmeat27]

I don't think anyone has cofirmed it yet but I still didn't get a quallcomm msg nothing about this

 

[mjmsprt40]

I think I'll join Turtle on bridge-crossing speculation. When I signed on with Same Day I was told the TSA might-- only might, mind you-- pay me a visit at home. It is a possibility. It's also a possibility that the only time I'll see a TSA agent is at the airport. Will they pay me a visit at home? Your guess is as good as mine. If they do, I'll be ready since I know what's required and what isn't. Right now, for example, there's no cargo on board so compliance would mainly be a paper check and maybe a quickie test to see if I could reliably spot a home-made explosive device. As far as checking who my friends are and all that sort of thing.. no worries there, I don't keep shadowy alliances.

 

[dieseldiva]

I don't think anyone has cofirmed it yet but I still didn't get a quallcomm msg nothing about this

It's in the weekly newsletter.


Posted with my Droid EO Forum App

 

[greg334]

A lot of things are in the news letter but my point is has anyone produces proof that the tsa has such a program or is this specialtion on fedex's part and no one is supposed to question it?

I can understand secure shipments but for the most part I don't see the use of the man power to go to people's homes to see what ever.

 

[RLENT]

The original post said NOTHING about entering homes, searching homes or seizing anything. Cargo in a truck, government cargo at that, can be inspected at any time by authorized persons.

Well, before one gets all totally slobbery in excited readiness to bow down and lick the boots of one's self-appointed masters, I figure that having an actual understanding of the intent and meaning of the 4th Amendment would probably be a wise thing.

Particularly understanding what the plain meaning of the word "effects" is - to that end, from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary:

Definition 6, noun plural : movable property : goods <personal effects>​

It could be said that one of the primary causes of stupidity is the non-comprehension of the actual meaning of words ....

This is not a 4th amendment issue.

Those who would be inclined to swear oaths to defend something might be well-advised to actually understand what it is they are defending ..... doing so might enable them to focus on what is relevant ("effects") in a given situation .... as opposed to what is not relevant ("persons", "houses", and "papers") .....

The transportation of sensitive or classified shipments is 100% voluntary and subject to security verification. As are government clearances. Don't haul those load and don't get a DOD clearance. Neither is mandatory. No one will bother you. Pretty simple.

Well, the really funny thing here is, that in spite of pointing that the original post failed to mention anything "about entering homes, searching homes or seizing anything" (conveniently ignoring the word "effects") ... the poster quoted above then goes on to mention "classified shipments" (which aren't mentioned in the original post), "DOD clearances" and "government cargo" (which aren't mentioned in the original post either) .....

So, apparently, it's totally fine for one to raise things which aren't mentioned in the original post - but when someone else raises an issue that actually has direct applicability based on the plain meaning of the wording of the Amendment, then it clearly doesn't apply. Got it.

And people truly wonder why this country is in the state that is in ....

It is certainly true that the rights enumerated under the 4th Amendment have been increasingly constrained and whittled away by the Supreme Court ..... particularly with respect to the application of such to motor vehicles (Motor Vehicle Exception) ..... it's a slippery slope that we've been sliding down for sometime ......

That those who are fans of the "national security state" are completely willing to embrace and defend the actions of the state in this regard should come as no real surprise .....

Choosing tyranny over liberty is a choice that one makes every day, in many ways .....

 

[Turtle]

"...these agencies could visit your home to verify your address, discuss your responsibilities, or inspect your vehicle while laden with regulated cargo."

I promise you, "if you are qualified to handle specialized shipments, including shipments regulated by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)", visiting your home to verify your address is not a search or a seizure, much less an unreasonable one. Nor is discussing your responsibilities. Inspecting your vehicle while laden with TSA regulated cargo doesn't meet the criteria of an illegal search or seizure, either.

If you are not qualified to handle specialized shipments, including shipments regulated by the TSA, then such a visit or inspection might qualify as a Fourth Amendment issue, but even that's iffy, because they'll have to actually perform an illegal search or seizure while doing it.

It would indeed be a wise thing to understand the intent and meaning of the Fourth Amendment, especially in cases, like the above, where it doesn't really apply. It's kind of like bowing down and licking the boots of one's self-appointed masters when being inspected by US Customs, rather than beating them about the head and shoulders with a printed copy of the Fourth Amendment. Doesn't apply there, either. But at least you can always use the paper it's printed on as a napkin for the slobber, or the frothy.