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I don't know what VIPR squad is doing, but it seem pretty much as European customs officers under Schengen region. Since there are no border customs checks any

I don't know what VIPR squad is doing, but it seem pretty much as European customs officers under Schengen region. Since there are no border customs checks any more in Schengen area, the customs officers have authority to stop any vehicle and to strip it bare, while searching for a cause for an investigation. In Slovenia as of this year, customs officers are allowed on private land to perform an inspection of fuel for vehicles (heating oil is basically diesel with lower tax and often used in heavy and farm machinery).

ck2 15y ago
The thing is in "the states" our very constitution is supposed to protect us from warrantless searches. What VIPR is doing now is grabbing people as they LEAVE trains and putting them through mock-airport security (yes as they leave, not before). They also stop people on the road and question them "where are you coming from, where are you going". I am not sure about the various countries in Europe but in the USA, until this decade, police were supposed to have "probable cause" to stop and question you. This is why it's freaking people out. And I am pretty sure it's meant to. Holiday travel is only a month away and the groping starts up then, so the media will finally pay attention but it never goes anywhere near getting the TSA defunded.
- robterrell 15y ago
  That's all kinds of wrong. Citation, please?
  - ScottBurson 15y ago
    I hadn't heard about this either, but it's evidently true. Search on "TSA VIPR". Unbelievable.
  - ck2 15y ago
    http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/oct/26/tsas-power-grope/ http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/oct/26/tsas-power-g...
  - eli 15y ago
    TSA patted me down while boarding a greyhound bus a few years back. Part of a "pilot program" that I guess evolved into VIPR.
- rick888 15y ago
  I would like to see proof of this.
  - ck2 15y ago
    http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/02/28/why-did-tsa-pat-down-kids-adults-getting-off-train/ http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/02/28/why-did-tsa-pat-down-k...

ck2 15y ago

The thing is in "the states" our very constitution is supposed to protect us from warrantless searches. What VIPR is doing now is grabbing people as they LEAVE trains and putting them through mock-airport security (yes as they leave, not before). They also stop people on the road and question them "where are you coming from, where are you going". I am not sure about the various countries in Europe but in the USA, until this decade, police were supposed to have "probable cause" to stop and question you. This is why it's freaking people out. And I am pretty sure it's meant to. Holiday travel is only a month away and the groping starts up then, so the media will finally pay attention but it never goes anywhere near getting the TSA defunded.

robterrell 15y ago
That's all kinds of wrong. Citation, please?
- ScottBurson 15y ago
  I hadn't heard about this either, but it's evidently true. Search on "TSA VIPR". Unbelievable.
- ck2 15y ago
  http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/oct/26/tsas-power-grope/ http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/oct/26/tsas-power-g...
- eli 15y ago
  TSA patted me down while boarding a greyhound bus a few years back. Part of a "pilot program" that I guess evolved into VIPR.
rick888 15y ago
I would like to see proof of this.
- ck2 15y ago
  http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/02/28/why-did-tsa-pat-down-kids-adults-getting-off-train/ http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/02/28/why-did-tsa-pat-down-k...