IP: Re: Amtrak 'Sharing' Information With D.E.A. (fwd)

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

>X-Sender: jnoble@pop.dgsys.com
>Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2001 18:57:38 -0400
>To: farber@cis.upenn.edu
>From: John Noble <jnoble@dgsys.com>
>Subject: Re: IP: Amtrak 'Sharing' Information With D.E.A. (fwd)
>Cc: David Farber <dave@farber.net>
>
> >>Something to think about next time you decide to ride the rails:
> >>Amtrak has acknowledged that one of its ticketing offices has been
> >>"sharing information" about passengers with the Drug Enforcement
> >>Administration, and then taking a 10 percent cut of any assets
> >>seized from drug couriers.
>
>It get's better ...
>
>"We provide a limited amount of information about our passengers to the
>D.E.A. and other agencies as a part of their law enforcement activities,"
>said Debbie Hare, an Amtrak spokeswoman. "I can't tell you how long it has
>been going on, but this program exists all across the country."
>
>So it's not "one of its ticketing offices," but "all across the country."
>
>"A computer link from Amtrak's ticketing terminal in Albuquerque to the
>local D.E.A. office allows agents to peruse passengers' names and
>itineraries and to see whether they paid in cash or credit. The information
>determines which passengers will be questioned or have their luggage
>searched by drug-sniffing dogs."
>
>Names, itineraries, cash/credit. This is profiling. They don't give you a
>pass when you use a credit card, because then you could beat the
>surveillance by using a credit card. They can't investigate everybody who
>pays cash because they don't have the manpower. All they get is a vague
>indication of wealth and possible preference for anonymity. So they go to
>names and itineraries -- national origin, race, gender, religion,
>urban/rural. Now we're cookin'. Maybe they toss in the ticket agent's flag
>based on his "gut feeling." I wonder if he gets a bonus when he's right.
>
>John Noble



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