does amtrak check bags for drugs

I am still disgusted at myself that I let them. Without realizing that the agents had already flagged his itinerary as suspicious, McKenzie opened his Louis Vuitton bag, revealing a cereal box at the bottom that the agents noticed was unusually heavy. You + Two Bags = No Extra Charge Unlike many transportation options, traveling with Amtrak is twice as nice with our generous baggage policy. Would it be best to check the bags at Anaheim for Seattle? Good luck with your story. In court, McKenzie said that he had called Amtraks corporate headquarters himself and was told by an attorney there that Amtraks policy is to only send information about suspicious passengers to Amtrak police, not outside law enforcement agencies. Passwords are case sensitive. News, photos, questions, and more. He argues that these raids do nothing to stop the flow of illegal drugs. Passwords are case sensitive. Amtrak Baggage Policy Overview - TripSavvy ACLU New Mexico Executive Director Peter Simonson said that travelers who are approached on the train or other mass transit often dont know that they have the right to refuse police searches. Customers that don't have an Amtrak ticket may store items for $20 per item for 24 hours (valid photo ID required). Those already on board have a short time to disembark for a cigarette or some fresh air. Or do it at LAX? They found him guilty. Perry, he said, has the easiest job in the world because he is catching the lowest-level couriers., Amy Martyn[emailprotected]gmail.com@amysilstein. The number of boxes is limited, so boxes may not always be available. An email uncovered in a federal drug trafficking case from last year showed that Greyhound tried to kick the DEA out of its Albuquerque station. A service animal is a dog that has been individually trained to perform tasks or do work to assist a person with a disability. / : ; < = > ? I had been riding with the rest of the economy passengers and not in a sleeper car. An email with password reset instructions is on the way. I am traveling with a service animal. Passwords should be at least 10 characters long and include 1 uppercase and 1 lowercase alpha character, 1 number and 1 special character. Dominic Jones, bottom left, and Megan, top right, are two of the roughly 327,000 people who ride the Southwest Chief in a year. I was the only one taken off the train. Federal health regulations prohibit . Passwords are case sensitive. I noticed that youre pretty nervous. _ @ " $ # ,). Each item should not exceed 50 lbs. Its legal for Perry to search people without probable cause, a warrant, or a dog because travelers supposedly realize that they have the right to decline to submit to his searches. Above all, they are violating the rights of Americans daily. and are less likely to be found in the smaller stations or on board . Amtrak - Train Tickets, Prices, Schedule | Wanderu For each drug bust or cash seizure that the DEA made thanks to this information, the Amtrak secretary was rewarded a cut of the proceeds. You may consume private stock alcoholic beverages only in Sleeping Car accommodations for which you have a valid ticket. Bags are not to exceed 50 pounds and 75 linear inches (length + width + height). I said no (I am not a U.S. citizen) and then was asked for ID. To see if a particular station offers checked baggage passengers can use the Amtrak Station Information tool on the Amtrak website. Some popular Amtrak routes that offer checked baggage service include:-The Acela Express which offers service between Boston New York Philadelphia and Washington D.C.-. When I moved home to Arkansas from West Virginia in 2000 and again in 2005 from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Little Rock, Arkansas, I had similar interrogation scenes. Fees will be collected at the station or onboard the train if the station is unstaffed. Personal food and beverages are allowed in the upper level of Superliner Sightseer Lounges. Boxes and bags are available for purchase at select stations to help transport some of the items you wish to take with you checked baggage. } No. privacy policy. Items Prohibited in Baggage Onboard the Train | Amtrak That answer wasnt correct either. I'm OK with our bags getting there before we do. Carry-on bags must not exceed the 50 lb limit. terms and conditions Get flash sales, Amtrak Guest Rewards promotions and account updates sent directly to your inbox. Before you arrive at the station, make sure your baggage is packed appropriately in suitable containers. -The Coast Starlight which offers service between Seattle and Los Angeles. Amtrak's unique travel experience for families, individuals and groups, Tickets & fares, accessible travel service, security & ID requirements, Boarding information, station lounges, baggage & station services, Seating & sleeping, baggage info, train amenities, food & dining, Amtrak travel deals, promotions and other partner offers, Savings for Kids, Seniors, Military, Groups and More, Train vacation packages throughout North America, USA Rail passes, monthly passes and multi-ride tickets, Earn points toward Amtrak reward travel, upgrades and more, Discover member benefits, ways to earn or redeem points and more, Explore ways to earn points that can quickly add up to great rewards, Get even more benefits with an Amtrak Guest Rewards credit card. Not all trains or locations are equipped to handle checked baggage. His secret weapons are a trainstationin his district that seem to attract an inordinate amount of drug trafficking, and a capacious interpretation of the Constitutions tolerance for stops and searches. I think, technically, I was supposed to carry some form of government issued ID while travelling onboard Amtrak but my government-issued employee ID had served as an acceptable form of ID for that purpose. National Railroad Passenger Corporation, https://www.amtrak.com/content/amtrak/en-us/onboard/meals-dining/personal-food-beverages-medication. Amtraks Southwest Chiefis the third-longest passenger rail line in the United States, taking about 327,000 people between Chicago and Los Angeles in 2018. Most buses have baggage storage bins under the bus floor, and the bus driver will assist you. He walks away, his partner following, and exits the train. His tactics offer a case study in how law enforcement targets mass transit in the war on drugs, generating thousands of busts and a steady stream of revenue from seized assets. r/Amtrak is for anything Amtrak related. Simply enter the origin and destination stations and the website will list the services offered at each station. Amtrak to Start Screening Passengers, Carry-On Baggage They've targeted carry-on baggage such as backpacks as well as typical checked baggage items. @ [ \ ] ^ _ ` < | > ~. Passengers traveling with infants under the age of two may bring an additional infant item onboard (stroller, diaper bag, etc. When Perry approaches, its hard for passengers to say no. Amtrak cooperates fully with federal authorities and federal law, Amtraks press team wrote in a prepared statement. At the baggage car, hand your luggage to the Amtrak crew member and you'll receive a claim check to retrieve your luggage at the destination station. St. Davenport IA 52807, 2023 by Gullberg & Box, LLC. More problematically, Perry has been captured on surveillance footage boarding empty Greyhound buses and pulling bags out of the checked luggage bin. Your password must be at least 8 characters long, include at least 1 alpha character, and include at least 1 number or special character (- ? Yes service animals must be kept on a leash or in a carrier at all times and may not occupy a seat. Law enforcements job would be much, much easier if they didnt have to comport with any constitutional restrictions and could simply arrest people at will, he said. That answer wasnt correct either. Bags may not exceed 62 inches in combined length and width and may not weigh more than 50 pounds. Special Agent Perry quickly found bundles of cash in Riverss bag totaling $16,000. does amtrak check for weed? As Brian Doherty noted at Reason, the gendarme bothering innocent travelers on trains was a stock trope of movies and books about malign European regimes. The Amtrak secretary started using his access to Amtraks reservation system to regularly look for people who might be planning to transport illegal drugs or money, based solely on subtle clues like one-way itineraries for private bedrooms, trips booked on short notice, trips booked by third parties, and trips paid in cash. Even if he searched and found a moderate amount of drugs in my bags, how does he . Your password must be at least 8 characters long, include at least 1 alpha character, and include at least 1 number or special character (- ? Your password must be at least 8 characters long, include at least 1 alpha character, and include at least 1 number or special character (- ? both offer checked baggage service, and if you're not going to need the items en route even if there's an emergency and a substantial (~12 hour) delay (medications, etc. .dpctv64507a6913a7b { -The Northeast Regional which offers service between Boston and Washington D. C. -The Palmetto which offers service between New York and Savannah. A: Yes, you can absolutely bring alcohol onto an Amtrak train as long as it remains unopened. ! " I am traveling with a service animal. You may bring aboard your own private stock of alcoholic beverages subject to the following limitations: If you anticipate requiring medication en route, please carry it with you aboard your train. A man stands in front of the Amtrak station and Greyhound bus terminal in Albuquerque. Does the DEA or ICE get on there? Baggage. And now it is a regular feature of train travel in the United States of America. Unsuitable containers like plastic containers, woven fabric zipper bags, trash bags, containers that let sharp/pointed items protrude, containers that cannot . A $20 excess baggage fee will be charged for each carry-on and personal item above the quantity and size limits. If checked baggage is available, you can check two bags through to your final . -The Coast Starlight which offers service between Seattle and Los Angeles. $20 each. By clicking Join, you acknowledge you have read and agree to the program terms, including the binding arbitration agreement, in the Although I have far more readers on the Acela corridor than anywhere else on the Amtrak system, and although that corridor serves the most passengers by a wide margin, I have yet to receive a story of anyone being harassed by the DEA on that route. First time riding the rails | Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum So, I guess there would be enough time to get our luggage from the 763 train to the 14 at LAX? By signing in to your account you acknowledge you have read and agree to the updated terms and conditions, including the binding arbitration agreement. Amtrak and Drugs : r/Amtrak - Reddit Regardless of whether you check your bags bring them onboard with you, I would recommend you keep everything you'll be using onboard with you in a smaller bag that you'll keep in your room. Passwords are case sensitive. A previous International Narcotics Interdiction Associations Agent/Officer of the Year, Special Agent Perry with the Drug Enforcement Administration is behind as many as 1,600 criminal cases against drug couriers, according to court documents touting his credibility as a star government witness. Fees will be collected at the station or onboard the train if the station is unstaffed. Shortly after departing Reno a man with a badge identified himself as with the DEA. But prior defendants in Albuquerque had tried similar arguments, and the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals had determined in 2004 that it wasnt illegal for law enforcement to access Amtrak passenger records because they werent the sole basis of arrests; the consensual encounters were. Up to 50 lbs. 311 E Main St #210, Bows, arrows and other archery supplies are allowed in checked baggage when transported in a suitable hard case container. Perry is running out of time before the train will have to continue without him, and possibly without a passenger or two, 70 miles northeast to Lamy, New Mexico. Boxes and bags are available for purchase at select stations to help transport some of the items you wish to take with you checked baggage. Earn points toward reward travel, upgrades and more. ! " An incident of harassment weighed on one reader for many years: I am still very disturbed by an event much like yours that happened more than 2 decades ago. When arriving at a station with trainside checked baggage service, the train crew will let you know where you can claim your luggage. Luggage must be checked prior to your train's scheduled train departure. The pleasant trip ended at approximately 12:30 p.m. on July 7, 2008, when DEA Special Agent Mark Hyland and Stephen Surprenant de Garcia, an officer assigned to the DEAs local interdiction task force, approached McKenzie as he smoked a cigarette in Albuquerque. Sometimes, however, the searches are targeted at specific individuals. I literally walked past a dog and an officer and the dog sniffed my bag and my friends' bags (we all had some various substances) and nothing happened. Perry and others in his interdiction unit have testified that they receive manifests ahead of time listing the passengers who will be arriving in Albuquerque. Thats when two plainclothes agents come aboard the train on a rainy day in March 2019. ), which does not count toward the carry-on baggage or personal item limit. He implied that agents had obtained information about him, possibly illegally, in some other way that they werent being truthful about, which would have been grounds to get all the evidence they had on him tossed. Personally, I've never had anyone check my luggage on any train, but I also don't travel with any kind of drugs beyond my prescriptions. How many covert wars, miscarriages of justice, and dystopian technologies would remain hidden if our reporters werent on the beat? Your email address will not be published. Pacific Surfliner: up to 28 x 22 x 11 inches each. (Travelers cant decline a search once a drug dog makes a positive hit, however.). Up to 25 lbs. We each brought a small bag with necessities into the roomette, and stored our larger cases on the luggage rack on the lower level of the sleeper car. @media screen and (min-width: 769px) and (max-width: 992px) { Police and DEA Searches Aboard Amtrak Trains - The Atlantic As he told a judge at a hearing in 2011, I want to go to trial, because I want to see who the government puts on this stand as this person who is credible, who sends the information. In an earlier hearing, over objections from the U.S. attorneys office, a DEA agent had testified that he received McKenzies itinerary from an informant in one of Amtraks ticketing offices, who had been trained to look for drug couriers by Perry and an Amtrak Police Department officer. The ride is peaceful, with no Wi-Fi to pass the time, the security seemingly nonexistent. Archery equipment. January 4, 2018 advocatesforu. 5. You should inform the nearest Amtrak personnel of your situation and they will assist you. display: block; Are there any restrictions on what type of food my animal can have on the train? For further assistance, please call 1-800-USA-RAIL. Birmingham AL; Chicago IL; Denver CO; Emeryville CA; Indianapolis IN; Kansas City MO; Los Angeles CA; Memphis TN; Miami FL; New Orleans LA; New York NY; Oakland CA; Orlando FL; Philadelphia PA; Phoenix AZ; Sacramento CA; San Diego CA; San Francisco CA; Seattle WA; St. terms and conditions Here is my story: I took the California Zephyr from Chicago to San Francisco in April 2014. I still feel so violated, and was approached exactly the same way as others in your story. Might I ask what kind of room you'll be in? Your password must be at least 8 characters long, include at least 1 alpha character, and include at least 1 number or special character (- ? Thats when an unknown DEA agent first approached an Amtrak secretary for information about the itinerary of a passenger who was under arrest. Your animal will need to stay on the floor at your feet in front of your seat or in your lap. Amtrak does not have any security screening procedure of pretty much any kind. Hubby and I recently took the CS 14 from Los Angeles up to Portland for two nights, stopping for a night in San Luis Obispo on the way. handling your situation., Monmouth Security on Amtrak? Is using the bus a safer option? : r/Drugs - Reddit You may take your animal to any Amtrak personnel and they will assist you. An email with password reset instructions is on the way. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Weve sent you an email with instructions to reset your password instead. @ [ \ ] ^ _ ` < | > ~. At Chicagos Union Station, the final destination for the eastbound Southwest Chief and a hub for other long distance lines, a Chicago interdiction task force group, made of DEA agents and officers from the Chicago and Amtrak police departments, are routinely on the hunt for what they call drug proceed couriers, or in other words, people carrying large sums of cash. The Albuquerque Federal Courthouse building on March 18, 2019. Perry is not the only cop riding the rails. When retrieving your luggage, hand the claim check to the Amtrak crew member to receive your luggage. (By Appointment) Two recent articles about the Drug Enforcement Administration harassing Amtrak passengers have elicited like responses from a number of Atlantic readers. I had a sleeper car as I was going from Austin to Los Angeles. Because of fundraising, campaigns sometimes don't pay you till a month in. 2 Personal Items Packing Your Luggage | Amtrak Then she appears to open her purse for him. In a roomette, you'd almost certainly have to keep your large bags in the luggage area (or check them). Cookie Notice Passwords are case sensitive. Baggage Information & Services. Powered_by_JetA 2 yr. ago. privacy policy. Luggage: To check or not to check | Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum Enter a valid Guest Rewards number or email address. But in March 2019, Beth signed a document agreeing to forfeit the cash rather than testify under oath about where it came from. You may bring your own food and beverages onboard for consumption at your seat or private Sleeping Car accommodations. We dont have ads, so we depend on our members 35,000 and counting to help us hold the powerful to account. Megan, photographed in Flagstaff, was returning from visiting her daughter in California. The couple said that the agents then pulled out Diana Arutinovas bras and underwear from her bag, while making jokes, and threw clothing and shoes from her luggage onto the floor. We are not associated with Amtrak in any way, official inquiries should be referred to Amtrak. Checked baggage service is available at a number of our stations and on many trains and Thruway Services. The Albuquerque Amtrak and Greyhound terminal in March 2019. Theyve targeted carry-on baggage such as backpacks as well as typical checked baggage items. He still remembers how his mind was blown by the views of Native American reservations on the way from Arizona to New Mexico, and how he couldnt help chiming in when he overheard some kids in the dining car complain to their grandmother that they were bored. .dpctv64507a6913a7b { } I've never had my bag checked on Amtrak, and they only do that at places where they have Amtrak police permanently stationed, like in New York and Chicago. Who is this guy, why is he harassing these people? She interrupted Perry while he interviewed a group of Hispanic women downstairs, asking to see his credentials. Especially troubling to him is research showing that police, when acting on hunches rather than hard evidence, are more likely to let subconscious racial bias creep into their work. After a little dialogue, I think the agent decided I was not suspicious and simply moved along. For more information, please see our Scan this QR code to download the app now. You should go to the nearest Amtrak personnel and they will assist you. Before you arrive at the station, make sure your baggage is packed appropriately in suitable containers. He loved selling illegal drugs negotiating, talking to people, the art of the deal, as he described it. Register today and take advantage of membership benefits. Rivers said he was stunned. We recommend that you accept assistance from only uniformed Red Cap agents. My job used to be as a paid political operative. This may be why he was unconcerned. That answer wasnt correct either. All over the country for everybody to read? You may not consume private stock alcoholic beverages in any public areas. In a sleeping car, the only ones using that luggage rack in the car will be the occupants in that specific car. and Definitely more so. That might be illegal, but the agents cover . By signing in to your account you acknowledge you have read and agree to the updated terms and conditions, including the binding arbitration agreement. Passwords are case sensitive. Others have shared that they were pulled from the train at odd hours along with their checked bags to be searched at unknown facilities along the route. We are not associated with Amtrak in any way, official inquiries should be referred to Amtrak. Items that are not allowed to be checked as baggage include but are not limited to: firearms ammunition flammable liquids and gases explosi ves poisons corrosives toxic substances infectious substances radioactive materials laptop computers and other electronic devices. } display: block; This last reader was once inconvenienced for an hour while the DEA searched her Amtrak train. Self-serve trainside checked baggage service is available to and from the following stations only: Charleston, WV; Cincinnati, OH; Columbus, WI; Crawfordsville, IN; Dyer, IN; Hammond, LA; Lafayette, IN; Meridian, MS; Mount Pleasant, IA; Rensselaer, IN; Texarkana, AR; Tuscaloosa, AL; Winona, MN. Let's try a different question. Free ID tags are available at all of our stations. Enter a valid Guest Rewards number or email address. Disclaimer | Site Map | Privacy Policy. National Railroad Passenger Corporation, https://www.amtrak.com/content/amtrak/en-us/onboard/baggage-policy/carry-on-baggage. Amtrak does have their own Police force & sniffer dogs. I used to ask for them [the Greyhound passenger lists], but then they just started sending them to me, because that was kind of a general practice, he testified. Thats part of the appeal. Special Menus & Special Dietary Requirements. An Amtrak Police Department canine in Chicago named Gander has detected the smell of narcotics on luggage that turned out to be carrying anywhere from a modest $20,040 to a whopping $830,000 . Theres so much random information and Im wondering what the actual deal is, Scan this QR code to download the app now. Luggage must be checked at least 45 minutes prior to . Coming back home on the CS 11, we got off in San Francisco for three nights, then a night in Monterey. On a trip to LA, my suitcase arrived the next day. After a 15 minute search, I was told to go back on the train. The ride is peaceful, with no Wi-Fi to pass the time, the security seemingly nonexistent. The common theme is the harassment of people without probable cause to think that they are doing anything illegal. Personal food and beverages are allowed in the upper level of Superliner Sightseer Lounges. If you have been singled out by law enforcement on an Amtrak excursion, please contact Gullberg, Box & LLC to ensure that your rights are properly represented. Thats why we win. Rivers responded yes, just like everyone else had, and the agent took him up on it. I should probably log off and back on. For more information, please see our } What should I do if my animal needs medical attention while on the train? The owner of this website is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon properties including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. This prevents against arbitrary arrests and is the basis of the law regarding search warrants. Maybe thats a coincidence. When you win you are often paid in cash. Afew hourscharacteristically behind schedule, Amtraks Southwest Chief rolls into Albuquerque, New Mexico, at the small station that it shares with the Greyhound bus service on the edge of downtown. Beth hired a lawyer and pulled the transcripts from Perrys recorder, arguing that that the search wasnt consensual. Every ride counts as an Amtrak Guest Rewards member. Sometimes, the fact that a person is traveling on a one-way ticket, for example, is enough to flag a passenger for a search. We serve alcoholic beverages onboard trains in most Dining, Lounge and Caf Cars. That was in the days before 20-30 seater turbo prop puddle jumpers, and I usually flew into major cities. By following these policies, you'll have everything you need to make your trip as enjoyable as possible. They were simply taking his money. _ @ " $ # ,). Where will my animal sit during the train ride? The person who recruited the Amtrak secretary as a DEA snitch described him to Department of Justice auditors in 2015 as one of the most valuable interdiction informants the DEA has ever known. Amtrak itineraries were a goldmine, the person added, responsible for the seizure of millions of dollars.. Passwords are case sensitive. Edgar Manukian demanded the officers names. A young, disheveled man in a seat by the entrance to the car agrees to let Perry search his three bags. He did not care at all about my other bags. -The Sunset Limited which offers service between New Orleans and Los Angeles. I always had a spare as I was installing software I had written on clients computers. -Certain items are not allowed to be checked as baggage including:AmmunitionAnimals (except service animals)ExplosivesFlammable liquids or solidsGunsHazardous materialsIllegal drugsJewelryMoneyPassports and other documentsPrecious metalsPerishable itemsSporting goodsToolsWeaponsAmtrak stations that offer checked baggage service vary by route. Free Red Cap assistance service is offered at these major stations: Customers holding tickets for Amtrak travel may store their items in Parcel Check service when available for $10 per item for 24 hours.
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