The Case for Searches on Public Transportation

This digest provides information concerning the ability of public transportation systems or their agents, within the context of federal or state law, to conduct either random searches or targeted searches of passengers on public transportation vehicles or on public transportation property. This report should be useful to attorneys, transit operations managers, transit police, security officials, transit supervisors and operators, and others with an interest in warrantless searches. The report is presented in five sections and three appendices as follows: (I) Introduction; (II) Specific Warrantless Search Categories; (III) State Constitutional Issues; and (IV) Structuring Search Policies; (V) Conclusions; (Appendix A) Security-Related Legislation; (Appendix B) Major Cases/Major Issues; and (Appendix C) Cases Cited.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp_lrd_22.pdf
• 
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Waite, Jocelyn
• Publication Date: 2005-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Appendices;
• Pagination: 79p
• Serial:
  • TCRP Legal Research Digest
  • Issue Number: 22
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
• Publication flags:

  Open Access (libre)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Federal laws; Legislation; Passengers; Policy; Public transit; Search and seizure; Security; State laws; Transit operating agencies
• Uncontrolled Terms: Random search; Targeted searches; Transit police; Warrantless searches
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Passenger Transportation; Policy; Public Transportation; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01010889
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Nov 30 2005 1:29PM