Perry is not the only cop riding the rails. Beth hired a lawyer and pulled the transcripts from Perrys recorder, arguing that that the search wasnt consensual. What are you gonna do about it, asshole? Perry allegedly responded. They were simply taking his money. They alerted the Department of Justices Office of Inspector General, which determined in an investigation that the payments were wasting substantial government funds, according to a heavily redacted copy of the OIG report obtained by The Intercept via a Freedom of Information Act request. I was a young (30) white male traveling alone. Baggage Information & Services. Carry-On Baggage Policy | Amtrak 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. 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. Bags are not to exceed 50 pounds and 75 linear inches (length + width + height). They found him guilty. Packing Your Luggage | Amtrak A $20 excess baggage fee will be charged for each carry-on and personal item above the quantity and size limits. Passengers must retrieve their checked baggage at their destination station after the train has arrived. Above all, they are violating the rights of Americans daily. Most of the passengers have no idea that DEA agents also often come aboard. I would say less than five minutes, Knox County Detective Greg Jennings told the Register-Mail newspaper last year. 5. ! " Do not store items in empty seats, aisles, vestibules or other areas where they may cause annoyance to other passengers or present a safety hazard. Plus the quiet calmed my nerves. "The Last Great City of the East," St. Paul, MN. Boxes may be purchased at staffed stations to aid in repacking. Security on Amtrak? Is using the bus a safer option? : r/Drugs - Reddit Every ride counts as an Amtrak Guest Rewards member. Let's try a different question. I showed them because honestly I had nothing to hide, but I felt intimidated. Fees will be collected at the station or onboard the train if the station is unstaffed. I can't honestly say I felt intimidated but I also recognize that it could have gone down very differently for someone who is not used to dealing with such situations, or someone having a different profileor indeed someone who legitimately forgot their ID at home. 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. So the size of the garment bag was never challenged. He and other witnesses recalled him being the only black person in his coach car. Earn points toward reward travel, upgrades and more. and Her arm was bruised from where he grabbed her, she later claimed in federal court. You may consume private stock alcoholic beverages only in Sleeping Car accommodations for which you have a valid ticket. Mine happened in Arizona (don't remember exactly where), but I was finally told (when I tried to repeatedly ask why I was being harassed) that I "matched a description" of a drug dealer. Thats how we roll. He did not care at all about my other bags. Hes currently serving 262 months in New Jersey. How many covert wars, miscarriages of justice, and dystopian technologies would remain hidden if our reporters werent on the beat? / : ; < = > ? Oops, that answer wasn't quite right. I learned to pack it all in that plus my briefcase. That answer wasnt correct either. Yes Amtrak does offer checked baggage services at select stations. 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. Amtrak doesn't search bags like TSA does, so Amtrak won't really be looking for weed/drugs unless you give them a cause to search your bag (like an obvious odor, suspicious activity that could indicate smuggling). I just read your article about the DEA harassing people on Amtrak. We recommend that you accept assistance from only uniformed Red Cap agents. Before you arrive at the station, make sure your baggage is packed appropriately in suitable containers. National Railroad Passenger Corporation, https://www.amtrak.com/content/amtrak/en-us/onboard/baggage-policy/checked-baggage. Do they search people onboard their trains? Passwords should be at least 10 characters long and include 1 uppercase and 1 lowercase alpha character, 1 number and 1 special character. This last reader was once inconvenienced for an hour while the DEA searched her Amtrak train. 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. or do dogs come onto the train? Rivers said it was all the money he had, that he had gotten it from his mother, and that he was using it to film a music video. Caligirl55038 2 yr. ago. # $ % & ' ( ) * + , - . After a 15 minute search, I was told to go back on the train. does amtrak check for weed? The next month, in an arrest celebrated by the U.S. attorneys office, Perry will recover 18 pounds of fentanyl from a 21-year-old woman riding the Southwest Chief in coach. Good luck with your story. The Albuquerque Federal Courthouse building on March 18, 2019. After a little dialogue, I think the agent decided I was not suspicious and simply moved along. Special Menus & Special Dietary Requirements. *Service animals are allowed onboard with restrictions. I still feel so violated, and was approached exactly the same way as others in your story. Does the DEA or ICE get on there? Luggage must be checked at least 45 minutes prior to . Special Agent Perry sometimes tells the people he searches that hes at the station for security purposes, but the line between protecting travelers andintimidating them has been the subject of debate at this station. You may take your animal to any Amtrak personnel and they will assist you. .dpctv64507a6913a7b { $20 each. When Perry approaches, its hard for passengers to say no. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. We will send password reset instructions. Even in Union Terminal in Chicago the security was not really that tight. You know how unsafe it is for me to put my name in a piece of paperwork? 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. Enter a valid Guest Rewards number or email address. Megan, photographed in Flagstaff, was returning from visiting her daughter in California. Shortly after departing Reno a man with a badge identified himself as with the DEA. Checked baggage must be dropped off at the Amtrak station prior to boarding and will be placed in the baggage car on the train. I did not see him ask questions of anyone else in my car. The U.S. government later sued to keep what they said was nearly $70,000 that Beth had been carrying. I noticed that youre pretty nervous. Or do it at LAX? -The Empire Builder which offers service between Chicago and the Pacific Northwest. You want my name? I said no (I am not a U.S. citizen) and then was asked for ID. If you don't need to check a bag, get all the details about the carry-on items you can bring onboard and any fees that may apply. This is the first overnight train we've taken. Passwords are case sensitive, should be at least 10 characters long and should include 1 uppercase and 1 lowercase alpha character, 1 number and 1 special character. Basically, I beat Republicans for a living. They've targeted carry-on baggage such as backpacks as well as typical checked baggage items. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 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. Checked baggage service is available at a number of our stations and on many trains and Thruway Services. It is not, Amtrak insists, in response to any . Arutinova stepped between the men and said Perry then grabbed her by the arm and shook her so hard that her head struck the wall several times, not letting go until she screamed. Oops, that answer wasn't quite right. } Each Superliner sleeping car has a pretty large luggage area on the lower level where you can put your suitcases. Amtrak Baggage Policy Overview - TripSavvy Thats part of the appeal. Almost everyone said yes, and those who said yes were left alone. St. Davenport IA 52807, 2023 by Gullberg & Box, LLC. We are not associated with Amtrak in any way, official inquiries should be referred to Amtrak. I wasnt sure. 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. does amtrak search your bags - databaseen @ [ \ ] ^ _ ` < | > ~. Answer (1 of 5): They do random bag checks sometimes, but they don't make everything go through security like at the airport. They have targeted passengers in sleeper cars and those in coach. Your password must be at least 8 characters long, include at least 1 alpha character, and include at least 1 number or special character (- ? Law enforcement has been trying to intercept drug couriers on Amtrak trains for many years. Weve sent you an email with instructions to reset your password instead. He remembers a man asking every passenger in his car in Albuquerque if they would consent to have their bags searched for contraband. Your animal will need to stay on the floor at your feet in front of your seat or in your lap. DEA Agent Jay Perry boards the Southwest Chief in Albuquerque to question passengers and search luggage on March 15, 2019. } What should I do if I need to leave my animal unattended for any reason? One clip captures him pressing on a bag so aggressively that he appears to be tackling it. Before you arrive at the station, make sure your baggage is packed appropriately in suitable containers. Perry has the easiest job in the world because he is catching the lowest-level couriers.. Passwords are case sensitive. Checked Bags Passengers are allowed up to four checked bags. Amtrak has its own modest-sized police department, but they rarely check bags before people board. That was in the days before 20-30 seater turbo prop puddle jumpers, and I usually flew into major cities. Get flash sales, Amtrak Guest Rewards promotions and account updates sent directly to your inbox. For carry-on luggage, Amtrak allows all passengers to bring two carry-on bags with a maximum size of 28" x 22" x 14". The kind of reporting we do is essential to democracy, but it is not easy, cheap, or profitable. Jones, 33, from Peori, Ariz., took the Southwest Chief to Kansas City to visit his mother for the first time in 20 years. Police and DEA Searches Aboard Amtrak Trains - The Atlantic 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. Amtrak does not have any security screening procedure of pretty much any kind. Up to 50 lbs. Get flash sales, Amtrak Guest Rewards promotions and account updates sent directly to your inbox. Dominic Jones, bottom left, and Megan, top right, are two of the roughly 327,000 people who ride the Southwest Chief in a year. The Intercept is an independent nonprofit news outlet. That answer wasnt correct either. 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. 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. On their Pacific Surfliner, the allowable bags are a little smaller at 28" x 22" x 11". Sometimes, in rare cases, the checked bags will not be on the same train as you. He simply asked for and received permission to search her suitcase. If you have special dietary requirements, or a condition such as diabetes, we suggest that you carry sufficient food with you to meet your needs in the event of a delay or other contingency. And now it is a regular feature of train travel in the United States of America. Which Amtrak Stations Allow Checked Baggage - BikeHike and 28 x 22 x 14 inches each Up to 50 lbs. National Railroad Passenger Corporation, https://www.amtrak.com/content/amtrak/en-us/onboard/baggage-policy/carry-on-baggage. 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. Only service animals are allowed on Amtrak trains buses and vans. Where will my animal sit during the train ride? The common theme is the harassment of people without probable cause to think that they are doing anything illegal. When you arrive at the station inform the Amtrak personnel that you are traveling with a service animal. This next Amtrak passenger was bothered by conductors: I use Amtrak as often as I can. Items Prohibited in Baggage Onboard the Train | Amtrak On paper the 763 stops for 20 minutes at LAX, and the 14 doesn't leave until 40 minutes later. Each item should not exceed 50 lbs. and 14 x 11 x 7 inches each, 2 Carry-On Bags We will send password reset instructions. Yes service animals must be kept on a leash or in a carrier at all times and may not occupy a seat. Simply enter the origin and destination stations and the website will list the services offered at each station. Let's try a different question. Bows, arrows and other archery supplies are allowed in checked baggage when transported in a suitable hard case container. Carry-on bags must not exceed the 50 lb limit. Maybe there just arent many drugs flowing in and out of Boston, New York City, and Washington, D.C. Or maybe the DEA knows that if it tried such tactics on the power elites of those cities itd be reined in. -The Northeast Regional which offers service between Boston and Washington D. C. -The Palmetto which offers service between New York and Savannah. Advance check-in is recommended. I had been riding with the rest of the economy passengers and not in a sleeper car. Plus the quiet calmed my nerves. Who would hold party elites accountable to the values they proclaim to have? DEA Agents Ambush and Search Amtrak Passengers - The Intercept 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. Amtrak and Drugs : r/Amtrak - Reddit Weve sent you an email with instructions to reset your password instead. The agents told me it was because I was from California! Its a legal loophole of sorts, commonly used by DEA agents working mass transit to get around the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution, which protects people from unreasonable searches. ! " The agent flips through the mans luggage with tactical speed. By signing in to your account you acknowledge you have read and agree to the updated terms and conditions, including the binding arbitration agreement. Here is my story: I took the California Zephyr from Chicago to San Francisco in April 2014. The Albuquerque Amtrak and Greyhound terminal in March 2019. By signing in to your account you acknowledge you have read and agree to the updated terms and conditions, including the binding arbitration agreement. What should I do if I need to leave my animal unattended for any reason? What should I do if my animal needs medical attention while on the train? When I encounterPerry on the Southwest Chief in mid-March, he moves slowly along the coach car, interviewing a few of the passengers returning to their seats. and our Which Amtrak stations offer checked baggage services? Which Amtrak Stations Allow Checked Baggage - ArnaBee There are some restrictions on what can be checked as baggage including:-Baggage must not exceed 50 lbs.-Baggage must not exceed 62 inches when the length width and height are added together.-Baggage must be properly packaged and labeled. Archery equipment. By following these policies, you'll have everything you need to make your trip as enjoyable as possible. #3. 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. For most of the 52 hour train ride those bags were unattended and out of sight, but largely available to all the passengers. Passwords should be at least 10 characters long and include 1 uppercase and 1 lowercase alpha character, 1 number and 1 special character. 2 Bags Free @media screen and (min-width: 993px) and (max-width: 1200px) { -The Silver Star which offers service between New York and Florida. Whenever I had to travel with a larger-than-carry-on suitcase, I'd ship the business stuff a day or two earlier via UPS. Please enter a valid station, city, or address. All over the country for everybody to read? Three years later, in February 2018, a woman called Beth boarded the Southwest Chief in Chicago, heading west. Monmouth, IL 61462, Galesburg A: Yes, you can absolutely bring alcohol onto an Amtrak train as long as it remains unopened. Up to 25 lbs. Consider what the world of media would look like without The Intercept. 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. Luggage must be checked prior to your train's scheduled train departure. Amtrak police were unhappy because they were cut out of the deal. Please enter a password. Check the station detail page for the stations you'll be visiting to see if they offer this service. } Take a moment to see all the ways Amtrak can help you bring aboard the items you want and need en route and at your destination. She later admitted that she was transporting the drugs in exchange for $2,500. We dont have to prove that the person is guilty, Sean Waite, the agent in charge at the DEAs Albuquerque office, told the Albuquerque Journal at the time.

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