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Date: Mon, 07 Jan 2002 07:37:50 -0600
To: "FEAR-Both Lists":;
From: "Leon F." <leonf@perspicuity.net>
Subject: FEAR: Traveling Amtrak instead of the Airlines? You better think
  again
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Organization: Forfeiture Endangers American Rights  http://www.fear.org/

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Someone ask me to post again the article about traveling on Amtrak now that 
many are considering that mode of travel. This article was published in 
July, 2001, REASON magazine and is titled, "Railway Bandits", by Michael 
Lynch ( http://reason.com/0107/ci.ml.railway.shtml ).

 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Railway Bandits

By Michael W. Lynch

Amtrak manages to lose money on 39 of its 41 routes, but that doesn't stop 
it from making a killing off some of its customers. In Albuquerque, New 
Mexico, Amtrak officials cut a deal with the Drug Enforcement 
Administration: In exchange for giving the drug police access to its 
booking system, Amtrak gets 10 percent of any money the cops take from 
hapless passengers.

In February 2000, the deal helped Amtrak make $14,700 off Sam Thach, who 
was traveling from Fullerton, California, to Boston. When the train pulled 
into the Albuquerque station, DEA agents relieved him of $147,000. Did 
Thach possess any drugs? No, but he purchased his one-way ticket with cash, 
and he failed to give Amtrak his phone number. So the DEA seized his cash 
under forfeiture rules that have since been changed. Thach is now suing in 
federal court to get his money back.

More recently, on April 5, 2001, the DEA seized $640,000 from Jennifer 
Leigh Ames, who was traveling from Chicago to Los Angeles. Apparently, she 
had looked nervous and -- worse yet! -- had refused to grant agents 
permission to search her belongings.

. . .

For its part, the DEA sees nothing wrong with the arrangement. Spokesperson 
Rogene Waite says the agency has similar deals with bus companies and 
airlines, but she won't discuss them.

. . .

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<





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