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Submitted via IRC for Fnord666
LA to become the first city to use body scanners in rail transit systems
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority just announced its plans to become the first city to use portable body scanners in its subway and light-rail systems to help detect the presence of explosive devices.
"We're dealing with persistent threats to our transportation systems in our country," TSA administrator David Pekoske in a statement. "Our job is to ensure security in the transportation systems so that a terrorist incident does not happen on our watch."
The portable scanners will begin rolling out in a few months, the executive director of security for the LA Metro Alex Wiggins said yesterday. According to the AP, the scanners will be able to conduct full-body scans from 30 feet away and are capable of scanning more than 2,000 passengers per hour.
[...] The city is one of several in which the TSA has piloted these new body scanners, although LA will be the first to fully adopt them. The agency has also worked with public transit officials from San Francisco's Bay Area Rapid Transit, New Jersey's transit system, as well as Amtrak stations at New York's Penn Station and DC's Union Station. Wiggins assured passengers that screenings in the LA Metro would be well-marked and that those choosing to opt out could do so by leaving the station.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by edinlinux on Thursday August 16 2018, @11:53PM (2 children)
It would be nice if they spent money on more important things like staffing the stations with real live humans (I couldn't find a soul on staff anywhere last time I was there..no platform staff, no ticket staff (people just jumped over the wickets without paying), and homeless living in the stations.
Toilets and trains that ran on (even somewhat) time would be nice too.. but maybe that's asking too much..
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 17 2018, @04:08PM
At last a sensible comment!
Those who use public transport in LA (and I am one) just want the damn thing to work. All this high-brow nonsense about Urr Freedom is irrelevant and I'm guessing promulgated by snoot-nosed pricks who made $2m in bitcoin/random historical fluke who think they're genius.
The only thing about this technology that affects users of public transport is: how much worse does it make my day? By which I mean, delays, breakdowns, cost, hassle. GUARONTEED it will make all these things worse - but how much worse? Your precious Freeeedom won't make the list, which is why you work at home in your bitcoin paid-for log cabin. Stay there - don't come out, it's DANGEROUS out here.
(Score: 2) by krishnoid on Friday August 17 2018, @07:57PM
A problem and solution all in one!