Metro begins random bag inspections

By Ann Scott Tyson and Mark Berman

ACLU expresses concern | Dr. Gridlock: A 'necessary evil'?

[This post has been updated.]

Metro began random inspections of passengers' bags and packages this morning, five days after first announcing the checks. The searches, which were at Braddock Road and College Park, have stopped.

Dawn Heuschel, who works for the United States Agency for International Development, rides the Metro from Braddock Road to Foggy Bottom stations.

"It's annoying because I missed my train that was on the platform," she said.

TSA officers checked her purse and a Christmas present she was carrying. Heuschel, a regular Metro rider, was perplexed because the officers didn't look inside. "Frankly I don't know what they did over there," she said.

The inspections are happening at two confirmed Metro stations so far, but can also occur at Metrobus stops.

"Excuse me ma'am. We are doing random bag searches. It will take about 45 seconds of your time," an officer said to a woman with a large handbag entering Braddock Road station. At first the woman said "no" but the officer made clear it was necessary to enter the station. "I guess I will then," the woman said.

She moved to a nearby table where two TSA agents swiped her bag and put it through a reader. "Have a wonderful day," the officer said. "Happy holidays."

Officers at the same station got a positive result on a man's bag and shot it with radiation.

"It could have been from a gun, or residue from target shooting if he went to a firing range," said Lt. Doug Durham of the Special Operations unit of Metro Transit Police.

A police sergeant interviewed the man, who was let go. The search on that man took about 8 minutes. He wouldn't give his name. "I'm going to work" he said, clearly irritated.

In announcing the plan last week, the transit agency said the goal was to try to protect from attack by having police using explosives-screening equipment and bomb-sniffing dogs pull aside every third person at locations where checks are taking place. If people refuse the inspection, they will be barred from entering the station or boarding a bus with the item. They will occur at various spots among the system's 86 rail stations and 12,000 bus stops.

Two rights groups have launched an online petition against the searches. (Previously: Metro to launch bag inspections; Dr. Gridlock on bag inspections; Post staff writer Ann Scott Tyson discusses the inspections with readers; Metro announces, but doesn't conduct, similar checks in 2008.)

Riders, we want to know what you're seeing and experiencing out there. Is this causing big delays, or are you not even noticing any hiccups? What are the searches like? How are people reacting? Tell us below, and we'll help get the information out to your fellow commuters. And tweet what you see with the hashtag #wmatasearch.

Screeners began random searches this morning at Braddock Road Station. (Gerald Martineau/Post)

An approaching passenger is diverted to a security check at Braddock Road Station. (Gerald Martineau/Post)