There are industries that are on the fringes, but not actually illegal, she said in an interview. 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. After a little dialogue, I think the agent decided I was not suspicious and simply moved along. They've targeted carry-on baggage such as backpacks as well as typical checked baggage items. No. Sorry, this post was deleted by the person who originally posted it. Passengers tell stories of being awakened on a stop and being searched right there at their . Sometimes there will be police with drug/bomb-sniffing dogs in the larger stations, but there's no screening or any real restrictions on what you can bring, regardless of if it's a carry-on or a checked bag. -The Silver Star which offers service between New York and Florida. I always had a spare as I was installing software I had written on clients computers. You have landed at the best firm for Checked baggage is not offered on all trains and stations, so please check with Amtrak to see if checked baggage is available throughout your journey. Does the DEA or ICE get on there? Bags are not to exceed 50 pounds and 75 linear inches (length + width + height). Thats when an unknown DEA agent first approached an Amtrak secretary for information about the itinerary of a passenger who was under arrest. Up to 50 lbs. Monmouth, IL 61462, Galesburg As it happened, I did not actually have any ID on me, except for a local government employee ID issued by a New York State authority. He asked to see my ticket, where I was headed and why. So the size of the garment bag was never challenged. Passengers must retrieve their checked baggage at their destination station after the train has arrived. He asked to search my backpack and I consented. The agent flips through the mans luggage with tactical speed. An incident of harassment weighed on one reader for many years: I am still very disturbed by an event much like yours that happened more than 2 decades ago. An older woman with brown skin looks caught off-guard when Perry reveals his badge. ACLU New Mexico Executive Director Peter Simonson said that travelers who are approached on the train or other mass transit often dont know that they have the right to refuse police searches. Does Amtrak do bag searches or scans like TSA? - Quora Also, what about security if we don't check our bags? Answer (1 of 5): They do random bag checks sometimes, but they don't make everything go through security like at the airport. In theory, they. Your email address will not be published. Galesburg, IL 61401, Davenport / Rock Island An email with password reset instructions is on the way. Enter a valid Guest Rewards number or email address. Make sure you have a tag with your name and address on the outside of all your bags. We serve alcoholic beverages onboard trains in most Dining, Lounge and Caf Cars. The juror misspelled his name, but its the sentiment expressed that matters to McKenzie. Each Superliner sleeping car has a pretty large luggage area on the lower level where you can put your suitcases. A service animal is a dog that has been individually trained to perform tasks or do work to assist a person with a disability. Be advised that you can check your baggage up to 24 hours before your scheduled departure; if you check your bag the night before then you just have to be at the station before your train departs. Check-in times vary by station, so check the station detail page for the stations served by your train for specific times. Beth hired a lawyer and pulled the transcripts from Perrys recorder, arguing that that the search wasnt consensual. Harboring the false idea that security was lax, Richard McKenzie boarded the Southwest Chief in Flagstaff, Arizona, with 3 1/2 kilograms of cocaine in his luggage in 2008. The Intercept is an independent nonprofit news outlet. On their Pacific Surfliner, the allowable bags are a little smaller at 28" x 22" x 11". Amtrak does not have any security screening procedure of pretty much any kind. -The Sunset Limited which offers service between New Orleans and Los Angeles. -The Empire Builder which offers service between Chicago and the Pacific Northwest. We work hard, and were prepared for court. Fees will be collected at the station or onboard the train if the station is unstaffed. McKenzie fit the profile of a drug courier, the DEA, argued, because he had been traveling from a source city (Flagstaff, Arizona) to a destination (New York) on a one-way ticket that cost $1,836. 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. Especially troubling to him is research showing that police, when acting on hunches rather than hard evidence, are more likely to let subconscious racial bias creep into their work. Enter a valid Guest Rewards number or email address. I'm OK with our bags getting there before we do. What do I need to do when I arrive at the station? There has been a police state, a profit-driven one, rising in this country due to drugs prohibition. In court, McKenzie said that he had called Amtraks corporate headquarters himself and was told by an attorney there that Amtraks policy is to only send information about suspicious passengers to Amtrak police, not outside law enforcement agencies. Each passenger may bring two personal items, 25 lbs. We file excellent motions to suppress illegally seized evidence. The Albuquerque Amtrak and Greyhound terminal in March 2019. 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. Several people that Perry has seized cash from insist that they are not drug couriers and, in fact, were never criminally charged as such, though that didnt help them get their money back. I did not see him ask questions of anyone else in my car. Not all trains or locations are equipped to handle checked baggage. .dpctv64507a6913a7b { 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. When Perry approaches, its hard for passengers to say no. Privacy Policy. He hasnt found any drugs or cash yet, and hes getting increasingly irritated at me for recording him. 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. Plus the quiet calmed my nerves. When retrieving your luggage, hand the claim check to the Amtrak crew member to receive your luggage. } display: block; 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. Does Amtrak Search Carry-On Bags? - apttraveler.com The U.S. government later sued to keep what they said was nearly $70,000 that Beth had been carrying. Packing Your Luggage | Amtrak I am traveling with a service animal. ), then I say check it through from origin to destination. There is no mandatory check-in at the station (with perhaps a couple of exceptions, I believe L.A. is one), you just get on the train and go. Law enforcement has been trying to intercept drug couriers on Amtrak trains for many years. You dont understand the opportunity that you have, he told the kids. / : ; < = > ? In Kansas City, DEA agents and local officers with the Missouri Western Interdiction and Narcotics Task Force await passengers on the train heading east. Fees will be collected at the station or onboard the train if the station is unstaffed. 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. Enter a valid Guest Rewards number or email address. DEA Agents Ambush and Search Amtrak Passengers - The Intercept Unfortunately, trains are sometimes delayed and food supplies may become limited. I am traveling with a service animal. } Some popular Amtrak routes that offer checked baggage service include:-The Acela Express which offers service between Boston New York Philadelphia and Washington D.C.-. Where can I take my animal to relieve itself? Pacific Surfliner: up to 28 x 22 x 11 inches each. When McKenzies case went before a jury in 2011, they could only rule on whether he was carrying a mixture containing a minimum of 500 grams of cocaine with intent to distribute. Plus the quiet calmed my nerves. Federal health regulations prohibit . Checked baggage is not offered on all trains and stations, so please check with Amtrak to see if checked baggage is available . Please enter a valid station, city, or address. The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution states that The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. We dont have ads, so we depend on our members 35,000 and counting to help us hold the powerful to account. Her arm was bruised from where he grabbed her, she later claimed in federal court. Checked vs Carry On: Which Should I Go With? : r/Amtrak - Reddit His name is Jarrell, or Jay, Perry, and hes done it hundreds of times before. 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 Albuquerque Federal Courthouse building on March 18, 2019. If checked baggage is available, you can check two bags through to your final destination free of charge. The pleasant trip ended at approximately 12:30 p.m. on July 7, 2008, when DEA Special Agent Mark Hyland and Stephen Surprenant de Garcia, an officer assigned to the DEAs local interdiction task force, approached McKenzie as he smoked a cigarette in Albuquerque. An email uncovered in a federal drug trafficking case from last year showed that Greyhound tried to kick the DEA out of its Albuquerque station. live Amtrak Police Communications Officer who will correspond directly via text messag e with the person to learn more about the situation and determine the appropriate action . terms and conditions Maybe thats a coincidence. The complete baggage policy is available on . They were just so bent on making their narrative fit that.. Which Amtrak Stations Allow Checked Baggage - ArnaBee She later saw him interviewing other passengers. Enter the email address or member number associated with your account. I was the only one taken off the train. You know how unsafe it is for me to put my name in a piece of paperwork? Amtrak Baggage Policy Overview - TripSavvy The ride is peaceful, with no Wi-Fi to pass the time, the security seemingly nonexistent. You + Two Bags = No Extra Charge Unlike many transportation options, traveling with Amtrak is twice as nice with our generous baggage policy. Personal food and beverages are allowed in the upper level of Superliner Sightseer Lounges. All over the country for everybody to read? Before you arrive at the station, make sure your baggage is packed appropriately in suitable containers. Nor could you probably do that at NYP, WAS, CHI, LAX, etc! Rivers said he was stunned. When I took the train from Chicago(IL) to K-Falls(OR) early this year, I took the California Zephyr #5 then the Coast Starlight #14 via transfer at Sacramento(CA), but my checked bags were loaded on the Empire Builder #8/28 then the Coast Starlight #11 via Portland(OR). Your animal will need to stay on the floor at your feet in front of your seat or in your lap. The kind of reporting we do is essential to democracy, but it is not easy, cheap, or profitable. Every ride counts as an Amtrak Guest Rewards member. Fortress Bank 3260 E 53rd For more information, please see our Why was Mr. Mckenzi approached? the juror asked. An email with password reset instructions is on the way. In a sleeping car, the only ones using that luggage rack in the car will be the occupants in that specific car. We are not associated with Amtrak in any way, official inquiries should be referred to Amtrak. Earn points toward reward travel, upgrades and more. Amtrak police were unhappy because they were cut out of the deal. Register today and take advantage of membership benefits. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. -The Southwest Chief which offers service between Chicago and Los Angeles. The roomettes on train 14 don't have much space for luggage; I'll typically only keep two backpacks (one for each person) along with any snacks/drinks in the roomette itself. The rest of my luggage generally sits in the luggage rack on the lower level. #3. I am traveling with a service animal. He did not care at all about my other bags. 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. Special Menus & Special Dietary Requirements. I would say less than five minutes, Knox County Detective Greg Jennings told the Register-Mail newspaper last year. I took an Amtrak train to Chicago for Spring Awakening and security was basically non-existent at my starting destination. 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. Containers must be able to withstand necessary handling and weather elements. PDF Amtrak Security Measures Which Amtrak Stations Allow Checked Baggage - BikeHike However, you can only consume food and beverages purchased in Dining and Lounge Cars in those cars. How many covert wars, miscarriages of justice, and dystopian technologies would remain hidden if our reporters werent on the beat? 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. Theyve targeted carry-on baggage such as backpacks as well as typical checked baggage items. Because of fundraising, campaigns sometimes don't pay you till a month in. An email with password reset instructions is on the way. Please enter a password. You should inform the nearest Amtrak personnel of your situation and they will assist you. Im left with the impression that Perry is unwilling to make a bust if someone is recording him. Which Amtrak stations offer checked baggage services? Amtrak does not require a printed ticket for boarding. I had been riding with the rest of the economy passengers and not in a sleeper car. Carry-on bags must not exceed the 50 lb limit. I literally walked past a dog and an officer and the dog sniffed my bag and my friends' bags (we all had some various substances) and nothing happened. _ @ " $ # ,). Archery equipment. # $ % & ' ( ) * + , - . Hey, theyve more or less written, Ive been harassed aboard Amtrak, too!. . Where will my animal sit during the train ride? You may bring your own food and beverages onboard for consumption at your seat or private Sleeping Car accommodations. Free Red Cap assistance service is offered at these major stations: Customers holding tickets for Amtrak travel may store their items in Parcel Check service when available for $10 per item for 24 hours. Right now, youre traveling across the United States.. The Amtrak Police Department is now periodically conducting random screening of Amtrak passengers and their carry-on baggage at Chicago Union Station. What should I do if I need to leave my animal unattended for any reason? Let's try a different question. She was returning home to California after a business trip; what type of business, she doesnt want to say. Checked baggage service is available at a number of our stations and on many trains and Thruway Services. Edgar Manukian demanded the officers names. and Where will my animal sit during the train ride? APD is also primarily located in the major city terminals, like New York Penn, Chicago Union, LA Union, etc. Im not a drug courier, Beth told The Intercept. terms and conditions Overweight bags must be repacked so they are under 50 lbs. In 2008, a drug defendant accused Perry of perjury, prompting the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals to release an opinion stating that judges were troubled by the allegations and noting inconsistencies in Perrys account of how he linked a suitcase with drugs to the suspect in question. A: Yes, you can absolutely bring alcohol onto an Amtrak train as long as it remains unopened. Caligirl55038 2 yr. ago. You may consume private stock alcoholic beverages only in Sleeping Car accommodations for which you have a valid ticket. # $ % & ' ( ) * + , - . We recommend that you accept assistance from only uniformed Red Cap agents. St. Davenport IA 52807, 2023 by Gullberg & Box, LLC. By clicking Join, you acknowledge you have read and agree to the program terms, including the binding arbitration agreement, in the ! " Passwords should be at least 10 characters long and include 1 uppercase and 1 lowercase alpha character, 1 number and 1 special character. Before you arrive at the station, make sure your baggage is packed appropriately in suitable containers. 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. As he told a judge at a hearing in 2011, I want to go to trial, because I want to see who the government puts on this stand as this person who is credible, who sends the information. In an earlier hearing, over objections from the U.S. attorneys office, a DEA agent had testified that he received McKenzies itinerary from an informant in one of Amtraks ticketing offices, who had been trained to look for drug couriers by Perry and an Amtrak Police Department officer. Oversized Baggage (76-100 linear inches*) $20 each. McKenzie, the drugdealer, also unsuccessfully fought his case on the basis that the search of his property on an Amtrak train was unconstitutional. McKenzie argued that Amtrak shouldnt be sharing passenger itineraries at all and questioned whether there really even was an informant, as the DEA claimed. Perry has the easiest job in the world because he is catching the lowest-level couriers.. At-Station Baggage Services | Amtrak But he stops short of opening the bag, which would be blatantly unconstitutional. What items are not allowed to be checked as baggage with Amtrak? Passwords are case sensitive. Aug 28, 2018. Let's try a different question. Make sure you have a tag with your name and address on the outside of all your bags. We will each have a backpack, and a suitcase. So if you need help with your baggage or somewhere to store it while you explore your stops, Amtrak offers baggage assistance and temporary bag storage at many stations. Carry-On Baggage Policy | Amtrak Most people step off to stretch their legs or have a cigarette during the layover, the longest smoke break in the entire trip. This prevents against arbitrary arrests and is the basis of the law regarding search warrants. Special Agent Perry and a colleague leaving the Albuquerque Amtrak terminal after searching bags on the Southwest Chief. Today, he seems confident that he will find someone on board carrying drugs or at least a substantial amount of money. I still feel so violated, and was approached exactly the same way as others in your story. Please enter a password. Shortly after departing Reno a man with a badge identified himself as with the DEA. The number of boxes is limited, so boxes may not always be available. We're here to help you get the most of your journey by train. @media screen and (max-width: 767px) { Oops, that answer wasn't quite right. Get flash sales, Amtrak Guest Rewards promotions and account updates sent directly to your inbox. Cookie Notice Who is this guy, why is he harassing these people? She interrupted Perry while he interviewed a group of Hispanic women downstairs, asking to see his credentials. They have targeted passengers in sleeper cars and those in coach. Thats why we win. Basically, I beat Republicans for a living. Why was I travelling with so many bags unchecked, etc. Oh, I guess the page I'm on still says that. Special Menus & Special Dietary Requirements. For most of the 52 hour train ride those bags were unattended and out of sight, but largely available to all the passengers. The other is tasked with getting people to talk and open their bags. News, photos, questions, and more. After a while, I found a huge garment bag with wheels on it! Get flash sales, Amtrak Guest Rewards promotions and account updates sent directly to your inbox. The carry-on and checked baggage policies on Amtrak Thruway Services of the 7000 . and The Amtrak Cascades which offers service between Seattle and Portland. .dpctv64507a6913a7b { ! " ), which does not count toward the carry-on baggage or personal item limit. And though he did have a prior criminal record, for possessing marijuana and allegedly delivering and manufacturing it, as well as a felony gun possession charge that was later dismissed, the DEA wasnt actually arresting him or charging him with a crime. 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. Weve sent you an email with instructions to reset your password instead. } I was then a 30-something female, traveling alone, with luggage I had in my room because I had a room (duh). National Railroad Passenger Corporation, https://www.amtrak.com/content/amtrak/en-us/onboard/baggage-policy/carry-on-baggage. Oops, that answer wasn't quite right. You dont care, he says. To speak with an experienced criminal defense trial lawyer, call 309-734-1001 and we will provide you with a no-obligation consultation at your earliest convenience. Passengers traveling with infants under the age of two may bring an additional infant item onboard (stroller, diaper bag, etc. He and other witnesses recalled him being the only black person in his coach car. I had a sleeper car as I was going from Austin to Los Angeles. 40 years ago, when I was traveling regularly on business, usually flying, initially, I'd check my larger bag and have only my brief case full of 'business stuff' which included a reel of computer tape to match the one in my checked baggage. Most buses have baggage storage bins under the bus floor, and the bus driver will assist you. You must be capable of self-administering any medications you bring with you. But the defendant agreed to a plea deal shortly after the opinion was published, ending further inquiry into the matter.