Martha's Vineyard Times: Ferry passengers take security exercise in stride Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers searched bags chosen at random, tested for explosives, and asked passengers for photo identification. The scrutiny was similar to security at airports, though not as restrictive.A TSA spokesman said the exercise will help security officials be prepared, if a security threat is uncovered. And the sheep took it ever so bleatingly: "I don't mind at all," Marie St. Pierre said, after she produced a photo ID and boarded the ferry to return to her house in Assonet. "With the acts of terrorism going on, I'd rather be safe than sorry." Would 9/11 have been prevented if TSA had been on the scene to check their valid IDs?
Absolutely! You should have read the rant that I posted on the Houston METRO website when that nozzle Sheeeela Jackson-Lee was boasting about the TSA partnering with METRO popo to ... ?... I don't know what the f**k they were trying to do, except harrass law abiding citizens riding on public transportation. Sheesh! TSA NEEDS TO GET OUT OF THE AIRPORTS AND OUT OF OTHER TRANSPORTATION VENUES...NOW!!
I don't think it happens very often in spite of this article (from 2004). I don't ride the ferries very often, but I've never encountered a search. I haven't seen it in SF on the ferries either.
How, exactly, is it not as restrictive? Refuse to show ID, consent to search, and basically blow off the play acting TSA employees. That would hurt their little blue-gloved feelings!