(from the trenches) I was on a Greyhound this morning after a 12 hour trip and was really looking forward to getting off the bus. As we pulled up to the terminal, my final destination, I saw a couple of uniformed figures headed toward the bus. The driver announced we should all keep our seats.
One guy in some kind of security service uniform and a city cop climbed on and said that in an effort to curb drugs and moneysmuggling they wanted us to get off one by one, set down our carry-ons and step away while they let a dog sniff it. Then they asked if there any questions.
I was seated 6 or so rows back and I asked, “Are we were being detained?” No response at all.
They started their little operation and, it was slow. When I finally reached the bottom of the steps I saw the guy in front of me had just put down his bags and was stepping well away as ordered.
I stopped and held up my bags shoulder high and again asked, “Am I being detained?” I looked directly at the officers as I said it. Again, no response.
So I said, “Well I guess I’m free to go.”
I stepped off the bus and noticed all the people who had already been sniffed were all standing there instead of going into the terminal.
I stopped and said, “You know we don’t have to put up with this right?”
Then I went ahead and headed for the door. A moment later I heard the local cop yell for me to come back. I saw him coming so I just stopped and let him approach.
Then he tried a little escalation technique telling me to shut up or I’d be charged with disorderly conduct. Then he called me a “f__ker” or something and stalks off.
I yelled after him, “Who’s being disorderly now?”
Then I went on about my business. I hope everyone who witnessed the event learned something.
If you don’t exercise your freedoms, you don’t have any freedom.