Joseph C. Carter 
Chief of Police
MBTA Police Department
240 Southampton Street 
Boston, MA 02118
617-222-1035 (fax)

Dear Chief Carter,

I am deeply troubled by the MBTA's recently announced plans to institute a permanent
policy of random inspections of passengers' bags and packages on subway and commuter trains. 
The war on Iraq may be officially over, but the threat posed by increasingly militaristic policies
at home continues to grow.  The "war on terrorism" has been used to justify officially sanctioned
racial profiling, unspeakable violations of privacy, and the expansion of police power.  I oppose
this policy, as it would strip us of our rights at home under the guise of fighting and preventing
terrorism.  

Will MBTA police inform passengers that they have the right to refuse to be searched? 
Can searches truly be random in a station where hundreds of commuters enter within minutes? 
The entire purpose of convenient and efficient mass transit is defeated if the MBTA attempts to
restrict traffic so that its searches appear random.  If, on the other hand, searches will be based
on race, ethnicity, or national origin, they are not only a violation of constitutional rights, but of
decency.  Are all immigrants to be treated as potential terrorists until proven innocent, in
violation of our Constitution?  Furthermore, there is no proof that this policy would actually
prevent terrorism; therefore, these searches are nothing more than needless sacrifices of
passengers' privacy.  

The potential for this proposed policy to violate passengers' constitutional rights and
promote racial profiling is too high for comfort.  We are quickly moving toward a police state
that contradicts all this country once proudly stood for.  I urge you to abandon plans to
implement this policy.

Sincerely,