The Case for Searches on Public Transportation

This digest provides information concerning the ability of public transportation systems or their agents, within the context of federal or state law, to conduct either random searches or targeted searches of passengers on public transportation vehicles or on public transportation property. This report should be useful to attorneys, transit operations managers, transit police, security officials, transit supervisors and operators, and others with an interest in warrantless searches. The report is presented in five sections and three appendices as follows: (I) Introduction; (II) Specific Warrantless Search Categories; (III) State Constitutional Issues; and (IV) Structuring Search Policies; (V) Conclusions; (Appendix A) Security-Related Legislation; (Appendix B) Major Cases/Major Issues; and (Appendix C) Cases Cited.