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Maybe ''no bombs'' signs are in order? PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jeff Garvas   
Friday, 29 July 2005


The Toledo Blade is reporting that three suspicious devices with wires were found inside a TARTA bus after it stopped for mechanical problems Wednesday in downtown Toledo. Several streets were closed and the building that houses the Ohio Sixth District Court of Appeals was evacuated.

It was reported that the devices were non-explosive and this incident was nothing more than a hoax.

From the story:
    The devices were nonexplosive after they were examined by members of the Northwest Ohio Bomb Squad. Investigators are reviewing a video from the bus and trying to recover fingerprints from the devices in hopes of identifying who put them on the bus.

    Wires were attached to the small, credit card-sized devices, which were attached to the windows. The connections gave the appearance the devices could be activated by opening the window, police said.

    "This was a very poor, hoax-type threat," Sgt. Richard Murphy said. "I have no idea why someone would do such a dumb trick."

The story continues by saying that since 9/11 drivers have undergone new training implemented by the FTA and the company is taking things like this seriously.

Again from the story:
    Although authorities do not believe the incident was terror-related, the FBI responded and Homeland Security personnel from Cleveland called responding local agencies, Sergeant Murphy said.

    Mr. Atkinson said the possibility of terrorism should never be ruled out.

    "We live in a different time. We have to take things like this seriously," he said.

    Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Federal Transportation Administration introduced new training for drivers, such as being aware of suspicious activities and things left on buses, Mr. Atkinson said.

    He asserted that TARTA employees have undergone that training.

    While TARTA has no plans to search riders' belongings, it is asking passengers to be aware and report anything suspicious to drivers.

What we do not understand is the reasoning behind the discriminatory "no guns" signs that are posted on every TARTA bus and at every station. It is quite obvious that even with the required FTA training, bus drivers cannot protect their busses or passengers. This story even suggests that TARTA has no plans to search riders or provide any type of security.

TARTA is placing passenger security with the passenger yet these riders are not allowed to possess the necessary tools for self defense while riding the bus. This is mind boggling to say the least.

Click on Read More for the rest of the story.


The following is an email OFCC received last year from a TARTA spokesperson:

    To: [OFCC confidential source name redacted]
    Subject: Re: pistol packing passengers
    02/17/2004 10:51 AM

    From: "Joan Rife"

    Ohio has a new concealed carry law. Tarta has decided not to allow any firearms on its' vehicles and is placing signs so indicating on the outside of every vehicle in accordance with the new law. We also will have such signs at all of our stations.

    Joan Rife
    Tarta
    Toledo, Ohio

Comments by Larry S. Moore, OFCC Senate District 10 Coordinator:

Perhaps it is time to ask Ms. Rife and Mayor Ford why they discriminate
against the law abiding? Have either of them bothered to read Ohio Attorney General Petro's filings and reports on concealed carry?

We acknowledge that they are required under state law to post the TARTA buildings. But do they also think that the bus qualifies as a building? And would they please explain how telling an untrained and unarmed bus driver about any suspicious packages or people is going to stop anyone that wants to blow up a bus?

Sgt. Murphy is quoted as saying the bomb hoax was very poorly done and he can not understand why anyone would want to do something like that. Well, Sgt. Murphy, the posting of TARTA buses is in violation of Ohio law and I can not understand why Mayor Ford and Ms. Rife want to violate Ohio law. We know their actions are not hoaxes but they never the less are endangering the lives of good Toledo citizens who use TARTA


UPDATE: While we were preparing this story for publishing we learned that a man was robbed at gun point while waiting for a "no guns" RTA bus in Dayton. OFCC reported in the spring about the violence on buses and gang related activity around the RTA terminals in Dayton.

When will people like Mayor Ford, Ms. Rife from Tarta and those making the decisions in Dayton realize that they are effectively enabling these criminals by rendering people that choose to use public transportation defenseless?