Idiots Identifying Themselves for the NYPD

Local New York City idiots have decided to do the police a favor and identify themselves:

Reacting to the NYPD's announcement Thursday afternoon that police would randomly—but routinely—search the bags of commuters, one concerned New Yorker quickly created a way for civil libertarians to make their views black-and-white.

In a few outraged moments, local immigrant rights activist Tony Lu designed t-shirts bearing the text, "I do not consent to being searched." ("and by the way, I'm a moron" - that's the part they left off the shirt-HolyCoast)...

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly had announced the legally obvious—that New Yorkers are free to decline a search and "turn around and leave." But Lu, who is a lawyer at Urban Justice Center, warned that even well-intentioned cops could interpret people's natural nervousness or anger as "reasonable suspicion." The possibility of unjustified interrogation and even arrest is real, Lu said.

No kidding, Sherlock. Given the fact that 58 Londoners died two weeks ago in transit bombings, and more could have died today, refusal to comply with authorities will be seen as a threatening act, and rightfully so. I don't think a little inconvenience is too much to ask for New York subway riders.

Last week when I was in Washington, there was plenty of security around the Metro stations, but no searches were carried out. However, I would have gladly submitted had one been requested. I've got nothing to hide, and I'm not so selfish with my time that I'm going to be upset if my slight inconvenience helps make the transit system safer.