State Patrol begins random searches at ferry docks

I sent an e-mail to the Washington State Ferry System, indicating my concern over the State Patrol randomly searching cars for firearms and explosives. I indicated that this might change my hunting plans.

I got the following response:

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: RE: State Partol Searches
Date: Fri, 7 Jun 2002 14:43:23 -0700
From: "Harris-Huether, Susan" harris@WSDOT.WA.GOV
To: me----

You are welcome to bring your rifle as long as you follow the rules that you have listed in your e-mail. The WSP has not and will not search for guns per se unless there is some strange activity surrounding the weapons. Thanks for asking and happy hunting.

Susan Harris-Huether
Customer Information Manager
Washington State Ferries
206-515-3460

I suspect that the State Patrol is being a little more selective than we are being lead to believe by the Newspaper report.

Thanks for the ping. What do you expect from our media?

What do you expect from our media?

I am usually called by print reporters about twice every three months for background information on electric utility stories. When I talk to them, I make a point of telling them that I usually charge for my time in explaining things, but because I believe that the "press" plays a critical role role in a democracy (as demonstrated in the 1st ammendment) in providing an "educated electorate," that I will give them my time for nothing. This usually helps set a very positive tone with the reporter.

What do I expect from our media? A lot more than they typically deliver. I have written to reporters when I thought they missed the main point of an article, I have also given them leads on stories that I feel should be told.

In this particular case, I think the reporter understood that there were significant issues to the story, but didn't do a good job of dividing them up and making sure that each was addressed. My feeling is that the ACLU issued a press release and the reporter ran with it. Which is sad. Unless the ACLU puts out another press release, or unless the State Patrol makes an announcement, I doubt that there will be any further stories from this reporter.

One of the truly sad things about "news" is that most reporters need to write a bunch of stories each day in the hopes of seeing just a couple get published. They also have to work very hard to get something on the front page. Like baseball, it is a game of statistics. The reporter needs to write enough stories so that on average they get a front page story every week or so. That is how they succeed. They often cover extremely wide beats, where they have no knowledge of the real background behind the story. They are always on deadline and don't have much time to think about past stories unless it is to learn how to do better so that story could have been a "front page above the fold" story. If you can show a reporter how they had a great topic and could have done much better with it and them give them a few ideas for another great story, they seem to listen (depending upon the size of their ego).

I thought I would contrast the response I got from the Washington Ferry System to the one I got from the Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife. I think that F&W is a big bureaucracy and less focused on customer service than the Ferry System. After the response from the Ferry System I really feel they care about me and my ability to go hunting. That is customer service! My impression is that F&W just wants my money and hopes that I will follow the regulations they set up so they will not have to deal with any additional hassel from their customers.

Subject: Are State Patrol & WS-DOT Anti-Hunting?
Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2002 10:45:12 -0700 From: "Mik Mikitik"
To: me

Your e-mail with the above subject line has been referred to me for a response.

Obviously, it is impossible for an employee of one state agency to comment on the policies or procedures of another state agency. You must go directly to the source agency if you wish to have an objective answer to the question you posed in the subject line.

You also asked, "if they (WS-DOT and the State Patrol) intend to interfere with hunting seasons this year?" While I cannot comment on their respective agency's policies, I can assure you that neither employees of the WS-DOT nor the State Patrol will ever interfere with lawful hunting seasons in our state. Their employees can and will enforce pertinent laws and agency policies, none of which will affect hunting seasons or hunting season regulations promulgated by this agency. Similarly, however, our hunting seasons and rules and regulations are not going to influence the policies or practices of either WS-DOT or the State Patrol.

Your principal issue appears to be with the transport of firearms on the state ferry system. Firearms laws enacted by the State Legislature are found in RCW 9.41, and I am unaware of any specific prohibition or restriction for the ferry system. I have attempted to contact ferry system staff to determine whether any other firearm restrictions may apply, but I have not received any information or feedback as of this date.

You should have no problem transporting rifles or shotguns on the ferry system providing they are unloaded, cased, safely secured within a vehicle and not accessible to the general public. Should you transport handguns, be sure that you comply with all provisions of RCW 9.41.050, Carrying firearms.

Just out of curiosity, can you transport loaded handguns in WA? By the way, thanks so much for the posted responses. THIS is what I always will love about FR. Somewhere in the noise, somebody will reach out and touch a beaurocracy or politician and remind them that they serve us, not the other way around.

We have a shall issue concealed carry law that allows those with a permit to carry a loaded handgun on their person or in their car.

I ask because here in TX even without a CCW you can carry a loaded firearm in your car as long as it's not concealed. Ie; the cops cannot charge you with a crime if you happen to have your loaded sidearm on the seat next to you. That is unless the law has been changed recently.

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Just out of curiosity, can you transport loaded handguns in WA?

My understanding is both yes and no. Seriously, it is complicated. Generally, you can not transport any loaded firearm. There are exceptions. The biggest has to do with concealed carry for handguns. You may carry concealed if you have a permit, are police, military on duty, etc. This state also has an interesting set of exceptions. For example if you are engaged in hunting or fishing or on your way to or from such activitiy. Similarly if you are a member of a formal firearms collectors club or organized shooting club and on your way to or from such an activity.

If you want to transport a handgun, I would suggest that you transport it unloaded.

If you have a single action pistol that has the magazine out and is locked open, the time it takes to pop a loaded magazine in and an snap the action closed (feeding the first round) with your thumb doesn't take long at all. Probably less than the time it take to stop the vehicle. If you are really into wanting to carry concealed, then you should pay the money and get your fingerprints taken and be legal.

Although not directly related, I think I now understand why all the focus along the waterfront on terrorist activities.

I have provided a hot link to another post at the following:

Osama Bin Laden owns a fleet of cargo vessels