Maryland Lawmakers Support Metro’s Access to Private Property
A new law passes in the shadows that will directly affect residents of the Washington D.C. metropolitan area.
Enhanced map of the Washington D.C. MetroRail map. Photo credit: https://www.cambooth.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/dc_detail.jpg
Congress passed a law that may compromise citizens’ Fourth Amendment right. House Joint Resolution 76, passed Aug. 22, creates a metro rail safety commission to further investigate premises adjacent to the metro, without limitation.
Under the law stated on www.Congress.gov, it requires the creation of a state safety authority to be made for Washington Metrorail Area Transit Authority (WMATA) rail system. The commission will be governed by a board of 6 members, with 2 members appointed or reappointed. The administration sets the parameters on the extent in which the are allowed to intrude on premises near the metro.
The broad language of the law allows the new safety commission to inspect, investigate, examine and test on premises near the metro rail system and it will not be deemed as trespassing.
Ultimately the law was set in place to provide greater metro safety conditions since many issues were disregarded by the last safety administration, the Tri-State Oversight Committee, who were deemed ineffectual and toothless, according to the Washington Post.
According to the Fourth Amendment of U.S. Constitution, the citizens of the United States are protected against unreasonable searches or seizures by the government. Only under certain circumstances will this protection will be waived.
This leaves the question to why this unconstitutional power was granted to metro safety commission.
“Congress passes unconstitutional laws all the time,” commented Lawyer Ronald Schwartz of Maryland. “This gives people the power to test them in court.
Tweet credit: @justinamash
Out of the 404 in the House of Representatives that voted, only 5 voted against the bill. Representatives Thomas Massie, Justin Amash, Walter Jones, Mark Sanford and Alex Mooney made up that 1% according to www.govtrack.us.
Maryland representatives Jamie Raskin, Anthony Brown, John Delaney, John Sarbanes and Steny Hoyer, were all supporters of the bill.
After several attempts in trying to reach Raskin’s office, no comment was received regarding the the new law passed.
With such small media coverage on the bill skeptism have come up on many independent news sources such as WorldNetDaily.com, thethreeprecenters.org and even twitter.
According to the Supremacy Clause of Article VI of the United States Constitution, federal law trumps state law, so unless Metro abuses the power, it should not affect many.
Be sure to look into Maryland bill in laws being passed. Call your representatives if you have questions or want to support or reject any bills.
