JURIST - Paper Chase: New Yorkers favor random bag searches on subways, poll says

[JURIST] A survey conducted by Quinnipiac University's Polling Institute [official website] found that 72% of 1,601 New York residents polled supported the random bag searches [JURIST report] being conducted on city subways and buses following the terrorist attacks in London [JURIST news archive]. While 55% said government security measures should not violate basic civil rights, 60% of Republicans said that the government should take "all steps necessary to prevent additional acts of terrorism in the United States even if it means your basic civil liberties would be violated." 62% of Democrats disagreed with the statement. Quinnipiac polling director Maurice Carroll said, "Even in a city touchy about civil rights, New Yorkers pick a bag search over the threat of being blown up. But most voters don't want to give government too much power." Earlier this month, the New York Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit [PDF complaint; JURIST report] alleging that the subway bag searches violate constitutional prohibitions against unreasonable searches and seizures. AP has more.

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