"Permit to Travel"

[elfs]

When I use the light rail to get into Seattle, I have to make two stops: at the beginning, where I'm issued an e-ticket for the train, and at the end, where I redeem the ticket with a tap-out and have my Metro account debited for the amount of travel I used. If you don't redeem, you're dinged the maximum amount, $2.50. Given that I've never traveled less than the full distance, I don't see much point, but I still tap out at the end.

The ticket is called a "Permit to Travel." Am I the only one who finds that terminology just a little creepy?

Comments

[srmalloy.livejournal.com]

About as disturbing as this story about the TSA setting up a checkpoint to pull rail passengers off into a roped-off screening area after getting off a train; the video shows them patting down and wanding children. Clearly imminent threats to security that have to be rigorously screened to make sure they're not cleverly-disguised Arab suicide bombers.

And what are they going to do if you refuse to allow their search? Prevent you from getting off the train? Keep you in the station?