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This page contains all of the posts and discussion on MemeStreams referencing the following web page: Tom and Billy: On Border Security. You can find discussions on MemeStreams as you surf the web, even if you aren't a MemeStreams member, using the Threads Bookmarklet.

Tom and Billy: On Border Security
by Acidus at 12:14 am EDT, Aug 1, 2006

Tom: Basically the Supreme Court rules that 4th ammendment doesn't apply to searches that a custom offical does when you come back to the US, because you aren't in the US yet.

Me: So where am I?

Tom:... want do you mean?

Me: If I'm not in the US yet, then I have to be "somewhere." What is that somewhere? Are there laws? There obviously aren't US laws, becase the Courts ruled I'm not in the US yet. Can I just punch the customs offical in the face?

Tom:... I don't recommend punching the customs offical in the face unless you want to be handcuffed to a hospital bed for 3 days getting a chemical enema.

Me: Maybe this whole time everyone thinks there's order in the duty free zones, but its really anarcy. It's like a collective hallucination.

Tom: Thats a good point, what's to keep me going into the duty free store and start stealing stuff?

Conclusion: The customs office is a Temporary Autonomous Zone

RE: Tom and Billy: On Border Security
by Decius at 12:37 am EDT, Aug 1, 2006

Acidus wrote:
Tom: Basically the Supreme Court rules that 4th ammendment doesn't apply to searches that a custom offical does when you come back to the US, because you aren't in the US yet.

OK, so, the actual answer is you are in the U.S. and the Fourth Amendment does "apply." It just doesn't have much force. The reason is that the first congress passed a rule allowing random searches at borders but restricting domestic searches a few months before they passed the 4th amendment. Other laws apply with the same force they usually do, but the 4th amendment has less force. Ultimately, the reason why is because that's how they've always done it.

RE: Tom and Billy: On Border Security
by k at 10:45 am EDT, Aug 1, 2006

Acidus wrote:
Tom: Basically the Supreme Court rules that 4th ammendment doesn't apply to searches that a custom offical does when you come back to the US, because you aren't in the US yet.
Me: So where am I?

According to my reading it's not that you're "not in the US" but that the 4th amendment has been specifically relaxed in the case of the border because of the special circumstances involved in protecting the nation. Those circumstances being an extreme government interest and the likelihood of certain dangerous or illegal activities occuring in that location.

I'm sure laws regarding theft, and assault, still apply pretty forcefully.