DRUGS, DATABANKS AND DIGNITY - COMPUTERIZED SELECTION OF TRAVELERS FOR INTRUSIVE BORDER SEARCHES

• NCJ Number: 40081
• Journal: Boston University Law Review Volume: 56 Issue: 5 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1976) Pages: 940-969
• Author(s): C R TURNER
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 30 pages
• Corporate Author: Boston University
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A REVIEW OF THE ISSUES CONCERNING THE USE OF THE TREASURY ENFORCEMENT COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM (TECS) IN BORDER SEARCHES.

Abstract

THE CENTRAL COMPONENT OF THE TECS IS A COMPUTERIZED DATABANK THAT CONTAINS DOSSIERS ON APPROXIMATELY HALF A MILLION PEOPLE WHO ARE TO BE SEARCHED MORE CAREFULLY THAN OTHER TRAVELERS. AFTER A DESCRIPTION OF THE USE OF THE TECS AND A REVIEW OF THE LAW OF BORDER SEARCHES, THE AUTHOR EXAMINES THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE TECS IN PROVIDING A QUANTUM OF CAUSE NECESSARY FOR BORDER SEARCHES. THE ARTICLE IDENTIFIES THE DANGER TO FOURTH AMENDMENT PRIVACY CREATED BY UNCONTROLLED TECS USAGE AND SUGGESTS POSSIBLE JUDICIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDIES THAT WOULD NOT HAMPER THE SYSTEM'S EFFECTIVENESS....TWH