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Metro riders may see bags inspected by the police

VRE has no immediate plans for bag searches, and right-turn-on-red question on Harrison Road

Date published: 11/3/2008

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By Kelly Hannon

THE NEXT time you ride Metro, be prepared to let police officers inspect your bags before you enter a station.

Metro Transit Police began random screenings of riders' carry-on items last week.

Locally, the Virginia Railway Express does not plan to start an individual bag-search program, said VRE spokesman Mark Roeber.

However, VRE will continue to run unannounced, random searches of trains and stations using Virginia State Police K-9 units. Very soon, VRE will expand these searches by contracting with other local, state or federal law enforcement agencies.

During a search, a law enforcement official may ask to see a passenger's bag or personal item, Roeber said.

Passengers have always been cooperative with these requests, he said.

Dear Kelly:

I frequently use Harrison Road. When I am returning to U.S. 1, I make a right turn onto U.S. 1 south. I do not turn right on red because I am not turning onto the road that goes in front of the bank and Stonehouse Auction/Antiques. I have made many people behind me mad. What is the right thing to do?

--Susan Wyndham, Spotsylvania

Vehicles may turn right onto U.S. 1 south from Harrison Road on a red signal, after yielding to oncoming traffic.

I think the placement of the stop bar is causing the right-turn confusion at this intersection.

For vehicles traveling east on Harrison Road, the stop bar at the intersection is farther back from U.S. 1 than it would be at most intersections. The stop bar was moved back so traffic does not block the access road in front of the stores, Loren Drive, said Tina Bundy, Virginia Department of Transportation spokeswoman.

I think this bar--being a "stop" bar--gives drivers the impression that they should not proceed beyond it unless they have a green signal.

Bundy said vehicles must stop at a red signal, but you can make a right turn on red here as long as you yield to oncoming traffic and do not block Loren Drive.

Kelly Hannon is The Free Lance-Star's transportation reporter.

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Date published: 11/3/2008