http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/216551-nypd-caught-using-x-ray-vans-to-search-the-public-refuses-court-order-to-release-detailsFor more than three years, ProPublica has been fighting to force the NYPD to disclose the details of its fleet of X-ray vans. Earlier this year, New York State Supreme Court Judge Doris Ling-Cohan ruled that the NYPD couldn’t shield itself from Freedom of Information requests simply because disclosing fleet details could interefere with ongoing investigations. The New York Civil Liberties Union has filed an amicus curiae (friend of the court) briefing arguing against the NYPD’s position, but New York Police Commissioner Bill Bratton continues to stonewall reporters.
It all boils down to "just trust us" and "national security and fight against terrorists" but the truth is that NYPD refuses to obey court orders. Now the reason why people are curious as to how the NYPD has been using these X-ray vans is that even though the similar tech, when used at airports, has been under study and shown to be relatively safe there is no information on how NYPD has been using these mobile X-ray machines and whether or not they have evactuated the test area of people.
You see, the real threat in these machines is when someone is standing too close to them and if, for example, NYPD have used them on the streets and scanned some random buildings then any bystander walking between the van and the building have received an overdose by being too close to the machines.
Oh and of course the minor detail that using the vans without a search warrant is illegal. But I'm sure the NYPD hasn't done something like that simply because they thought they could get away with it and I'm sure there are other reasons to resist revealing the info than some incriminating evidence that would show the police violating laws and endangering the bystanders and suspects health...
What I am really curious to know is how
are they able to resist the court order? Shouldn't some high ranking official or agent of the court just walk in and get the data by force? How come "I don't wanna" is an acceptable defense and why isn't this a bigger scandal?