Even as its future looks to be more and more in jeopardy, the Bush Administration’s TIPS anti-terrorism program is being backed by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Assn.

The Terrorism Information Prevention System would set up a system for truck drivers and other transportation workers to report suspicious terrorism-related activity they see on the job. But the proposal drew fire from civil liberties groups and others, including OOIDA, who were concerned about privacy issues.
In response, the Department of Justice revamped the program, which originally would have included meter readers, postal workers and others who it was feared would spy on people’s private property. The new version focuses on activities in public areas, such as roads, bridges, truckstop parking lots and mass transit facilities.
“OOIDA’s original concerns regarding privacy have been satisfied, and we think TIPS will not only help federal officials prevent possible terrorist activity, we also believe the program can help prevent crimes aginst truckers, who are most often in the are where these activities are likely to occur,” said Todd Spencer, executive vice president of OOIDA. “Should it gain approval, we encourage all OOIDA members to choose to participate in the program.”
Gaining approval, however, may be an uphill battle. The House of Representatives included language in its Homeland Security bill to prohibit TIPS or similar programs. So far the Senate has not passed a companion bill, but Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont is planning to introduce an amendment that will do so. And according to a Friday article on Salon.com, Sen. Joe Lieberman, conservative Democrat from Connecticut, has dropped his support for the program.
Lieberman reportedly favored a limited version of the program during the summer. Last month, he blocked an effort to bar TIPS in the Senate version of the Homeland Security bill. But the more details he has seen from the Justice Department, the less he likes it, according to the Salon.com website, and it looks like he will drop his opposition to Leahy’s efforts to kill it.
OOIDA is encouraging truckers to contact their elected representatives in Washington, D.C., and express their support for TIPS.