Think maybe they are on to something here?

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/19991222/1006929.htm

Permit plan aims to keep city open in emergencies By TOM BUCKHAM News Staff Reporter 12/22/99

A plan to keep Buffalo businesses open during emergencies by assigning travel permits to vital employees was unveiled Tuesday in City Hall. Officials expect the Corporate Emergency Access System, a first-in-the- nation pilot program, to be in effect by the second week of January. They hope the plan, developed by the city and the business community, eventually will be adopted by communities throughout Erie County. Cities across the nation also will be watching to see how the Buffalo experiment turns out, said Deputy Fire Commissioner John W. Sniderhan, the city's disaster coordinator. Under the system, photo identification similar to a driver's license will be issued to those designated "critical corporate employees" by their companies. The credentials will be needed to drive or work in the city during snow emergencies, chemical spills, terrorist threats or whenever else a travel ban and building-occupancy restrictions are in effect. Failure to produce the pass during an enforcement check will result in a $52.50 fine. The size of the company will determine how many workers may get credentials. Firms with 20 or fewer employees may designate 25 percent as essential; those with 21 to 100 employees, 20 percent; 101 to 1,000 employees, 15 percent; and more than 1,000 employees, 10 percent. The system is designed to minimize business losses during emergencies like January's record two-week snowfall, which brought city traffic and commerce to a standstill. "Closing down poses big, big problems," Mayor Anthony M. Masiello told the session, attended by bankers and other business executives. "When we have a state of emergency, you lose productivity and revenue. We'll afford you the ability to work with key personnel in those situations." Designed by a statewide task force, the program will be managed by city Office of Disaster Preparedness and the Business Network of Emergency Resources, or B-Net, at 275 Oak St. Emergency-access credentials may be obtained from B-Net, which is funded in part by a state-federal grant. The system will require each employee to complete a two-hour training course, after which the employee must submit his or her name, credential number and training certificate to B-Net, which will then issue the ID. Each name will go into a database B-Net will share with local public-safety agencies. Information will be available within the week on the Buffalo Better Business Bureau Web site, www.buffalo.bbb.org or at 842-2667, Ext. 180.

-- Michael (michaelteever@buffalo.com), December 22, 1999

Answers

What could be in that "training course", I wonder.

What a cool way to raise city revenue. "Trespassers" in essence will be fined. Nice shakedown. If it works for Buffalo, I want to start a system in my neighborhood. Residents will have passes (free). Guests of residents will be issued travel permits (cheap). Big Fines for everyone else, even the sightseers.

-- JIT (justintime@rightnow.net), December 22, 1999.

this sounds like a sneaky way to introduce the concepts of martial law without having to say its name. so what the heck is going on in this country with all the FOCUS ON TERRORISM for the past year? is this truly a threat or a deceptive way to "welcome" a police state?

-- tt (cuddluppy@nowhere.com), December 22, 1999.

WISH I KNEW, seems alfully suspicious though.

-- Michael (michaelteever@buffalo.com), December 22, 1999.

Bull poop and cow cookies. But the sheep might bleat a while then go back to munching away on the government pasture.

-- Mark Hillyard (foster@inreach.com), December 22, 1999.

That is it folks...travel restrictions. NOT EVEN IN WWII were these things in effect. Notice, it is passed off as a local initiative, yet I'll bet it is the work of Big Brother...notice it is a "pilot program!"

Second week in January, the Oil thing will be starting to bite. Looks like the Shape of Things To Come!

-- ~~~ (Losing it @ Lost it .com), December 22, 1999.

A thought to ponder. If Martial Law is instituted does that mean that the entire populace of the US will be governed by the military's UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice)? Or will existing civil laws stay in place?

I ask since military personnel would be the law, would they be asked to learn a new set of laws to enforce or would they be charged with enforcing laws they're familiar with upon a population unfamiliar with those new laws?

WW

-- Wildweasel (vtmldm@epix.net), December 22, 1999.

Good question, they are a totally different set of regulations, local laws vs. military laws. I'm familiar with the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice), and based on my navy experience in the late 70's, a person is much, and I mean much, more responsible for their actions than most of the laws in civilian society. As I mentioned, a very good question, anyone have a better understanding of what we might expect if it becomes a "fact of life"?

-- Michael (michaelteever@buffalo.com), December 22, 1999.

She's baaaaack!

-- Me (me@me.me), December 22, 1999.

"Your papers , please"

Get used to it.

-- Sam (Wtrmkr52@aol.com), December 22, 1999.

Sorry guys,but my father told me he remembers stuff like this,(before he left Germany as a Jewish refugee)My mothers,mother remembers things like this too,when she was young(before they were moved to a reservation-"on the trail where they cried") This scares me. America land of the free.......(?)

-- feather (fjayco2@aol.com), December 23, 1999.

Gee, in the UK there's no legal requirement to have ANY documentation on you when you're driving around, no license, no registration papers, nothing.

Maybe you guys need to buy more guns to protect your "freedom."

;p

-- Servant (public_service@yahoo.com), December 23, 1999.

"...Designed by a statewide task force, the program will be managed by city ..."

This is NOT a local government program, kids. This is a very interesting development.

-- Lewis (aslanshow@yahoo.com), December 23, 1999.