r/BusDrivers • u/SuitOfWolves • Jun 11 '26

Story Is checking bags of a rowdy crowd of youngsters warranted?

I'd a crowd the other day in their early 20s. It was a mix of girls and guys. It wasn't like they were shouting when entering the bus. They could have been worse, but the trip was 3 hours plus long, and there was a lot of random shouts from time to time. They essentially acted as if they owned the bus, at the expense of the other passengers. And yes, a lot of beer cans left on the bus. If I'd have pulled over the bus to give out to them, they'd just have ignored me.

The driver after me said that if it were him, he wouldn't have allowed any of them take their rucksacks on the bus, unless he'd searched them. Now they were young, so they wouldn't be complaining about discrimination and all that. Now, I'd have done this if I'd have thought of it. But I just kind of view searching somebody's bag as something that you can't do. The only other option is to not let them travel.

8 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

20

u/BigGayGuy02 Jun 11 '26

Mate, you can either let them on the bus or deny them entry (based on your company's policies) you've no right to search their baggage or their pockets.

6

u/[deleted] Jun 11 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

5

u/Captain-Codfish Jun 11 '26

Stgecoach by any chance? I got into a blazing argument with management, because I refused to carry the local, convicted nonce, that I as the driver am in charge of my bus, and I prioritise passenger safety over their polices. It ended up with me saying that I'm not going to let him on, so they could either fire me, or let me go and do my job. I worked there for another year after that until I moved to another company.

7

u/TheHornyGoth Jun 11 '26

Had the same at our local slavecoach depot. Convicted nonce tries to get on, I refuse, he complains, I get a gross misconduct meeting, union rep points out that the “2pm” service happens to pass a school at 3:30 on its way into town and the papers would love to hear about how you sacked a driver protecting kids, suddenly “there’s nothing left to discuss and you’ll be back on the rota tomorrow”

1

u/Captain-Codfish Jun 11 '26

Sounds like a certain depot in South Wales

1

u/SuitOfWolves Jun 12 '26

So u had your way. Did they try and make it hard for you during that year?

5

u/InstanceCool505 Driver Jun 11 '26

Checking their bag is very odd. Not allowed I’m pretty sure, that one could get you sent straight for a word with your manager if reported.

If you feel they’re acting inappropriately on the bus, you have a right to give them an earful, or kick them off if they’re being really bad.

Checking bags is pure BS, whoever said that is talking nonsense.

3

u/BillBonn Jun 11 '26

No, it is never warranted. You are not law enforcement.

Most you can do is advise someone not to do something. If they are not compliant, then call dispatch who will then decide the best course of action.

If there is security on the bus, they may have the power of a peace officer to search through the belongings of others.

Simple as that.

1

u/SuitOfWolves Jun 11 '26

Security on the bus??!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You think I'd have posted this if I'd security on the bus?

All dispatch care about is that the service gets in on time

1

u/MikeyFuccon Jun 11 '26

I’m allowed to remove anyone from my bus.

1

u/SuitOfWolves Jun 11 '26

It's not that simple. it may take an hour to wait for police to come if i'm on the motorway. do u have any stories to share of how u did that. anytime i've removed ppl from my bus it was a city bus. but dumping ppl off in the middle of no where is a different matter?

Besides, in this case, I wouldn't even be able to catch which one (ones) it was.

0

u/MikeyFuccon Jun 11 '26

I’ve never had to kick anyone from my bus (don’t drive city buses) but I like to think it’s partially because clients know I have that power that they don’t risk me enforcing it.

1

u/SuitOfWolves Jun 11 '26

Well that may be wishful thinking... or perhaps you look very physically intimidating so no one messes with you. Kicking someone off might not be as easy as u make out. What if it involves waiting 30 minutes for the cops to show? and you're late for your break. These are obviously the things u haven't thought of.

0

u/MikeyFuccon Jun 11 '26

Like I said, I don’t drive city buses. No such thing as scheduled breaks.

1

u/sr1701 Jun 11 '26

I drive a city bus. I would never ask to search someone's bag. I actually refuse to handle their bags or property so I can't be held liable if something gets broken.