Ohio Fusion Center Winter Clothing Warning

[The Straight Story]

During periods of colder weather, Ohio citizens and law enforcement officers (LEO) encounter a variety of winter clothing—ski masks, toboggan hats, stocking caps, scarves, head bands, hooded sweatshirts, and heavy coats—that can present challenges to identifying individuals in public areas and public transportation.

(U//FOUO) Citizens and LEOs should be aware that many public areas and modes of public transportation have few or no policies against full concealment of the face or identifying features when wearing winter clothing. Examples of these public areas and public modes of transportation include buses, airports, shopping malls, financial institutions, and gas stations.

Current Policies

(U//FOUO) SAIC research which includes collaboration with partners and other resources2 indicates that few public areas—such as financial institutions, grocery stores, jewelry stores—or modes of transportation have policies prohibiting the concealment of identities with winter weather clothing (this does not include private businesses which can enact their own policies). The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, for example, does have a policy that requires the removal of headwear for identification in driver license and state ID photographs (except for specified religious purposes or medical treatments). Some financial institutions are exploring policies that would require individuals to remove all concealing headwear before entering the lobby area prior to a transaction. The policy would give employees the opportunity to verbally confront any violators of the policy.

(U//FOUO) Officials cite public transportation driver and passenger safety as the main reason to implement a policy which would require an individual to remove head and neck wear that conceals an identity before entering, boarding, or using public transportation services. Identified Ohio transportation authorities have previously discussed measures to implement policies that would require individuals to remove winter weather clothing, such as ski masks and toboggans, when boarding a public bus or utilizing public transportation. In the past, legal and enforcement issues have impeded the implementation of these kinds of policies, and discussions are ongoing at this time.

(U) Conclusion

(U//FOUO) Only a very small percentage of individuals use winter weather clothing for criminal or terrorist purposes. Individuals who transit public areas and ride public transportation may become alarmed or uneasy when they observe others with this type of concealment because of preconceived notions and perceptions. As discussion continues about the implementation of proposed policies, citizens and LEOs are reminded to remain vigilant of the challenges winter clothing may pose in public areas and public transportation.

http://publicintelligence.net/ufouo-ohio-fusion-center-winter-clothing-warning/

[Arctic Dave]

1. Derp derp derp.

Terrorist winter clothing.

DHS has jumped the shark.

[bluedigger]

3. Ohio doesn't need DHS' help.

They've got Ohio State available to supply all their derp needs.

[longship]

2. Sorry. Here in rural western MI we take winter clothing VERY seriously.

I have an LL Bean down coat with -- horrors!! -- a hood. It is old, and somewhat threadbare. But when temperatures dip below zero and I have to drive my 17 year old Volvo the 15 miles to the grocers, I take winter clothing seriously. One flat tire and I may be screwn on the back roads here.

In winter I even take candles in my car in the hopes that their warmth may provide some comfort while waiting rescue if I break down.

[HiPointDem]

4. a toboggan is an item of winter clothing?

[MineralMan]

5. Yup. Here's one, very nicely worn, too.

[HiPointDem]

6. must be a localism. thats a hat, this is a toboggan:

[MineralMan]

8. Actually, many English words have multiple meanings.

Toboggan is one of them. It can mean that flat-bottomed multi-person sled. It also means a hat people wear while riding on a toboggan, or in other winter activities. Sorry, but words mean what they mean. They don't necessarily mean only what you think they mean.

[HiPointDem]

9. i wasn't being entirely serious, & am perfectly cognizant of the fact that words have

many meanings.

however, i suspect this use of 'toboggan' is indeed a localism or regionalism. or else my region is the only one who doesn't use it.

[MineralMan]

10. It is a regional usage. I've heard it in Minnesota and Wisconsin, but

never in California. Lots of those regionalisms out there.

[BlueMan Votes]

7. as long as the LEO's can tell if the skin is white or some shade of brown...

that's all that really matters for them.