Editor -- BART Police Director Gary Gee (Letters, Dec. 18) tells us not to worry about random drug checks on BART trains because the procedure "has withstood legal challenge," but provides no explanation for why we should be allowing this intrusion into personal privacy.

Gee also states that BART police are trained to determine who, suspected of being "high" from drugs or alcohol, can "exercise self-care and provide for his or her own safety." But he fails to explain why this point is relevant if a person sitting quietly on the train may be detained and cited for having a joint in his or her pocket.

Readers should realize that any combined operation with the federal government will be forced to target medical marijuana users as well, since such use continues to be illegal under federal law. Given the absurdity of the laws on marijuana, one would think BART could find a better use for its officers

MICHAEL GRAF

El Cerrito