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CNN Live At Daybreak
Government Relaxing Gate Screening Measures
Aired December 09, 2002 - 05:13 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And you can expect some big changes in security at airports across the country today.
As CNN's Patty Davis reports, the government is relaxing some rules put in place after the September attacks.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's an extra security measure that's been in place since the September 11 terror attacks, a random, second screening just before you board your flight. Passenger Tom Taylor says it makes him feel safer.
TOM TAYLOR: It's a little bit of a nuisance, but it's good.
DAVIS: But the Transportation Security Administration says it's not necessary because of all the extra security measures now in place, including reinforced cockpit doors and federal air marshals. The TSA is doing away with gate screening for all flights. Instead, starting Monday, teams of screeners will rove airport gate areas and randomly choose flights and passengers for extra scrutiny. And at 17 airports over the next two weeks, including Boston, LAX and Milwaukee, some passengers will be selected for a second, more thorough screening at the passenger checkpoint, rather than at the gate. At those 17 airports, passengers will no longer be able to get boarding passes at the gate.
ROBERT JOHNSON, TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION: The notion is strengthen security, reduce hassle, do that by creating a program that is unpredictable to the enemy.
DAVIS: Also on Monday, the ban on parking within 300 feet of an airport terminal will be lifted. Parking restrictions will go into effect only when the Department of Homeland Security raises the color coded threat alert. It's part of getting rid of what the TSA's chief, Admiral James Loy, calls "stupid rules." He's already done away with a ban on carrying coffee cups through airport security and the two security questions passengers were routinely asked at the ticket counter.
BOB MONETTI, PRESIDENT, VICTIMS OF PANAM FLIGHT 103: It seems that everything they're doing is to simplify the passengers' route to the airplanes so that they don't get put off from going to the airports and so that the planes can leave on time. This has more to do with on time departures and full flights than it has anything to do with security.
DAVIS: Some security experts say the latest steps will help throw off terrorists, but warn more needs to be done.
J. KELLY MCCANN, CNN SECURITY ANALYST: Measured against this adversary, it's not enough, because clearly they're ingenious and innovative. We need to be, as well.
DAVIS (on camera): TSA officials acknowledge more needs to be done in cargo security, background checks for airport workers and screening checked luggage. Improvements, they say, are currently in the works.
Patty Davis, CNN, at Reagan National Airport.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired December 9, 2002 - 05:13 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And you can expect some big changes in security at airports across the country today.
As CNN's Patty Davis reports, the government is relaxing some rules put in place after the September attacks.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's an extra security measure that's been in place since the September 11 terror attacks, a random, second screening just before you board your flight. Passenger Tom Taylor says it makes him feel safer.
TOM TAYLOR: It's a little bit of a nuisance, but it's good.
DAVIS: But the Transportation Security Administration says it's not necessary because of all the extra security measures now in place, including reinforced cockpit doors and federal air marshals. The TSA is doing away with gate screening for all flights. Instead, starting Monday, teams of screeners will rove airport gate areas and randomly choose flights and passengers for extra scrutiny. And at 17 airports over the next two weeks, including Boston, LAX and Milwaukee, some passengers will be selected for a second, more thorough screening at the passenger checkpoint, rather than at the gate. At those 17 airports, passengers will no longer be able to get boarding passes at the gate.
ROBERT JOHNSON, TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION: The notion is strengthen security, reduce hassle, do that by creating a program that is unpredictable to the enemy.
DAVIS: Also on Monday, the ban on parking within 300 feet of an airport terminal will be lifted. Parking restrictions will go into effect only when the Department of Homeland Security raises the color coded threat alert. It's part of getting rid of what the TSA's chief, Admiral James Loy, calls "stupid rules." He's already done away with a ban on carrying coffee cups through airport security and the two security questions passengers were routinely asked at the ticket counter.
BOB MONETTI, PRESIDENT, VICTIMS OF PANAM FLIGHT 103: It seems that everything they're doing is to simplify the passengers' route to the airplanes so that they don't get put off from going to the airports and so that the planes can leave on time. This has more to do with on time departures and full flights than it has anything to do with security.
DAVIS: Some security experts say the latest steps will help throw off terrorists, but warn more needs to be done.
J. KELLY MCCANN, CNN SECURITY ANALYST: Measured against this adversary, it's not enough, because clearly they're ingenious and innovative. We need to be, as well.
DAVIS (on camera): TSA officials acknowledge more needs to be done in cargo security, background checks for airport workers and screening checked luggage. Improvements, they say, are currently in the works.
Patty Davis, CNN, at Reagan National Airport.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
