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CNN Live At Daybreak

America's New War: Police Search Trucks in Manhattan

Aired September 26, 2001 - 08:14   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Things have changed since the terrorist attacks. Police are now searching trucks that are heading into Manhattan, and that move comes after word that people with links to suspected hijackers had applied for licenses to transport hazardous materials.

CNN's Jason Carroll is watching the checkpoint at the Queens Borough Bridge -- good morning again, Jason.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And good morning to you, Paula.

Everyone knows that traffic is bad in New York City. But the security checkpoints that have been set up, like the one that you see right here in Queens, have made a traffic situation even worse. You can see that officials are out here right now checking some of the trucks that are heading into Manhattan.

Officials have received a number of credible threats in the wake of the terrorist attack, and there has been some concern that someone will try to use the bridges to carry out those threats. So security checkpoints have been set up to look for suspicious activities.

You can see again here at this security checkpoint in Queens that it is really slowing traffic out here. The situation has gotten so bad in terms of traffic that the mayor says beginning tomorrow, anyone using the four major bridges on the east side trying to get into Manhattan will have to carpool. That rule will go into effect from 6:00 a.m. until noon. That is what we're being told, and there's a possibility that that rule, Paula, could be extended to other bridges and tunnels as well.

At this point, the mayor is asking all of these people, who are using the bridges and the roadways, to use mass transit instead. The security checkpoints are definitely needed. The traffic situation is not going to get any better, he says, unless people start to use mass transit -- Paula.

ZAHN: Jason, this may be a tough question to answer, but on average, when you've watched these trucks you've seen searched this morning, how long has it taken?

CARROLL: Well, you know, it depends upon the truck. Usually, it's just a few minutes, but when you think about the fact that there are thousands of trucks -- thousands of people who are trying to get in and out of the city every day, those few minutes just add up -- Paula.

ZAHN: All right. Jason Carroll -- see you a little bit later on this morning -- thanks.

CARROLL: All right.

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