Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Saturday Morning News
Up for Bids.
Aired January 04, 2003 - 08:53 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.
JOHN VAUSE CNN ANCHOR: It's the first major test of new baggage screening requirement at airports across the country. The new rules went into effect on New Year's Day, but millions of holiday travelers are expected to hit the airports today. Under a law passed after 9/11, all checked baggage must be screened for explosives' material. Scattered delays have already been reported since the new screenings began.
HIEDI COLLINS CNN ANCHOR: And since September 11, airline passengers have been prohibited, that is, from carrying dozens of everyday items onto airplanes. Most passengers surrender the items at security checkpoints, but that's created a headache for the government what to do with all the stuff. In California, eBay has come to the rescue.
Casey Wian has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's a familiar experience for many airline passengers, arrive at the security gate and find out you left something sharp or something dangerous in your pocket or carry-on bag.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was right after September 11, you know, nail clippers, cork screws.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A little bitty key chain, looked like a little pistol (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They took my wife's little screwdriver set apart, and I really asked them whether they felt threatened by that and she said that the rule is rule.
WIAN: Passengers found carrying anything from tiny scissors to big hunting knives generally have three options. If there's time, their property can go with checked baggage or be returned to a car. If not, passengers surrender the item to security agents.
DAN MCDONOUGH, CALIFORNIA DEPT. OF GENERAL SERVICES: Occasionally, we saw a frying pan, some automated screwdrivers, tools, homemade knives and listen, quite frankly, some of this stuff looks pretty deadly. And I feel a little safer knowing that the guy next to me on an airplane doesn't have a homemade knife in his carry-on.
WIAN: Surrendered items like these become property of the U.S. government, which then checks to see if any of it can be used by federal or state agencies. If not, the property is put up for sale to the public and in California that's often done through eBay.
(on camera): California airports alone accumulate more than a ton of surrendered items each month. So far, sales of the items have only generated a few thousand dollars in revenue for the state.
(voice-over): Other states have different ways of disposing of surrendered airport property and several split proceeds from public sales with the federal government.
PATRICK LAMB, GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION: The amount is going to go down as people realize that nail clippers and nail files and scissors are going to be taken away. So I see this actually as probably a diminishing program over the next few years.
WIAN: After operating expenses, any money left over goes to the U.S. Treasury, which these days may need it more than you needed those scissors.
Casey Wian, CNN, Santa Ana, California.
(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 January 4, 2003 - 08:53 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN VAUSE CNN ANCHOR: It's the first major test of new baggage screening requirement at airports across the country. The new rules went into effect on New Year's Day, but millions of holiday travelers are expected to hit the airports today. Under a law passed after 9/11, all checked baggage must be screened for explosives' material. Scattered delays have already been reported since the new screenings began.
HIEDI COLLINS CNN ANCHOR: And since September 11, airline passengers have been prohibited, that is, from carrying dozens of everyday items onto airplanes. Most passengers surrender the items at security checkpoints, but that's created a headache for the government what to do with all the stuff. In California, eBay has come to the rescue.
Casey Wian has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's a familiar experience for many airline passengers, arrive at the security gate and find out you left something sharp or something dangerous in your pocket or carry-on bag.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was right after September 11, you know, nail clippers, cork screws.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A little bitty key chain, looked like a little pistol (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They took my wife's little screwdriver set apart, and I really asked them whether they felt threatened by that and she said that the rule is rule.
WIAN: Passengers found carrying anything from tiny scissors to big hunting knives generally have three options. If there's time, their property can go with checked baggage or be returned to a car. If not, passengers surrender the item to security agents.
DAN MCDONOUGH, CALIFORNIA DEPT. OF GENERAL SERVICES: Occasionally, we saw a frying pan, some automated screwdrivers, tools, homemade knives and listen, quite frankly, some of this stuff looks pretty deadly. And I feel a little safer knowing that the guy next to me on an airplane doesn't have a homemade knife in his carry-on.
WIAN: Surrendered items like these become property of the U.S. government, which then checks to see if any of it can be used by federal or state agencies. If not, the property is put up for sale to the public and in California that's often done through eBay.
(on camera): California airports alone accumulate more than a ton of surrendered items each month. So far, sales of the items have only generated a few thousand dollars in revenue for the state.
(voice-over): Other states have different ways of disposing of surrendered airport property and several split proceeds from public sales with the federal government.
PATRICK LAMB, GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION: The amount is going to go down as people realize that nail clippers and nail files and scissors are going to be taken away. So I see this actually as probably a diminishing program over the next few years.
WIAN: After operating expenses, any money left over goes to the U.S. Treasury, which these days may need it more than you needed those scissors.
Casey Wian, CNN, Santa Ana, California.
(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
