"Sheriff starts random vehicle searches at Broward airport"

Tuesday, February 11 2003

Sheriff starts random vehicle searches at Broward airport
By SHANNON O'BOYE
The Fort Lauderdale (FL) Sun Sentinel


Broward Sheriff's Office deputies will be stopping random vehicles at the
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to search for bombs and
weapons as a result of the nation being put on high alert for a terrorist
attack, Sheriff Ken Jenne said Tuesday morning.

In West Palm Beach, meanwhile, Palm Beach International Airport announced
that all vehicles must now enter the airport through the Australian Avenue
and Turnage Boulevard checkpoints. The Belvedere entrance has been closed
until further notice. All vehicles are subject to search at the checkpoint.
Also, travelers should plan to arrive at the airport at least 1-1/2 hours
prior to departure time.

The Broward announcement follows the federal Homeland Security Department
raising the color-coded terrorist alert system to orange, indicating a "high
risk of terrorist attacks."

The checks, at the entrance ramps and the parking garages, will be conducted
into the foreseeable future, Jenne said.

They take only a few seconds, and deputies are trying to prevent long lines
from forming, he said. Safety experts have developed a profile for which
vehicles and how many vehicles should be checked, but Jenne would not give
details.

Random vehicle inspections are being put in place at all 429 airports
throughout the nation, he said.

Airline travelers should anticipate the possibility that the higher security
procedures may lead to delays at the airport, Jenne said.

The drivers who were stopped Tuesday did not seem to mind the inconvenience.
In fact, many said security could be even tighter.

"London Heathrow is much stricter," said Nona Baker, who is in South Florida
visiting her mother. "They check everyone. They have dogs. At Heathrow
Airport, nothing gets through them. I feel safer."

Jenne said deputies will be getting paid overtime to do the checks.

"The Board of County Commissioners and the taxpayers who asked for this will
be footing the bill," he said.


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