"Random searches at Minneapolis airport begin"

Tuesday, February 11, 2003

Random searches at airport begin
BY MARTIN J. MOYLAN
The St. Paul (MN) Pioneer Press


Responding to heightened fears of terrorist attacks, airport police will be
randomly searching vehicles - especially large ones - headed to the
Lindbergh and Humphrey terminals at Minneapolis-St. Paul International
Airport.

The checks should take no more than 60 to 90 seconds as police pop trunks
and check cargo holds to look for explosives and other dangerous materials,
said Tim Anderson, deputy executive director of operations for the
Metropolitan Airports Commission.

The vehicle searches are not in response to any specific threat targeting
the airport, Anderson said. The federal Transportation Security
Administration has directed all airports to increase security precautions,
he said.

Anderson would not comment on the frequency of the searches, which will
continue indefinitely. He said travelers should give themselves a little
extra time in planning airport trips in case their cars are searched.

But the checks shouldn't take long, he emphasized.

"We won't be opening bags or going through glove compartments,'' he said.
"People won't have to get out of their cars. . I expect the public will be
helpful as they always have been. The public has been extremely tolerant
about all the changes since September 2001 at the airport.''

Drivers refusing searches will not be allowed to proceed, at least until
bomb-sniffing dogs check out their vehicles.

The searches will occur along the airport's inbound roads, before drivers
encounter turnoffs for parking or the terminals.

Though Anderson said the searches will be random, he acknowledged that SUVs,
trucks and other vehicles that could pack large amounts of explosives will
be more likely candidates for searches.

But what good would the vehicle checks be against a suicidal terrorist
perhaps 30 seconds away from his target? He'd likely not pull over for an
inspection.

Well, at least police at the terminal would get a heads-up that a terrorist
was on his way, said TSA spokesman Brian Turmail.

"You have to remember we're putting in place a range of security measures,''
he said. "They work best in tandem. Have we built a China Wall around every
airport? No. But we're increasing our ability to protect them. . This
(police vehicle checks) will work in tandem with increased police presence
in the lobbies of airports.''

At the Humphrey Terminal parking garage, vehicles have been subject to
random inspections. At the Lindbergh Terminal, vehicles entering the parking
garage have not been inspected because the terminal would be relatively well
shielded from any blasts in the garage. Only cars using valet parking,
located under the terminal, are subject to inspection.


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