Friday, November 18, 2011 Airport protocol ensures safety, speedy travel WIAT-TV Ch 42 (CBS), Birmingham (AL) BIRMINGHAM, Ala - It takes a lot of patience to travel. It might take more to keep an arrival zone organized. "It's usually hectic." Protocol at most airports like Birmingham Shuttlesworth International does not allow drivers to pull over unless their party is on the curb waiting. "It has to do with safety of the public, federal guidelines since 9/11, and also limited in amount of lanes due to construction," says Birmingham Police Sgt. Johnny Williams. Construction on terminal A has taken the normal amount of pick up lanes from 6 down to just two. Police ask drivers to park in the short term parking deck, or designated cell phone lot down the road, but not everyone likes to follow the rules. Take this driver for instance, he tried to stop once, twice, three times. and each time, was told he needed to loop back around, or go to the parking deck. "I think if you have a long wait and somebody's not sure where they're going, it's probably better to go to the short term parking," says one traveler Tybee Faddis. "Usually we try to make sure we're in contact with the other person unlike my current situation right now, I have no cell phone, so I'm just kind of waiting looking around, hoping they pick me up," says another traveler Joe Basom. Related Video: http://www.cbs42.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=3036691 |