Tighter baggage-checking rules take effect at airport

Erica D. Johnson

Thursday, Jan. 2, 2003 | 11:03 a.m.

When Wendy Russell packed her three suitcases Wednesday to return to Vancouver, British Columbia, after ringing in the New Year in Las Vegas, she knew there would be a problem.

Russell and her husband, Michael Moroz, had locked their luggage before heading to McCarran International Airport, even though they were warned not to.

"I heard on the news last night that today was the deadline that all bags would be checked," she said Wednesday. "They said not to lock your bags. But I said, 'Forget it' and locked them anyway. We have a layover in San Francisco. It's too long of a trip not to lock your bag."

Airport screeners sent Russell's bags through an explosive detection system machine known as an EDS, but the metal backing on a picture frame inside one suitcase meant officials had to hand-search the bag.

"I figured I'd hang out to see if they wanted to open it," she said. "That way, we can do it for them so they don't destroy our bag."

Jan. 1 marked the first day of new Transportation Security Administration guidelines for airports nationwide, in which every bag checked in is screened for explosives.

All luggage now goes through an EDS, a smaller explosive trace detection machine known as an ETD, or a bomb-sniffing dog, Jim Blair, McCarran's federal security director said.

In the past, checked bags were randomly selected for screening.

Under the new rules screeners will break the locks on any locked bags that need to be searched further, Blair said.

McCarran officials had the new system up and running Tuesday morning in an effort to be prepared for the influx of passengers on the holiday, Blair said.

"We hit the ground running," he said. "Technicians worked around the clock yesterday trying to get the machines ready for today. The performance today was nothing less than outstanding."

By Wednesday evening about 100,000 passengers had flooded McCarran and about 72,000 bags were checked, which is typical on busy days, Blair said.

The TSA does not release how many of the screened bags were subsequently hand-searched because of security concerns, airport spokesman Hilarie Grey said.

Blair said the airport experienced no delays Wednesday because of the extra time it takes to screen all the bags.

"We're not significantly increasing any delays," he said. "Some of the worries about that are unfounded. But it's an evolving process. We have to find out the problems and correct them."

Employees who operate the screening machines must go through about 100 hours of training, Blair said.

About half of the 11 EDS machines currently at the ticketing gates were brought in Sunday, Blair said.

He would not comment on the total number of electronic screening devices at McCarran.

Most travelers who talked to the Sun Wednesday said while they were unaware of the new guidelines, they were happy the new rules were in place.

"I think it's excellent," said Sharon Lee, who was returning to San Diego. "I want to feel safe. It may be a little inconvenient but it's well worth it."

Lee didn't have locks on the two bags she checked at America West's curbside check-in.

"There's nothing of any value in my bags," she said. "But if I did, I certainly wouldn't mind them breaking it."

Russell said she had no problem with screeners searching her luggage, even though they were locked.

"I think it's a good thing," she said. "I have no problem with it. It's just about everyone's safety and security."