Officials Ramp Up Security On Eve Of Super Bowl
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- It's all been fun and games leading up the Super Bowl but on the eve of the big game, officials are kicking their security efforts up into high gear.
As 1010 WINS' Gary Baumgarten reported Saturday, security has been beefed up at all of the Tri-State area's mass transit hubs that connect to MetLife Stadium.
It's a massive undertaking, involving not only people, but animals as well and the additional security is already being seen and felt by many, CBS 2's Cindy Hsu reported.
NJ TRANSIT's William Smith said not only are their NJ TRANSIT officers on patrol, but other law enforcement officers and Transportation Security Administration agents running security checks.
"Obviously this is a level one national security event. Which means there will be enhanced security in place to protect our passengers," Smith said. "We have in place, security really enhanced systemwide and have folks who are there doing screenings at several mass transit stations across the system."
At Newark Liberty International Airport, dozens of special passenger-screening K-9s and their handlers were sniffing out potential dangers, Hsu reported. Teams were brought in from all over the nation specifically for the Super Bowl.
"They can detect dozens of different explosives, and when they do detect something, their behavior changes and the K-9 handlers are able to determine when and where the dogs alert to be able to take the next important steps."
Fans told Baumgarten they're thankful for the extra security as they prepare to go to the big game.
"You never can be too careful and you just make sure you can plan early, get there and have a good time. But you want to be safe," Matt said.
Nine miles east of the city, across the Hudson River in East Rutherford, N.J., U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents will be watching the game on Sunday from above. Black Hawk helicopters will be buzzing around MetLife Stadium, enforcing the 10-mile no-fly zone.
"Most of the cases of people breaching the zone, obviously, in the past, have been a mistake," said Phil Petro, of Customs and Border Protection.
The no-fly zone kicks in Sunday morning. Teterboro Airportwill be shut down because it is too close to the stadium.
On the ground, security teams locked down the stadium. Every vehicle that approaches is stopped, screened and X-Rayed, Hsu reported.
"Those machines can look deep inside any kind of truck and if there is something there you want us to find it before it gets anywhere near that stadium," chief Kevin McCabe said.
Because of all of the extra security, officials are urging residents, visitors and game-goers to allow extra time while traveling this weekend.
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