Bay Area Airports Report Smooth Travel Despite Protest Threats
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - Lines of Thanksgiving travelers moved well at Bay Area Airports Wednesday despite a loosely-planned protest against full body scans designed to gum up passenger screening.
Passengers across the state are apparently shrugging off hype about full-body scans, pat downs and increased airport security, with many saying they'd submit to whatever it takes to keep things moving.
Transportation Security Administration officials say the new procedures are necessary to ward off terror attacks.
KCBS' Holly Quan talks to passengers:
TSA surveillance at SFO begins well before you even get into the security lines. About 50 yards from the hustle and bustle of the American Airlines security lines lies the hushed confines of the TSA control desk, part of SFO's command center behind locked doors. Three TSA agents stand at computer terminals in front of a bank of 10 screens, each showing a different security line.
Airport spokesman Mike McCarron said there are 1,500 cameras shooting the inside and outside of complex, even as you drive in they're keeping track of the vehicles going in and out. Protesters, upset over the TSA's full body scanners may cry foul over an invasion of privacy, but at SFO, the TSA is watching even before you get in line.
KCBS' Holly Quan Reports on SFO Cameras:
"They have cameras at all of the checkpoints throughout the airport," said McCarron. "They do it for quality control- to make sure everyone's doing what they're supposed to be doing, and for theft prevention. We've caught purse snatchers and computer snatchers going through security, where you get bumped out of line and someone grabs your stuff and takes off."
That's what happened last December when cameras caught a 39-year-old convicted robber who tried to make off with a purse stuffed with $3,000 in cash. That thief is now serving a 32-month jail sentence.
Wednesday morning the cold did delay some flights out of San Jose, but airlines using de-icing machines soon got back on track.
KCBS' Matt Bigler Reports on Weather Delays: KCBS couldn't find any passengers at Mineta San Jose who planned to protest newly instituted full body scans.
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