Friday, March 21, 2003

Random vehicle inspections begun at Hartsfield Airport

At approximately 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 19, 2003 random security vehicle inspections began at Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport. Members of the Atlanta Police Department and private security officers will conduct the random vehicle inspections.

The move is a requirement resulting from a security directive from the Transportation Security Administration. The Office of Homeland Security raised the nation's security alert status to Threat Level Orange on March 17.

As an additional measure, authorities at Hartsfield have begun enforcing parking restrictions that prohibit vehicles from parking within 300 feet of the terminal. Parking spaces in the north and south hourly parking lots are affected by the rule during threat level orange. Hartsfield parking customers are encouraged to use the airport's Park-Ride Lots, with entrances located before the vehicle checkpoints.

The nation's threat level orange implemented at Hartsfield today also includes greater police surveillance. Other specific federal security elements have been put in place that will not be disclosed to the public.