Transportation

Battle rages over Baltimore port security
Congress mandates that port security equipment purchased with DHS grants must be produced in the United States; DHS argues that if better equipment is produced by non-U.S. company, it should be allowed to buy it; the debate intensifies
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Greyhound slaying sparks debate over Canadian bus security
Drivers’ union calls for metal detectors, but bus company says this is impractical as the vast majority of passengers are more likely to board buses at gas stations, convenience stores, and other roadside stops than central terminals
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Air cargo security: Shippers cite expense of new TSA initiatives
Shippers say some of TSA cargo security initiatives are too expensive, requiring between $150,000 to $500,000 or more per facility; “It is unrealistic to assume that a typical indirect air carriers (IACs) can afford this equipment for use in his own company,” shipper organization’s spokesperson says
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New Zealand to use biometrics to monitor immigration
Technology will allow border control staff to conduct biometric checks on inbound and outbound passengers
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TSA testing shoe scanning technology
he Transportation Security Administration is testing show scanning machines from L2 Communications; this is a step toward eventually allowing passengers to keep their shoes on when they go through the security checkpoint
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EU publishes airlines blacklist
EU, increasingly worried about lax air travel security, bars airlines from Indonesia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, and Gabon from entering European airspace;
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RFID readers installed along U.S. borders
Today the first Border Patrol RFID readers go into use at El Paso, Texas, border crossing; during the next two months many more RFID readers will be installed in order to speed up traffic across borders
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New crime: Forged eye biometrics recognition stamps
How accurate is iris scanning biometric technology? read on: Three individuals are arresed at the Dubai airport for smuggling forged eye biometrics recognition stamps; the criminals’ goal: to facilitate the entry to the UAE of individuals who were previously banned
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US-VISIT
James Jasinski, CEO, Cogent Systems, comments on a young program that is discharging an immense responsibility
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ACLU: Terrorist Watch List hits one million names
ACLU claims terrorist watch list reached one million names; launches online watch list complaint form
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TSA: ACLU’s terrorist watch list facts and figures are a myth
The Transportation Security Administration refutes the facts and figures used by the ACLU in the latter’s claim that the list is now 1-million strong
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Two million hydrogen vehicles on roads by 2020
A transition to hydrogen vehicles could greatly reduce U.S. oil dependence and carbon dioxide emissions, says a new congressionally mandated report from the National Research Council, but making hydrogen vehicles competitive in the automotive market will not be easy
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New device puts an end to luggage hell
Two Israelis develop an electronic tag which allows passengers “talk” with luggage as it arrives on thebaggage carousel; device can also be used to track kids and family members in a mall
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Expedited screening for flight deck crew members
TSA tests expedited flight crew screening; measure is mandated by 9/11 legislation; TSA will use trial to examine behavior detection methods
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TSA cannot achieve 100% air cargo screening by 2010
Congress has mandated that TSA must screen 50 percent of all cargo on passenger jets by February 2009 and 100 percent by August 2010; TSA says lack of technology makes this goal impossible to achieve
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