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TSA Gives Go-Ahead for Private Airport Security Private companies that screen airport passengers were one of the first to lose business under the post-9/11 anti-terror regulations, but those companies might be back in business soon at U.S. airports. According to an article by Jo Dee Black in Montana’s Great Falls Tribune, the Transportation Safety Agency (TSA) opened the door for applications for its Screen Partnership Program, commonly referred to as Opt-Out, last week. Airports can now apply to have private companies do passenger screening, but the TSA will oversee those companies. The TSA had previously taken over screening duties in February 2002, displacing private companies who had contracted with airlines to perform security screening. Black says criticism of the TSA is growing, with a number of complaints rising about TSA employees crossing the line between reasonable security protocol and invasion of privacy. "Airport screeners have increased pat-down searches during the past three months - an effort to find explosives hidden under clothing," says Black. "The pat-downs are the center of most of the complaints." TSA spokesperson Jennifer Marty told Black there hasn't been a flood of applications for the Opt-Out program at this time. "It's too early to tell if airports will want to do this," she said.
To read the full article, click here: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/
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