Released: April 27, 2006

Fewer fined by airport security

Source: By Alan Levin and Thomas Frank, USA Today

The number of passengers hit with fines for security violations at airports fell dramatically last year as the federal government focused on more serious threats, according to records and government officials. The Transportation Security Administration issued 4,459 fines against passengers in 2005, a 54% decrease from 2004. The vast majority of fines are doled out to people trying to bring weapons and other dangerous items on planes.

“The public has been getting better about what not to bring to the checkpoints,” said Salomon Gomez, the Transportation Security Administration’s assistant chief council for civil enforcement. “TSA has also gotten better. We’ve focused more on what will really take down a plane.”

In 2004, the TSA adopted a zero-tolerance policy for passengers caught with prohibited items at airport screening checkpoints. The number of fines against passengers soared from 3,426 in 2003 to 9,741 in 2004. The policy prompted complaints from Congress about unequal enforcement and heavy-handedness.

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