The hapless airport security guard who noted x-rays revealing box cutters in a couple of passengers’ respective carry-on luggage, letting them board with their blades, a few years back… undoubtedly had a “clean” record to qualify for baggage check/boarding inpector’s job. Followed policy. Promote him!

At Tahoe Airport, going way back to the first Gulf War, our Airport Director had a different policy for x-ray attendants: Maybe it’s LEGAL, but if an item is sharp or can cut, or be weaponized, separate the items from the carry-on, bag & tag it, and put in the hold, with the checked baggage. The Tahoe Airport Director followed the rules; the grey area apple corers & boxcutters etc. arrived at the destination airport with the owners, not in downtown skyscraper USA.

There is no substitute for wise and alert employees, willing to take the initiative when something comes to their attention. Particularly, no substitute for wise leadership. Too bad the Tahoe Airport’s practice wasn’t in place in every city on the morning of 911DAY.

Walk thru X-ray will may not ever be deployed at all transit boarding points, but portable units & random checks may be a deterrent. Some commentators say we should fear the aftermath, more than the event. No telling what we will be reduced to when bureacracy deals with disasters after the fact! See thru plastic garments to qualify for express lines?? NO carry-on? Remote check-in & retrieval for luggage is a possibility -already the rule in Europe- -At the hotel, not the station.

Maybe prison-tough security people, -properly vetted- makes a good pool of security employees for transit. We have 100s of thousands of citizens in prison. We have to find gainful employment for them when they come out. Seems some percentage of ex-cons can be put to work helping to guard trains & riders. Rehab of dormant rail lines with actual convicts comes to mind too, but that is another part of the Peak Oil story.