NYC Subway Security To Go Hi-Tech?

A complex explosive detector is in the works, but will it really make riding safer?

1 minute read

March 19, 2006, 5:00 AM PST

By David Gest


How has subway security money been spent so far? "More transit police on the trains and the platforms, random bag checks, security cameras. All the things you'd expect. A good chunk of the money seems to have gone for radio spots and subway ads reminding us to keep our eyes peeled for shady-looking characters and unattended bags...But lawmakers and commuters demanded more, so last week the MTA announced their latest security measure -- a doozy straight out of a Philip K. Dick (Blade Runner) novel."

Here's the plan: Retrofit MetroCard machines with devices that can detect trace amounts of explosives on your fingertips when you touch the screen. When the system detects something suspicious, all the turnstiles in the station will lock down. Then the MetroCard machine will take a photo of the person connected to the soiled fingertip and transmit it to the police, who will be on the scene even before the wily would-be bomber receives his card."

Wednesday, March 15, 2006 in New York Press

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