This article from NYTimes.com has been sent to you by psa188@xxxxxxxxx /-------------------- advertisement -----------------------\ THE DREAMERS - NOW PLAYING Set against the turbulent political backdrop of 1968 France when the voice of youth was reverberating around Europe, THE DREAMERS is a story of self-discovery as three students test each other to see just how far they will go. THE DREAMERS is released uncut with an NC-17 rating. Watch The Dreamers trailer at: http://www.thedreamers.com \----------------------------------------------------------/ Memo Pad: Airline Passengers May Face Hefty Fines February 24, 2004 Airline Passengers May Face Hefty Fines That long-forgotten Swiss Army knife, or that joke that a screener deems threatening, could cost airline passengers hefty fines at airport security checkpoints under a new enforcement policy the Transportation Security Administration put in place last week. Previously, unless they found a gun or other obvious weapon, security screeners merely confiscated most prohibited items they found in carry-on bags. In one three-month period in 2002, for example, security screeners discovered nearly 2 million knives or blades of less than 3 inches, and 3.3 million other "sharp objects" in passenger bags, the T.S.A. said. The new guidelines spell out various levels of fines for prohibited items discovered at checkpoints, within secure airport areas, or on board aircraft. Loaded firearms, or those with ammunition accessible, warrant fines of $3,000 to $7,500, as well as criminal referral. For unloaded firearms, fines are $1,500 to $3,000, plus criminal referral. For other "weapons," which the T.S.A. says include "sharp objects, club-like items and other prohibited items" that could be used as weapons, fines are $250 to $1,500. The guidelines chiefly "send a message that it's no longer O.K. to say, 'I'm sorry, I forgot I had my gun in my bag,' " said Ann Davis, a T.S.A. spokeswoman. The guidelines list "aggravating factors and mitigating factors" in giving authorities discretion in levying fines, she said. Among those factors are a suspected violator's attitude, past violation history and level of traveling experience. The guidelines also set fines of $1,500 to $5,000 for "interfering with screening" through "physical contact," and fines of $500 to $1,500 for "nonphysical" interference. Anyone making "false threats," like joking about a bomb or a weapon, can be fined $1,000 to $2,000. The tightened procedures are meant to "encourage travelers to be a little more aware of what they're traveling with," Ms. Davis said. Since the T.S.A. assumed responsibility for airport security in 2002, there have been 4,568 civil penalties assessed against passengers for prohibited items, she added. Test of Iris ID System Under Way in Germany A test of a biometric identification system based on iris patterns is under way at Frankfurt Airport. Passengers stand at an electronic device that checks their iris patterns against iris patterns previously registered on their passports. Seven of the devices, developed by Byometric Systems and Oki Electric Industry, are in place at the airport. They are part of a pilot project that ultimately is expected to lead to use of iris-identification technology at airports in 18 European nations. While the technology has not been proved a foolproof way to ensure identify, proponents say it has great promise. "It must be guaranteed that the registered biometric characteristic can be matched absolutely correctly," Otto Schily, the German interior minister, said. "The iris recognition is currently considered to be the most secure biometric system." JOE SHARKEY http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/24/business/24memo.html?ex=1078633125&ei=1&en=01d6421094ac9680 --------------------------------- Get Home Delivery of The New York Times Newspaper. Imagine reading The New York Times any time & anywhere you like! Leisurely catch up on events & expand your horizons. Enjoy now for 50% off Home Delivery! Click here: http://www.nytimes.com/ads/nytcirc/index.html HOW TO ADVERTISE --------------------------------- For information on advertising in e-mail newsletters or other creative advertising opportunities with The New York Times on the Web, please contact onlinesales@xxxxxxxxxxx or visit our online media kit at http://www.nytimes.com/adinfo For general information about NYTimes.com, write to help@xxxxxxxxxxxx Copyright 2004 The New York Times Company