Story Made The Rounds On The Internet After A Car Was Searched By A Parking Employee

TSA is denying reports that it is searching cars in airport parking lots following a story that circulated on the Internet that it was doing so.

On its blog, TSA said that the search that spawned the story had nothing to do with the agency. "The news started to spread after a story ran this week stating that a woman found a notice informing her that her car had been searched by TSA," wrote chief TSA blogger Bob Burns.

"The short version: While we deploy numerous layers of security, TSA officers are not inspecting cars or mandating that they be searched. In this case, it turns out the car was searched by an employee of a car parking service.

"Each airport authority, along with its state and local law enforcement partners, is responsible for securing airport property, including the outer perimeter.  At this particular airport, car searches are part of their “airport security plan.”

"An airport security plan addresses a myriad of security requirements that each airport must adhere to in order to protect the traveling public, which includes the physical security of the airport property. While the airport security plan is approved by the TSA, it is up to each airport authority and its state and local law enforcement partners to follow the plan that has been implemented."

FMI: www.tsa.gov