NCJ Number
214860
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 54 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2006 Pages: 56-57,59,61
Date Published
May 2006
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article describes some of the technologies currently used or being developed for securing the United States' air, land, and sea borders.
Abstract
The Coast Guard is modernizing and replacing its aging ships and aircraft through the Integrated Deepwater System Program, which will produce three classes of new cutters and small boats, a new fixed-wing aircraft fleet, a combination of new and upgraded helicopters, and both cutter-based and land-based unmanned air vehicles. The Coast Guard' s Automatic Identification System enhances marine surveillance related to vessel tracking and identification. Transponders on Coast Guard vessels autonomously broadcast information about vessels, such as name or call sign, dimensions, type, position, course, speed, heading, and pertinent navigation information. SENTRI (Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection) permits the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection to accelerate the inspection of low-risk, pre-enrolled individuals coming to ports of entry. It identifies low-risk travelers, verifying their low-risk status through extensive record checks. Simultaneously, automatic digital license plate readers and computers compare a vehicles license plate and occupants against continuously updated law enforcement databases. CSI (Container Security Initiative) extends the zone of security for ports by identifying maritime cargo containers that pose a terrorism risk at foreign ports before they are shipped to the United States. Intelligence and automated information systems identify and target the containers that pose a risk. The technologies described were mentioned at the Seventh Annual Technology for Critical Incident Conference and Exposition. Participants heard reports from the key Federal agencies charged with transportation security: the U.S. Coast Guard, Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, the Transportation Security Administration, and the Department of Homeland Security. Other technologies relevant to air, land, and sea border security are also described.