By James Pilcher
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HEBRON - Only one vehicle has been turned back from the terminal area at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport since random searches of cars, trucks and vans began almost two weeks ago as the nation was placed on "orange alert."

And that was only because the driver did not have the key to the cap on her pickup truck, said Chad Everett, the airport's deputy director of operations.

"Everything has gone very smoothly so far with this," said Everett, who said the airport has not kept a count of how many cars have been searched.

The new searches of any vehicle that approaches the airport terminal areas were ordered by the Transportation Security Administration in reaction to the new orange status Feb. 7- the second-highest on the five-level federal alert system.

Everett said security workers hired by contractor Pinkerton's are conducting the searches, and they are looking for "large improvised explosive devices."

The lack of controversy locally lies in contrast with the situation at other airports nationally. According to The Washington Post, some airports, including Seattle, are refusing to conduct the searches because they might create legal conflicts. The newspaper also reported Wednesday that the American Civil Liberties Union is looking into the searches as being potentially unconstitutional.

"The key for us legally is that this is a voluntary search," Everett said.

He said anyone who does not want to undergo the searches locally can either park in the parking garage or can turn around or cut through an access road on the other side of the parking garages.

He said there are two agents on duty throughout the day, each looking in the trunk of vehicles picked at random.

Drivers are not required to leave their cars.

E-mail jpilcher@enquirer.com