Saying they want to safeguard the health of Broward's flying public, a majority of Broward County commissioners Tuesday voted to ask the federal Transportation Security Administration to do more study to prove the "backscatter'' body scanner machines in use at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport are safe.
By a 5-4 vote, they agreed to:
* Ask the TSA to look at what the European Union based its scanner ban on recently and say whether they agree or disagree, and why;
* Ask the TSA to define "frequent flier'' and report back on whether they're facing a higher level of risk of getting cancer as a result of passing through the scanners;
* If there is a higher level of risk, ask the TSA to post signs at the airport alerting frequent fliers about how many scans a week might be safe;
* If the TSA finds that it agrees with the European Union's studies or findings, consider banning the use of the backscatter scanners here.
The vote in favor was: Mayor John Rodstrom and commissioners Ilene Lieberman, Dale Holness, Sue Gunzburger, and Lois Wexler. Against, and leaving the status quo: Kristin Jacobs, Chip LaMarca, Barbara Sharief, Stacy Ritter.
Click here for a memory refresher on the county's consideration of this scanner ban.
