Anchorage airport officials are increasing enforcement to unattended vehicles in pick-up and drop off zones after noticing an rising trend of people leaving cars in traffic lanes.
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport Manager John Parrott says Anchorage’s Airport Police can make judgement calls in some areas, but not in others.
Parrott: “So how long you can sit in your car at the curb depends on how much of an impediment you are to the free-flow of traffic, which depends on what time of day it is and how busy it is. That’s the judgement call. The not-judgement call is, it is simply not acceptable in accordance with TSA regulations to leave your vehicle unattended.”
He says the way that he defines it to people is that if you are standing outside your car but close enough to touch it, your car is attended.
Leaving a vehicle unattended is an offense that could result in a fine of $60 and vehicles being towed, which can costs $85, according to the Anchorage Airport Police Chief.
Parrott encourages Alaskans to use the different options of the airport, especially as the holiday season approaches.
Parrott: “So the options are stay in your car, park your car, the first thirty minutes are free so it’s not like we’re trying to gouge you, but we simply cannot have unattended vehicles waiting at the curb either for drop-off or pick-up, you can use the cell phone lot, you can do any number of things but you can’t just leave a car there.”
Parrott says the increased unattended vehicle enforcement is to eliminate both security and safety risks.