It could get worse:

http://enquirer.com/editions/2002/05...y_upgrade.html

...

• Will bags be opened for testing without the owner present?

Airport officials locally and nationally have other questions, too, such as whether passengers should leave bags unlocked so they can be scanned more thoroughly by the smaller machines, and who should pay liability insurance — airlines or the government — to protect against theft.

Federal officials won't answer questions about procedures, but say they're aware of issues created when machines are located where passengers are not present.