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NYC Councilman Wants Full Body Scanners Banned

NEW YORK (WCBS 880 / WCBS 880) - The New York City Council's lawyer believes it has the power to ban the new full body scanners in use at airports, and the measure wouldn't just affect the major travel hubs.

Council member David Greenfield is working on legislation to ban those full body scanners from all buildings in New York City, including the airports.

"I've seen the digital scans from the machines and it's quite shocking and quite graphic as to how much detail you can actually see of an individual going through these machines," Greenfield told WCBS 880 reporter Rich Lamb. "Quite frankly, it was disturbing."

Greenfield says the machines are unproven. He also says Israeli security won't use them, calling them ineffective.

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WCBS 880's Rich Lamb reports

He maintains the radiation they emit may also be dangerous.

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1010 WINS's Steve Sandberg talks to travelers at Newark Airport

Dissatisfaction over security pat-downs and veteran pilots suing over their treatment by government screeners have prompted some airports to consider ditching TSA agents completely.

Federal law allows airports to opt for screeners from the private sector. The push is being led by a powerful Florida congressman who's a longtime critic of the Transportation Security Administration. Some of the companies who might take the TSA's place are among the lawmaker's campaign contributors.

For Republican Representative John Mica of Florida, the way to make travelers feel more comfortable would be to kick TSA employees out of their posts at the ends of the snaking security lines. This month, he wrote letters to nation's 100 busiest airports asking that they request private security guards instead.

Mica has received nearly $81,000 in campaign donations from political action committees and executives connected to some of the private contractors already at 16 U.S. airports.

(TM and © Copyright 2010 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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