Aviation director: Any vehicle dropped off with valet can be searched

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A traveler saw someone searching her car without her permission after she valet parked at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

"I saw someone going through the back of my car," Michelle Zevola said.

She watched officials search the trunk of her car.

"I went out and asked the individual for his credentials and why he was searching my car," she said.

The airport employee told Zevola he was instructed to search her car.

The aviation director said any vehicle dropped off at the airport's curbside vehicle is subject to being searched.

"It is part of our security plan which is approved by Transportation Security Administration that has been a part of our plan for the last year-and-a-half," Jack Christine said. "Our valet vendor has been providing that search capability for us."

He said the airport is looking to use their own staff to conduct the searches.

He said they search for "anything that would be suspicious and at that point we would call law enforcement to take a look at it."

Christine said they will work with customers to find other parking arrangements if they don't want their car searched.

Travelers like Zevola say they want more notice before a search.

"This did not make me feel safe nor was it an effective exercise," she said.

Airport officials say they are looking into adding more signs at terminal, to alert passengers their vehicles are subject to search.

WSOC