U.S. port fingerprint scanners delayed

WASHINGTON, April 15 (UPI) -- Fingerprint ID scanners for U.S. seaports, envisioned as part of a $250 million anti-terrorism effort, have been delayed for two years, officials say.

The machines are meant to verify ID cards purchased at $132 apiece by truckers, deckhands and others requiring access to secure areas at ports. The delay in deploying the readers has resulted in complaints from a senior lawmaker and a labor official, USA Today reported Wednesday.

"Most people would say it's real dumb to have security cards that rely so much on technology and yet you fail to provide a reader for the card," U.S. House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., told the newspaper. "That was not the intent of the program."

"It's grossly unfair to spend that kind of money and not have the readers in place," added Chuck Mack of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

But Maurine Fanguy, head of the Homeland Security Department's ID program, told USA Today the cards have improved security even without the fingerprint scanners because they dispersal required checks workers' criminal histories and immigration status.