CBP has begun using the Z Portal® vehicle screening system at the San Ysidro, California port of entry. AS&E's Z Portal is the only multi-view, drive-through vehicle screening system available to scan cars, vans, and their cargo for concealed threats and contraband.
The Z Portal assists CBP officers in preventing contraband, including illegal drugs and terrorist weapons, from entering the United States while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel. In addition, the Z Portal reduces the risks faced by CBP officers when physically dismantling vehicles suspected of carrying concealed contraband and crawling into confined spaces to detect and retrieve hidden merchandise or persons that may pose a threat.
Safety Assured: Z Portal's low radiation dosage is safe for operators, drivers and the environment and falls well within standards set by The National Council on Radiation Protection, Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and the State of California. For a comparison, one scan of the Z Portal is equivalent to flying about 1 minute at altitude (approximately 30,000 ft.) on an airplane.
Privacy Assured: The Z Portal system's primary purpose is to image vehicles and their contents. For persons present in the vehicle, the system creates only a silhouette with no facial or body detail. The system cannot be used to identify an individual, or the race, sex or age of the person.
