By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Q. When I arrived at the airport a few hours before a flight to Seattle, the agriculture inspection station in my airline's lobby was closed, so I had my bag inspected in another airline's lobby. When I tried to check in for my flight, I was informed I would have to get it inspected again at the station assigned to my airline.

If the agriculture inspection stations are keyed to the lobbies, why aren't they staffed the whole time the ticket counters are staffed? The "inspectors" didn't ask me what airline I was flying. Also, shouldn't they also be checking things coming into the state?

A. State Airports Administrator Davis Yogi says airline passengers are required to have their baggage screened by the agricultural inspection station assigned to their airline. Overhead and eye-level signs inform passengers that they must clear their baggage before checking in with their airline.

However, he said, problems arise when people check in early, before the ticket counters and agriculture stations are open. Those familiar with the U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection system will walk to other lobbies, get their bags X-rayed and return to their lobby to wait for the ticket counter to open. There are no signs posted at the closed agriculture station indicating that passengers must use the station associated with the airline they are traveling on, Yogi wrote in an e-mail.

He added: "I shared the complaint with the USDA inspectors and they tell me that the open USDA station should have asked the passenger for the airline they're traveling on and told this passenger they could not inspect their bag and redirected the passenger to the appropriate station. We'll have signs made and have the USDA to post them."

As for why incoming passengers are not required to put their bags through agriculture screening, the state Department of Transportation said those passengers are asked to declare any agricultural products on a disclosure form and watch an educational video.

Several people wrote in last week after we advised people to throw out old magazines because of limited recycling options. For those who are reluctant to send the magazines off to the H-Power plant, here are some other options: donate the magazines to a public library for other patrons to take home; leave the magazines at hospitals, retirement homes, gyms, or doctors' and dentists' offices; or donate the magazines to schools for use in crafts and art projects. Call ahead first to make sure your donation will be welcomed.

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