Security Measures Continue to Slow Traffic at Navy Bases

Tight security measures were still in force at San Diego area Navy bases Monday. The cautionary measures were begun last week in the aftermath of tension between the United States and Libya in the Gulf of Sidra. But civilian and naval personnel are taking the security checks in stride and delays have generally decreased, officials said.

The longest delays were reported at North Island Naval Air Station, with people waiting up to an hour and 15 minutes during rigid identification checks and random car searches during the Monday morning rush hour, one Navy spokesman said. But at the Miramar Naval Air Station, the wait was down to 10 minutes, Lt. John Semcken said.

At the 32nd Street Naval Station in National City, the wait to go through the gate was about five minutes, down from the 20-minute delay last Friday, a base spokeswoman said.

Navy officials said delay times would probably decrease further as service personnel and civilian employees become accustomed to having their identification handy for security checks.