State leaders, who announced Wednesday that people visiting West Virginia's Capitol soon will have to enter through a security checkpoint, already are altering the policy by keeping open a second entrance, originally to be used only during legislative sessions, for year-round use.
"The East Wing access point will operate year-round during the same hours as the West Wing access point, and not just when the Legislature is meeting," Lawrence Messina, spokesman for the state Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety said in an email.
On Wednesday, the Division of Protective Services adopted a policy requiring visitors to the Capitol's main building to enter through metal detectors at the west entrance of the West Wing starting Jan. 8. A second entrance, at the east entrance of the East Wing, would have been open whenever the Legislature is in session. The Capitol's other 11 entrances are to be closed to the public.
The decision to alter the policy so soon, Messina said, reflects the Division of Protective Services intent to make the screening process as workable as possible.
"Protective Services continues to welcome suggestions for achieving that balance," he said.
According to the new policy, all visitors, including school groups, contractors, vendors, protesters and lobbyists, will be required to enter the Capitol through the checkpoints.
Government employees and credentialed news media members who work in the main building or have duties that bring them to the Capitol already have or will be given electronic swipe cards that can be used to access all other entrances. Those with pass cards do not have to go through security checkpoints.
Protective Services might create a special screening process for large school groups, Messina said.
During the screening process, each person will pass through a metal detector and must empty their pockets for inspection. Bags will be screened with an X-ray machine. Messina said Wednesday the policy enforces existing weapons bans on Capitol grounds. State code prohibits carrying weapons, including legally concealed guns, onto Capitol property.
Banned items will not be confiscated or stored at security checkpoints. Visitors carrying such items or those who refuse to go through screening will be denied entrance to the Capitol building.
Both East and West entrances are wheelchair accessible.
Entry hours will be: Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and Sunday and holidays, noon to 5:30 p.m. Hours will be adjusted when necessary, to accommodate government meetings.
The new policy, which is supported by the Legislature, the Supreme Court and the Tomblin administration, is in line with security protocol used at other state buildings in West Virginia and other capitols around the country. However, some people have decried restricting entry to the Capitol, which is one of the few state buildings the public can freely access.
Operating the checkpoints originally was estimated to cost about $400,000 a year, but keeping the East Wing entrance open year-round likely will cost an additional $300,000, Messina said. The additional funding will come from the Senate.
Reach Samuel Speciale at sam.speciale@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-7939 or follow @samueljspeciale on Twitter.