The TSA will be testing out expanded screening for carry-on electronics larger than a phone and certain food items at selected airports around the country. The new rules come just two days after a major terrorist attack in Manchester, UK, and stepped-up security in response.
The TSA says they're “testing security screening procedures for carry-on bags at 10 U.S. airports” only, and “There are no changes to nationwide procedures.”
The Transportation Security Administration began testing the new procedures a year ago at four airports, then added six more, including LAX, Boston Logan, and Detroit. The goal, says TSA, is to reduce
Some travelers will be required to remove from their carry-on bags any electronics larger than a cellphone, and certain food items. These items have to go in bins, to be screened separately. If travelers refuse to comply, their bag may be opened for a manual inspection.
BREAKING: @tomcostellonbc reports TSA to step up electronics screening at 12 US airports. Devices bigger than phones to be screened separate
— Evan Rosenfeld (@Evan_Rosenfeld) May 24, 2017
DETAILS: TSA testing new screening procedures requiring electronics bigger than phones to be screened separately. https://t.co/Er7RO79GkJ pic.twitter.com/m8Dw14v44f
— ABC News (@ABC) May 24, 2017
Looks like the TSA is disputing some of the early coverage from ABC News.
@ABC TSA is testing security screening procedures for carry-on bags at 10 U.S. airports. There are no changes to nationwide procedures.
— TSA (@TSA) May 24, 2017
From ABC News:
The agency does not believe the changes will create longer lines. The TSA claims its testing indicates the time lost while passengers remove items from their bags is made up because fewer items confuse the X-ray machine, allowing scans to run faster and reducing the number of manual bag checks.
The TSA will also be testing a machine that verifies travelers' forms of identification, rather than having an officer manually study passports and driver's licenses. Travelers will walk up to the machine, hand their ID to an officer, who will scan its barcode, and the machine will populate the traveler's information; a boarding pass is not required. The machines will be tested in the Pre-Check lane at four airports beginning this week.
Unfortunately, going nude, like this dude, won't work.
Sorry, you can’t protest security screening by getting naked for the TSA https://t.co/C72mgxqPdb by @dmkravets
— Ars Technica (@arstechnica) May 22, 2017
More at the WSJ.