New TSA Airline Screening Rules In Effect Today

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Starting today, airline travelers can expect to see more random screenings, fewer prohibited items and a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) focused on detecting more serious threats, such as explosives, according to a TSA press release. These changes are part of an update to security procedures announced by Assistant Secretary Kip Hawley, to address threats to commercial aviation.

The changes include additional screenings of passengers and their bags using various methods selected at random. Passengers will again be able to carry small tools and scissors on-board aircraft. These changes will allow TSA to focus resources on more serious threats according to the TSA statement.

"It is paramount to the security of our aviation system that terrorists not be able to know with certainty what screening procedures they will encounter at airports around the nation," said Kip Hawley, Assistant Secretary. "By incorporating unpredictability into our procedures and eliminating low-threat items, we can better focus our efforts on stopping individuals that wish to do us harm."

Passengers will continue to walk through a metal detector and have their carry-on and checked baggage screened. However, these measures may now include a brief additional search of their person or their property. Examples of this additional screening include: explosive screening of shoes, hand-wanding of passengers, enhanced pat down searches and inspections of carry-on bags. These searches will be generated at random and will take only about a minute to complete. The TSA claims they will allow Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) to better screen passengers for explosives and other threats to the aviation system.

Beginning December 22, scissors with a cutting edge of four inches or less and tools such as screwdrivers, wrenches and pliers smaller than seven inches will be permitted on board. Scissors longer than four inches and tools such as crowbars, drills, hammers, and saws will continue to be prohibited from carry-on bags. Lighters will continue to be banned from the cabin of aircraft and in checked baggage.

In addition to these changes, the agency's 43,000 Transportation Security Screeners have been re-classified as Transportation Security Officers (TSOs). The TSA claims the new classification will empower the TSOs to use their knowledge and training to detect and defeat terrorists and to focus their attention to areas where the threat is greatest. (That's a bizarre claim only the Federal government could make in a press release - editor.)

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