Posted on 08/13/2006 12:57:35 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - Air travelers were handed new rules Sunday, given permission to carry small amounts of liquid nonprescription medicine onto a plane and instructed to remove their shoes during security checks.
The shoes have to be placed on an X-ray belt for screening before passengers can put them back on.
The eased restrictions on medicine and the mandatory shoe removal were among several measures the Transportation Security Administration ordered Sunday in response to the thwarted terror plot in Britain involving U.S.-bound airplanes.
TSA had previously banned all liquid medications; now it will allow up to 4 ounces of liquid nonprescription medicine.
The alleged conspirators had planned to blow up as many as 10 planes flying from Britain to the U.S. using liquid explosives, which TSA's security equipment can't detect in carryon luggage.
In other measures, TSA said it would let flyers carry on low blood sugar treatments including glucose gel for diabetics; solid lipstick; and baby food. But it said all aerosols are prohibited.
On Saturday, the TSA added mascara to the list of banned items, which includes baby teethers with gel or liquid inside, children's toys with gel inside and gel candles.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff reassured people things would only go so far.
"I don't see us moving to a total ban on hand baggage at this point," he told ABC's "This Week" on Sunday.
Chertoff said the government was putting "less emphasis on the nail clippers and the nail scissors" and more on training additional screeners "specifically to look for modern-type detonation equipment that might be concealed in baggage."
TSA said it wanted to remove any ambiguity from its procedures, particularly over the handling of shoes.
Until now, the agency has strongly suggested removing shoes for the screening belt, but hasn't required that.
Now, travelers must take them off before walking onto airplanes. Flyers can continue to wear shoes containing gel heels, but they must remove any sort of gel sole insert and put those into checked baggage.
Airport travelers also should expect to see broader use of police-trained sniffing dogs, TSA said, along with random gate inspections and bag searches. But the TSA is limited by law to 45,000 screeners at the 450 commercial airports.
TSA chief Kip Hawley said the latest changes were based on feedback from security officers and the public.
"We are maintaining the same level of security while clarifying interpretations in the field," he said Sunday. "These tweaks are aimed at making a smoother process at the checkpoint."
The changes offer the same level of security that has been in place since last Thursday, but is intended to minimize the impact on travelers, officials said.
Screeners have begun searching more carryon luggage by hand. They also are randomly checking passengers at airport gates to make sure that they haven't bought toothpaste or drinks at airport shops after going through a security checkpoint.
Passengers are asked to arrive at least two hours early to allow for the additional screening. Those traveling to the United Kingdom should find out from their about any extra security measures or precautions that might be required. Laptop computers, mobile phones and iPods were among items banned on British flights.
The nation's threat level remains the highest possible, "severe," or "red," for U.S.-bound commercial flights originating in Britain. All other flights operating in or destined for the United States remain at "high," or "orange."
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On the Net:
TSA: http://www.tsa.gov
She'd give you a full bottle of stock airplane water. Just ask.
OTHERWISE, THE TSA HAS JUST CAUSED THE SLEEPERS CELLS TO RE-AWAKEN JUST A FEW DAYS AFTER THE PLOT IN BRITAIN.
MAKES NO SENSE TO ME....
It makes no sense to us as to why you go from no capital letters at the beginng of a sentence to USING ALL CAPITAL LETTERS. CAN YOU imagine reading a 700 page novel with no capitals at the beginning of a sentence? AND IN THE NEXT CHAPTER THE READER GOES BLIND TRYING TO GET THROUGHT THE FIRST SENTENCE. IS THIS METHODOLOGY SOME PRE ADOLESCENT CONVENTION THAT GRADE SCHOOL CHILDREN SEEM TO USE THESE DAYS? INQUIRING MINDS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.
I might, but it would depend on the concentration level. When I built my house, I hired a firm to blast bedrock in order to accomodate pouring footings and foundation. The sticks of dynamite are essenttially nitroglycerin in cellulose requiring a blasting cap for detonation.
Profiling only goes so far. As soon as the bad guys figure out what the profile is, they change their tactics.
They already did.
Apparently one group that was going to carry the bombs aboard was a mom and dad with their six month old baby. The explosive was going to be in the baby bottles.
Oh, nice.
Hell is too good for somebody who would blow up their own kid.
Makes you want to throw up and scream "Why?" all at the same time.
I thought that using the head was verboten within 30 minutes of takeoff or landing. I've never been on a plane with seven lavatories....I guess CRJs are safe.....
OK - I am confused - 4oz. of Robitussin is A-OK, but mascara is banned? Someone please explain this "logic"....
But I can't figure out why someone would need gel candles on an airplane anyway.... They expect the lights to go out???
Idiot TSA employee: you are soooo not flyin'
There are many types of profiling, not just the physical features. For instance, we have flown 2+ million miles and have no criminal records, so why do I have to check my carry-on that has my make up?
Domestic flights should allow things in carry-ons that they allowed prior to 8/11/06. Carry-ons should be stowed in the compartments above and not accessed during flight.
I say, profile and identify. Actually, many criminals are apprehended at airports when they come to pick up someone since airport police are trained to spot different behaviors.
I hear you, but what a nightmare for the flight attendants that would be. Running up and down admonishing people not to open their overhead bins? That wouldn't work.
I do agree that we need to have some kind of trusted traveler program for air travel like we have for land and sea. Reverse profiling, if you will.
There is currently such a program running at the Orlando airport called Registered Traveler.
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