Sunday, November 09, 2008
TSA Relaxing Security?
The most annoying thing about flying can be trying to figure out which items you can take and which you can't when you fly. The liquid ban that the US started a couple years ago and rippled throughout the world has made it difficult to travel with things like bottles of wine, or even shampoo, may finally be drifting off into the sunset.
Apparently, the TSA is planning to ease or eliminate the liquid ban for flyers sometime in 2009. The reason being that screeners now have equipment available to them that can differentiate between explosive liquids and just plain water, or deodorant or toothpaste. In the USA Today last week, TSA Chief Kip Hawley called it "a major step."
Truth is, this always seemed silly liquid explosives on planes are very difficult to use, detonate or even produce. The likelihood of liquid explosives being used in a terror attack is probably close to 0. Even that scare the UK had turned out to be more theoretical than practical. The truth is, I could bring my full size Colgate on the plane today and be no less safe, with or without this new technology. But, regardless of the reasoning, this will lead to shorter lines at security and more convenience for the traveler. So, it sounds like a great plan to me.
Apparently, the TSA is planning to ease or eliminate the liquid ban for flyers sometime in 2009. The reason being that screeners now have equipment available to them that can differentiate between explosive liquids and just plain water, or deodorant or toothpaste. In the USA Today last week, TSA Chief Kip Hawley called it "a major step."
Truth is, this always seemed silly liquid explosives on planes are very difficult to use, detonate or even produce. The likelihood of liquid explosives being used in a terror attack is probably close to 0. Even that scare the UK had turned out to be more theoretical than practical. The truth is, I could bring my full size Colgate on the plane today and be no less safe, with or without this new technology. But, regardless of the reasoning, this will lead to shorter lines at security and more convenience for the traveler. So, it sounds like a great plan to me.
Roger, 12:51 PM
