[Infowarrior] - TSA vows relaxation of carry-on liquid limits

[Richard Forno]

TSA vows relaxation of carry-on liquid limits

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/28/liquid_restrictions_lifted/

Pulling the curtain on 'security theater'

By Dan Goodin in San Francisco • Get more from this author

Posted in Security, 28th October 2008 20:26 GMT

Airline passengers on both sides of the Atlantic could be free to  
carry larger bottles of liquids in carry-on luggage under a two-year  
plan to relax current security rules that sharply restrict the amount  
of shampoo, hand lotion, and other types of liquids that can be  
brought in a plane cabin.

Under an oft-criticized plan implemented a few years ago, liquids must  
be stored in containers no bigger than three ounces. Those containers,  
in turn, must be stowed in a clear, zip-locked bag no bigger than one  
quart, and each passenger is limited to bringing a single bag in carry- 
on luggage.

Critics have referred to the highly inconvenient restrictions as  
"security theater," saying they do little to actually prevent  
terrorists from smuggling explosives onto planes.

The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) wants you to know  
it feels your pain and is taking steps to end it. Under a plan  
outlined here, an official said size restrictions will be removed by  
the end of 2009, although liquids will still have to placed in a  
separate bin when passing through security checkpoints. By the end of  
2010, there will be no restrictions.

"We are deploying the best technology and training as fast as we can  
get it," the official wrote. "The goal is to remove all the  
restrictions on liquids when we have automated systems that can  
accurately separate threat from non-threat liquids."

The TSA is working with its counterparts in Europe, Canada, and  
Australia to design "common design standards" to ensure the new policy  
is in harmony with those in other countries.

Enabling the change, the TSA official wrote, is new screening  
technologies that can tell the difference between hair gel and liquid  
explosives. The TSA is in the process of installing advanced  
technology X-ray machines throughout the country. The new machines  
should be in place by the end of 2009, but it will take an additional  
year for them to be outfitted with software that can identify  
threatening liquids.

Computed tomography scanners, explosives trace detection equipment,  
and spectrometers are also being deployed in increasing numbers to  
ferret out threatening liquids. ®