FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – The Transportation Security Administration releases new rules affecting passenger luggage.
If you are flying anywhere for spring break — be advised that the TSA has new stricter procedures pertaining to your carry-on bags.
Any electronic larger than a cell phone has to come out of your carry-on bag and go into the bin for TSA inspection.
“We know from intelligence and a lot of open source reporting that those who’d like to harm the aviation system have started to focus on consumer electronics, specifically tampering with things like the battery, ah, compartments, the circuitry, that type of thing and make them an explosive,” says TSA Spokesperson Lorie Dankers.
Electronics and Carry-on Items: As you may know, we’ve been rolling out enhanced screening procedures for carry-on baggage since last summer that require travelers to place all personal electronics larger than a cell phone in bins for X-ray screening in standard lanes. Examples of personal electronic items that should be removed from carry-on bags include laptops, tablets, e-readers and cameras. These procedures are now in place at almost all federalized U.S. airports. In addition to these procedures, TSA officers may provide additional instruction to remove items from your bag such as foods, powders, and any materials that can clutter bags and obstruct clear images on the X-ray machine. If your bag needs to be opened and inspected by TSA officer and you have privacy concerns, you can request private screening. –TSA website
The TSA expects to see an increase of 20% more passengers in the next week and a half over spring break.
They will have TSA officers stationed at the front side of the checkpoints to remind you about the new procedures for electronics.
Early mornings are the busiest between 4:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m.
Dankers says allow yourself 90 minutes to get through the lines.
Click below to listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern:
