TSA
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It turns out that children do not actually merit all the fuss the Transportation Security Administration has made over them since the shoe bomber tried to blow up an airliner almost 10 years ago.

So in a welcome step for little feet and parents, children 12 and younger are no longer required to remove their shoes every time they go through airport security.

Kids also are less likely to face pat-downs under newly revised rules. It is part of an effort to show Congress that the agency is getting serious about replacing a one-size-fits-all security program with a more risk-based approach that relies on gathering intelligence and terrorist watch lists to determine the level of scrutiny each passenger receives.

"Intelligence and history have shown that allowing (young) passengers to leave their shoes on poses little risk," the TSA said.

Children who at the discretion of TSA screeners appear to fall in the 12-and-younger category can keep their shoes on during security.

"We travel with 2 1/2-year-old twins, a stroller, two car seats and our carry-ons. So not having to take the boys' shoes off definitely made things a lot easier," said Tracey Fine, 33, of Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood, who recently flew from Midway Airport to Houston and back with her husband and their sons.

Older children and adults will still be required to take off their shoes during screening because the possibility of terrorists concealing explosives in shoes remains a major threat, the TSA said.

But changes are in the works that will eventually shelve the unpopular shoes-off rule. The TSA plans to purchase and test in laboratories shoe-scanning systems this fall, with the goal of allowing passengers to keep their shoes on, officials said. The TSA is seeking proposals from companies to incorporate explosives-detection capabilities in shoe-scanning technology, said TSA spokesman Jim Fotenos.

The requirement that airline passengers pass through security in socks or bare feet while footwear is scanned for explosives was initiated after Richard Reid, a member of al-Qaida, boarded a Miami-bound American Airlines plane in Paris in December 2001 wearing shoes packed with plastic explosives. A damp fuse, caused in part by Reid's sweaty feet, prevented him from detonating the bomb, officials said.

In some cases, children might still be required to remove their shoes or undergo a physical search, but only if an alarm occurs during the screening process, officials said. As a first step, technology will be used more extensively to resolve any incidents and reduce the need for pat-downs.

Children who set off an alarm may be sent through metal detectors or full-body imaging machines a second or third time, and hand swabs could be used to check for explosive traces, officials said.

In any event, all screening will take place with the parents present, officials said, adding that parents should look for family lines at the checkpoints.

"Parents can help prevent alarms by being prepared for security," Fotenos said. "Remove all items from children's pockets and allow yourself plenty of time at the airport."

Sieglinde Lim-Seiwert, a frequent flier who often travels on business with her two toddlers, said the changes are a step in the right direction.

"The security lines make it very stressful for families," said Lim-Seiwert, 35, who lives in the Bronzeville neighborhood and recently traveled through O'Hare International Airport with her family. "You are waiting and kids are curious, but they have to stay in one spot. I like the fact that I don't have to scramble to unlace their shoes, especially when I am taking my laptop and other electronic devices."

Fine suggested that the TSA add more signs at checkpoints alerting families about the new policy and instruct screeners to be more helpful. On the first leg of her recent round trip, screeners at Midway did not let her know it wasn't necessary for her children to remove their shoes, she said.

The new procedures are in place at all U.S. commercial airports in the wake of several high-profile incidents in which young travelers have been subjected to pat-downs.Meanwhile, to reduce security hassles, the TSA will eventually bring to Chicago expedited screening procedures that were launched Oct. 4 at four airports.

Under the TSA PreCheck program, passengers who are U.S. citizens and voluntarily undergo background checks will be able to wear their shoes, belts and jackets when going through security. Laptop computers and plastic bags containing liquids that meet the TSA's 3-ounce limit can also be left inside carry-on items, officials said.

The TSA will continue to use random security measures as part of a layered approach, officials said. For instance, PreCheck passengers could have their carry-on items inspected at the gate before boarding aircraft, officials said.

TSA PreCheck is being tested at airports in Atlanta, Detroit, Dallas/Fort Worth and Miami. Eligible participants to date include certain frequent fliers on American Airlines and Delta Air Lines and members of the Customs and Border Protection Trusted Traveler programs. It is similar to other trusted traveler programs offered at some airports by private security companies. But unlike those programs, TSA PreCheck is free.

Passengers eligible for the speedier screening will have the information coded on their airline boarding passes, officials said. Such expedited screening will allow officials to focus more on passengers the TSA knows the least about, TSA Administrator John Pistole said. A decision to expand TSA PreCheck to other airports will be made after a 60-day test period, officials said.