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SAVANNAH, Ga. () — The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will no longer require travelers to remove their shoes when they go through security checkpoints.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem made the announcement earlier this week. Noem said TSA procedures and checkpoints have improved and evolved, with 94% of passengers now using real IDs for identity confirmation.
“I do like that security is going a lot faster,” Helena Hunt said.
The TSA began screening shoes for explosives back in 2006 after shoe bomber Richard Reid attempted to blow up a flight from Paris to Miami in 2001.
The change is effective now. Savannah travelers talked with News 3 Thursday and many of them happy to no longer untie their laces.
“It was nice not having to take [my shoe] off, especially if you forget to wear socks to the airport,” Courtney Houtman said. “I do know you have to go through the full body scanner. I would assume that would be your fail safe instead of taking your shoes off and sending them through.”
“I did see they required one lady to take her shoes off. I feel like if they feel it’s necessary, they will be doing that sometimes,” Jamar Crawford said.
TSA Spokesperson Carter Langston told News 3, “Periodically, our officers will ask people to come through to take their shoes off and they would be subject to additional screening as well. That’s part of the security posture.”