Originally Posted by HUB Flyer
There is no standard. Only a screener’s interpretation of vague rule.
The rule that is posted in the SOP isnt vague. It is very clear. The TSA website tries to be explanatory without disclosing SSI.
From the TSA website:
“If you wear shoes that have thick-soles, including boots, certain athletic shoes, and platform shoes, or have shoes with metal, you will likely be required to undergo additional screening, even if the metal detector does not alarm.
http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?th...000519800e12f4
It’s up to the screener to decide what ‘thick’ means. I never remove my shoes, even when it’s “recommended.”
Even though you may ‘think’ they have shanks, I know they don’t. This is confirmed when I walk through with them on and there is no alarm. However, many times I am sent to secondary anyway.
The last time this happened at RDU and I was sent to secondary my shoes were never screened, only wanded. But the screener should have known the wand would turn up nothing since they didn’t alarm while walking through the WTMD, no?
This is false. Here is what appears on the TSA website:
“You are NOT REQUIRED to remove your shoes before you enter the walk-through metal detector.” (their emphasis)
http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?th...000519800b68b8
It’s all a time/money wasting exercise that adds zero security.
I beg to differ about the zero security. We have to guard against a repeat attempt at a shoe bomber. We cannot be naive to the fact that it was tried once. You dont have to take shoes off. We prefer that you do. It is better screening to look at them on X-ray. If they dont come off, then screeners have to decide if you are hiding something, being obstinate or following your beliefs about several things like the floor being dirty, you having diabetes, etc. So when presented with all the possibilities, if you dont submit your shoes for x-ray, you are most likely going to be secondarily screened.