Originally Posted by Bart
This is one of the more contentious issues between my supervisors and me. The SOP clearly states that wallets have to be screened by x-ray if they alarm during the HHMD inspection and the passenger had it in a pocket while passing throught the WTMD.
Doesn't the SOP also right now say that a passenger in secondary who did not alarm the WTMD (even an SSSS passenger) does not need to be hand-wanded with the HHMD but just patted down? If so, there's no reason for a passenger who doesn't alarm the WTMD to lose contact with his wallet. (IMO passengers who know they will alarm the WTMD should bury their wallet in a carry-on to avoid the whole situation.)
In my case the screener took the wallet for x-ray even though it had not caused any sort of alarm, WTMD or HHMD. I think, but do not remember for sure, that my wallet will alarm a HHMD if the wand is held extremely close, but that was not an issue here.
This wallet issue is a real bone of contention with me. But the policy you describe sounds totally satisfactory (and also protects the screener against malicious passengers, which almost certainly exist too).