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Ban on liquids in luggage won't end until next year

By DEL QUENTIN WILBER Washington Post
Published July 18, 2007

WASHINGTON - Air travelers should not expect authorities to ease restrictions on gels and liquids in carry-on luggage until sometime next year when new technology may give screeners the ability to more easily spot potential explosives in bags, according to federal security officials who are nearing the one-year anniversary of the rules.

"I don't want to raise expectations," said Kip Hawley, administrator of the Transportation Security Administration. "It would be a fair shot that we could get something done after Labor Day of next year, but we are not going to rush it."

Authorities enacted the bans in August after British police said they uncovered a plot to blow up transatlantic flights using liquid explosives. The TSA later eased the restrictions to allow small amounts of liquid and gel toiletries in carry-on bags, but many travelers still complain about the cumbersome rules that force them to check more bags. Passengers are generally restricted to carrying on a small plastic bag with containers holding 3 ounces or less of liquid and gel products.

Some in Congress and outside experts complain that federal officials are taking too long to make use of new technology that might help counter liquid explosives.

Hawley and other TSA officials say the key to easing the ban is the deployment of high-tech X-ray machines that would provide screeners with 3-D images of the contents of luggage. Traditional X-ray machines at checkpoints only provide a two-dimensional view of bags.

While some have pushed the agency to deploy more expensive and sophisticated technology to find liquid explosives, Hawley says the 3-D X-ray machines hold more promise. In tests, the X-ray machines have been able to help determine the type of liquid in a bottle. If they work in the field, Hawley and others said they may begin easing the restrictions.

The machines, which cost from $65,000 to $150,000, are far cheaper than explosive-detection systems used to scan checked luggage for explosives. The machines can cost about $500,000, TSA officials said.

TSA officials hope to begin using the X-ray machines at checkpoints in coming months.

"They are reliable and obviously less expensive and we can get more of them," Hawley said.

Authorities are testing more futuristic options, including X-ray machines that can see through clothing, he said.

[Last modified July 18, 2007, 01:57:33]