Shoe scanners flunk TSA tests

Aug. 29, 2012
Devices reportedly failed to detect explosives, metal weapons

According to a story published last week by the New York Times, four shoe scanners being tested by the Transportation Security Administration were recently rejected by the agency for failing to detect explosives and metal weapons.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano hinted last year at event held by the news organization Politico that travelers at some point in the future would be able to keep their shoes on at airport security checkpoints.

However, the failure of these devices to pass muster with the agency likely means that the future envisioned by Napolitano is not close at hand.

A spokeswoman for the TSA would not elaborate on why the scanners tested by the agency had been rejected, only saying that they "didn’t detect all of the materials" they were looking for, according to the report.

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