TSA Changes: Cell Phones, Tablets Must Be Powered Up For Incoming Flights
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Travelers from Europe and the Middle East to the U.S. will now have to turn on their cell phones and other electrical devices before they board their flight.
The Transportation and Security Administration announced the security changes over the weekend. The new screenings are a directive from the Department of Homeland Security.
If the device does not turn on, the person will not be allowed to board the flight and may face additional security screening.
"This has been something that's been talked about for well over a year," aviation security consultant Jeff Price told CBS. "Taking the simple point of just turning it on at a check point is really a big deterrent. These types of procedures don't win wars, what they do is win battles and delay things and hopefully we can catch people down the road."
The TSA is also calling for closer scrutiny on passengers' shoes.
The change in the rules comes after intelligence officials expressed concerns that terrorists could have bombs in electronic devices which could go undetected.
