Sorry, underage drinkers: Air travelers will have to leave their fake IDs at home starting early next year, as the TSA plans to introduce 30 document-scanning systems that will make it easier for screeners to spot fraudulent documents.
TSA employees at select U.S. airport checkpoints will use the machines to verify boarding passes and passenger IDs, such as driver’s licenses. TSA Administrator John Pistole said that the move was all about “facilitating risk-based security, while making the process more effective,” according to Bloomberg.
The announcement comes after an incident in June in which a Nigerian man passed through a checkpoint at JFK Airport in New York and took a Virgin America flight to Los Angeles using another passenger's boarding pass.
The new technology is one of a number of enhanced security measures taken by the TSA this year, including its PreCheck program that was implemented last week. Open to select frequent flyers on American and Delta airlines, the faster screening process allows for greater efficiency and more focused inspection of passengers whom authorities know the least about.
For a full rundown of the new rules and regulations, visit www.tsa.gov.
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