New restrictions remove lipstick from banned list
Passengers will be able to reapply their lipstick while flying on airplanes after the Department of Homeland Security took the cosmetic off the list of newly banned carry-on items, a Hawaii official said yesterday.
"It sounds like they're doing a little relaxation of the rules," said Maj. Gen. Robert Lee, state adjutant general and Civil Defense director, who had a conference call yesterday with Homeland Security officials.
Officials clarified the rules regarding liquids and gels that are forbidden from being carried on planes. The new rules started Thursday after British authorities said they thwarted a terrorist plot to take down 10 planes from the United Kingdom to the United States using liquid explosives.
Lee and others here said passengers in the islands have adapted quickly to the new restrictions. Still, officials are leaving open the possibility of using Hawaii National Guard troops at the state's airports.
Sidney Hayakawa, Honolulu security director for the Transportation Security Administration, said officials will meet Monday to discuss whether to use National Guard troops.
"At this point we're going to give it the weekend, and we're going to see what happens as to the threat and have a meeting on Monday," he said.
Before boarding planes yesterday, passengers dumped the same amount of liquid contraband at Honolulu Airport as they did Thursday, the first day of the tighter restrictions.
"I thought we were collecting less liquids and gels," Hayakawa said, but "the final weight is the same as yesterday," about 1,500 pounds.
Hayakawa recommended putting any questionable item in checked baggage.
The checks and disposal of the liquid contraband are done at the initial screening point, Lee said. Rather than mandatory, secondary checks at every departure gate, there will now be random checks at some gates, he said.
Transportation Department spokesman Scott Ishikawa said the bulk of the items that were discarded tended to be half-empty water bottles, and less perfume and other expensive items.
"Lines are moving much more smoothly today," he said.
"As we went through the day (Thursday), more and more people started getting the message about bringing liquids on the planes," Ishikawa said, noting the rate of collecting confiscated items slowed as the day wore on.
"The public is being very good in Hawaii," Lee said. "They are coming down early and there were no missed departures." He added that passengers have been cooperative.
Department of Homeland Security officials did not say when the new restrictions might be curtailed, Lee said.
For a complete list of restricted carry-on items, go to
www.tsa.gov.