Los Angeles’ subway is to become the first mass transit system in the US to install body scanners that screen passengers for weapons and explosives, officials said on Aug. 14.
The portable scanners project waves to do full-body screenings of passengers walking through a station without slowing them down.
They scan for metallic and non-metallic objects on a person’s body, can detect suspicious items from 30 feet away and have the capability of scanning more than 2,000 passengers per hour.
Officials from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority would not say how many of the machines were being purchased, but said they would be rolled out in subway stations in the “coming months”.
“While we are on watch we will not have a repeat of 9/11 or any terrorist incident inside our transportation systems in the United States,” David Pekoske, Administrator, Transportation Security Administration, said.
“LA County Metro and Metrolink is the first system in the entire country to purchase this technology. That’s a great credit to the leadership of these organizations.”
Employees and police officers first have to be trained on how to use the equipment.
Signs will be posted at stations warning passengers they are subject to body scanner screening.
The screening process is voluntary, but customers who choose not to be screened won’t be able to ride on the subway.
The new machines are being purchased from a company which is headquartered in the United Kingdom.
In addition to the scanners, authorities are also planning to purchase other body scanners - which resemble white television cameras on tripods - that have the ability to move around and hone in on specific people and angles.
