TSA trial for stricter carry-on procedures causing worry for some travelers

(FOX 11) - It's a strict new screening plan causing big worry for some travelers.

This new test procedure was quietly rolled out at LAX 18 months ago to two out of about twenty check points.

At those spots, TSA is asking passengers to remove larger electronics and many other items - like books, clothes and food to declutter bags.

TSA says in the last few years, passengers have tried getting around baggage fees, cramming too much into carry-ons, making detection harder for machines.

Despite the apparent need for more security, some question if current screenings are already too slow

"When you travel with children, you have to take out everything, your formula, your powder, your breast milk, your breast pump. It's already difficult enough as it is," said passenger Carrigan Parish.
TSA spokesperson Nico Melendez says the test points aren't slowing things down though, they're speeding them up

"We know the lines are going faster because it's reducing the number of bag searches we have to do, so any time we do a bag search it could take between 2-5 minutes. And if we're decluttering these bags, we don't have to do bag searches," says Melendez.

Some travelers we spoke to aren't buying that response.

"Cause it literally doesn't sound right. How is that faster?? Than going through a machine. Nah," says traveler Greg Manzo.

"I understand what they're trying to do but it seems like it's going to take a lot longer," says traveler Cat Cogliandro.

Others don't care if the new screenings make lines go faster... or slower.

"I'm all for it, because I want my safety and my daughter's safety," says traveler Belinda Szabatura
TSA says there is no plan right now to expand the new screening to all check points.

Now if you have a TSA pre-check...none of this applies to you.