U.S. looking at airport shoe scanners

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WASHINGTON, March 3 (UPI) -- The U.S. Transportation Security Administration wants to buy 100 scanners that will allow airline passengers to pass through security with their shoes on.

USA Today said Wednesday that the agency was reviewing technology developed by a dozen companies that detect explosives or weapons hidden in footwear without requiring the shoes or boots to be removed.

A TSA spokeswoman said that if the machines work, they would speed up airport security screening.

Shoe scanners were tried before about three years ago, however, the results weren't what the TSA hoped for and the project was kicked back to the drawing board.

The machines, which could be acquired next year, are designed to sniff out metal and various forms of explosives, and some are already in use at overseas airports and cruise-ship terminals. The inventors cautioned, however, that no technology exists that can catch 100 percent of threats.