Body scanner debuts at O'Hare

[David]

AP


CHICAGO – The first and only full body scanner at the nation's second largest airport is now open for business.

Aviation officials at O'Hare International Airport showed off the technology to reporters Monday before starting to send passengers through the machine.

The scanner looks like two blue telephone booths standing side-by-side.

Federal transportation authorities say O'Hare will get more body scanners in the months to come, although they're not yet sure how many.

Officials say they don't expect the body scanner to slow down security lines in O'Hare's Terminal 1, where the new machine is located.

Demand for the devices rose after an attempted airplane bombing on Christmas. The machines can effectively see through clothes for hidden weapons, but some complain that violates passengers' privacy.

[revwardoc]

The simple way to deal with passengers' complaints about "privacy" is to tell them they either have to go through the scanner or a pat-down. If they can't handle either, then they don't fly.