TSA began its policy of requiring airline passengers to take shoes off during security screenings in 2006, five years after Richard Reid, a passenger aboard an American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami, tried to detonate explosives in his shoes. Reid was restraining by other passengers and flight attendants and later arrested.

When limits on liquids were introduced at TSA checkpoints across the country in 2006, bins overflowed with bottled water, toothpaste, shaving cream and so much more.