Mexico City - The traffic light lottery utilized by Mexican Customs will soon be a quirk of the past. Changes intended to improve service to travelers include elimination of the traffic signals that randomly select people for a baggage search at Customs entry points.

At present, travelers must press a button when passing through Customs, and those who get a green light are free to go. The unlucky few who get a red have their bags searched.

The changes will be implemented at Mexico City airport's Terminal 2 as a pilot project and will include the elimination of Customs declarations forms that are completed by travelers coming from abroad.

At airports, baggage will be inspected by x-ray scanners while in transit between planes and baggage carousels in coordination with the Federal Police.

Following the pilot, the new system will be introduced gradually at Terminal 1 in Mexico City and at the international airports in Cancún, Los Cabos, Guadalajara and Monterrey, through which 85% of international travelers arrive in Mexico.

Authorities say the new procedures, which are standard practice internationally, will make it simpler for travelers, to whom control and inspection measures will be imperceptible.