I've never been allowed to. They always make me run them thru the X-Ray and wait in the separate line until the guy shows up... which varied between 5 and 15 minutes. Then the guy usually shows up and starts making faces and keeps reciting the rules. I told him: I'm in a hurry, I agree, I've heard this a million times already, but, no, he needs to repeat the same thing over and over again.
I'd be interested to hear their response if you said "I prefer to keep my belongings with me until I can go through with them."
In fact, on occasion I've had them insist on me keeping my belongings outside the scanner. I wonder if it's a liability for them to have them back there where I can't monitor them. After all, the screenings are always conducted with your luggage in eyesight.
