RNC: How long does it take to get through security?

(NEXSTAR) – After the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump, just days ahead of the start of the Republican National Convention, many questioned what security measures would change for the major event in Milwaukee. 

The RNC was already planning to be an incredibly secure event before Saturday’s incident. Still, the Secret Service says it enhanced those security measures. 

“I am confident in the security plan our Secret Service RNC coordinator and our partners have put in place, which we have reviewed and strengthened in the wake of Saturday’s shooting,” U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle said in a statement Monday morning.

If you’ve been to the RNC in Milwaukee’s downtown, you’ve already encountered those security features. 

If you aren’t in Wisconsin for the major event, let’s explain. 

There are two zones within the RNC perimeter: the vehicle screening perimeter and the pedestrian-restricted perimeter, denoted in yellow and red in the map below. They’re also referred to as the “soft” and “hard” security zones.

To get into the “soft” security zone by car Monday morning, visitors found a rather unpleasant surprise: a delay of at least an hour.

The delay was slightly shorter at 2 a.m. when early media crews arrived – but only by about 20 minutes. For those who came into downtown Milwaukee after 8 a.m., the delay was nearly three hours.

The delay was caused by vehicle security checkpoints, marked by the black dots on the map above.

At those checkpoints, vehicles undergo screenings by law enforcement and K-9 units. Drivers are instructed to park their cars, turn the engine off, open their hoods and trunks, and roll down their windows for an inspection – a process that could take several minutes.

Once inside the soft security zone, visitors have to navigate through a pedestrian security zone in order to get into the true RNC event space.

Those security checkpoints are almost exactly like TSA checkpoints at an airport (there were even TSA agents at some checkpoints at times), except your shoes stay on. Visitors are instructed to empty their pockets, walk through a metal detector, and pass their bags through an X-ray machine. 

Once through those checkpoints, visitors are allowed to access what their lanyard permits.

For example, media members are granted yellow lanyards, giving them access to media space in the Baird Center, Media Row in Panther Arena, and parts of Fiserv Forum. Those with red delegate lanyards were able to be within Fiserv when J.D. Vance was announced as Trump’s running mate. 

All lanyard-wearing visitors have access to the main level of the Baird Center, areas around Fiserv, and the Convention Fest, which features various Wisconsin specialties like frozen custard and cheese curds.

There are various areas within the event space that visitors are not allowed to access, mainly between or along certain buildings. 

With all the security around, getting out can be a hassle as well. With sidewalks restricted, and various roadways closed, some media members reported spending 30 to 45 minutes getting out of the RNC perimeter.

These conditions are expected to last through the entirety of the RNC, which wraps up following Trump’s highly-anticipated acceptance speech on Thursday night.

In addition to the federal authorities in attendance, thousands of police officers from across the country are at the RNC. That includes officers from as far away as North Carolina, California, and Florida.