Request for Clarification: Perception Checks vs Traps

[Shadowdweller]

In 3.5, a Search check was required to find a trap. This typically required an active choice to search, and took a full-round action. In Pathfinder Beta, Search has been subsumed into the Perception skill which generally does not require an action. Furthermore, the language used in the Traps section seems to imply that the skill may be used "reactively" (without specifically announcing that the character is searching) to detect traps; this is counterbalanced by language under racial abilities such as Stonecunning or Keen Senses that seem to imply that an active check is normally required.

So, my question is this: Are PCs now allowed an automatic, reactive chance to detect traps before they spring? Or must they actively choose to search to have any chance to detect these traps, spending an action (move-equivalent by the Perception rules) to do so?

[Pax Veritas]

Shadowdweller wrote:

So, my question is this: Are PCs now allowed an automatic, reactive chance to detect traps before they spring?

Seconded. Someone please respond to this important question. The have been a few at my table who, over the years, never got it out of their heads that they need to search for traps in 3.5. Instead, they got red in the face when they were running down a path and a trap sprung. I always found this particularly annoying when they'd say, "My character is fifth level - I would have been looking for traps."

If Pathfinder is offering a reactive Perception roll, I can accept that. It would rememdy the scenario I painted above for sure. And make things a bit cleaner, but I'll wait to hear what others think...

Thanks for posing this question.