TSA Announces Enhancements to Airport ID Requirements to Increase Safety

Transportation Safety Administration ^ | June 5, 2008

[billorites]

Beginning Saturday, June 21, 2008 passengers that willfully refuse to provide identification at security checkpoint will be denied access to the secure area of airports. This change will apply exclusively to individuals that simply refuse to provide any identification or assist transportation security officers in ascertaining their identity.

This new procedure will not affect passengers that may have misplaced, lost or otherwise do not have ID but are cooperative with officers. Cooperative passengers without ID may be subjected to additional screening protocols, including enhanced physical screening, enhanced carry-on and/or checked baggage screening, interviews with behavior detection or law enforcement officers and other measures.

Under the law that created TSA, the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, the TSA administrator is responsible for overseeing aviation security (P.L. 107-71) and has the authority to establish security procedures at airports (49 C.F.R. § 1540.107). Passengers that fail to comply with security procedures may be prohibited from entering the secure area of airports to catch their flight (49 C.F.R. § 1540.105(a)(2).

This initiative is the latest in a series designed to facilitate travel for legitimate passengers while enhancing the agency's risk-based focus - on people, not things. Positively identifying passengers is an important tool in our multi-layered approach to security and one that we have significantly bolstered during the past 18 months.

[billorites]

An "enhancement" huh?

So that's what the kids are calling it these days...

[maine-iac7]

and here I was under the impression that ID has been required all along. Silly me.

and even with this, it's not required - just desired. Yeah. That's 'secure' - like there's no trained operatives that couldn't bluff their way through a "I don't seem to have my ID with me" routine.

More reason for my resolve to drive, rather than fly...even at todays gas $. (Actually, I've been thinking for some years now that a donkey would be a good bet. They don't spook, like horses; they're sturdier than horses and don't require as much vet care; they don't need oats and when traveling, they can 'gas up' along side the road and parkways. )

[YOUGOTIT]

How come for the last 20 years my ID has been required to get a boarding pass and after 9/11 even more so. OH! Did not know that illegal aliens do not want to show their ID since they do not have one.

[MNJohnnie]

Ever tried riding for 10-12 hours at a stretch?

Hmmm single day travel by Jet- US to just about any where.

Single day travel by car. Maybe 1600 miles max

All day travel by donkey 20 miles.....

Houston, I think we have a problem.

[PastorTony]

The airline industry is suffering and with the rise in fuel costs will suffer even more. The last thing they need to do is make it even more of a hassle to fly.

[mkjessup]

The TSA was fatally flawed before it even came into being because the Department of Transportation was still being run by that Clintonista idjit Norman Mineta.

Everything is window dressing, everything is designed and calculated to snoop, harass, and complicate travel for the majority of travelers who pose NO security threat, while there is insufficient screening and investigation of travelers who are more likely to post a security threat.

Not all Muslims are terrorists, but on 9/11, EVERY ONE OF THE TERRORISTS were MUSLIMS!

How hard is that to comprehend?

[Eroteme]

As ridiculous at it sounds, you may be on to something with the illegal alien angle. This announcement makes no sense on its face. But as pretext for creating a loophole, yeah, this nonsensical new initiative or enhancement or whatever it is might deliver what can’t be said in plain languiage.

[NonValueAdded]

begs the question “what have they been doing up to now”?

[mewzilla]

That’s a dang good question!

[mewzilla]

This change will apply exclusively to individuals that simply refuse to provide any identification or assist transportation security officers in ascertaining their identity.

Good gad. They've been letting them thru until now?!?

[mgc1122]

Private aircraft ... screw TSA. And I can smoke, and carry a gun if I like.

[Gritty]

This new procedure will not affect passengers that may have misplaced, lost or otherwise do not have ID but are cooperative with officers.

Does the TSA also provide Spanish and Arab translators so the process can go more smoothly? I know my local helpful DMV does so those who can't speak English (only Spanish) can still get their drivers license. They don't require ID, either - only a rent receipt or utility bill to prove residency. I'm sure the TSA can be as accommodating.

[tips up]

Makes sense. Occasionally one may forget ID. Once my wife didn’t have her driver’s license but got through, although with extra scrutiny.

[TexasRedeye]

Private aircraft ... screw TSA. And I can smoke, and carry a gun if I like.

Actually, an interesting thought. I wonder what the business demand would be if someone set up a "private" airline that would allow anyone to fly at the same rates but without the same TSA restrictions. Yeah, I know, private planes are not allowed at existing gates but are free to operate out of "private" airfields. A regularly scheduled "charter" plane from Dallas area to Chicago area and return, maybe. A bit more inconvenient for travelers in airfield location but a lot less restrictive and maybe even a bit faster (flight delays would be negligible). Carry a gun? Why not if you are duly licensed by your state - you would certainly have SECURE flight, hehehehe. Of course if you were going to Chicago, that is a whole 'nuther problem! Want to smoke? It is up to the airline.

We certainly have a two-tier set of rules now. Business jet owner/operators do not go through all the screening. They drive up to their planes and board! So, as usual, if you have enough money, you don't get bothered by the gubmint. They are a "private" airline with a very restrictive passenger list. Passengers who can carry guns, bombs or even glass bottles of clear liquid with no restriction on the size of the bottle, hehehehe. Let's just see what would happen if the passenger list wasn't so restrictive.

[maine-iac7]

Ever tried riding for 10-12 hours at a stretch?

used to do it daily - driving bus.

Drove truck from coast to coast.

I happen to like driving - and I usually do the back routes to enjoy the countryside and take my time.

We've become a "hurry-hurry-hurry" society.

We eat too fast, we walk too fast, we travel too fast...due largely to our work schedules, demands - i.e., programmed by others.

No time to smell the roses.

Yep, we do, indeed, have a problem.

[MNJohnnie]

used to do it daily - driving bus. Driving a bus and riding a donkey are not the same thing.

[B4Ranch]

There’s a lot to be said for chartering at the local FBO. The only way to fly!

[E. Pluribus Unum]

My own personal air safety program is as follows: Never, ever, ever enter an airport and subject yourself to the welfare-class, high school dropout, government make-work program TSA goons, and they will never be able to harass you.

Saves a lot of money, too.

[RushLake]

Wife and I traveled to Jacksonville N.C. in April to visit our USMC son. As we passed thru the TSA check at Detroit Metro Airport we encountered an obviously arabic female TSA agent with "rag" in place on her head who was complaining to another female TSA Ilsa Koch clone about some job related injustice. Normally mild mannered non-confrontational Mrs. RushLake blurts out, "What is she complaining about, if it wasn't for her relatives on 9/11 she wouldn't have this job to complain about?" I was very surprised we didn't get a full body cavity search on the spot.

Detroit is the home of the biggest gestapo clones in the TSA world in my flying experience.

[sheana]

Exactly 1 year after 9/11 we had a trip booked to Mexico. Going thru LAX my 60 yr old friend and I were pulled out of line for the full search......while everyone dark skinned just walked right on by. I had me a fit, dressed them down good. Told them the last time I looked that there were no 60 yr old blonde women walking with canes (my friend had turned her ankle) who were terrorists.
When they got done with me I passed the room where they had taken my friend and she was being her usual sweet nicey-nice self. I stuck my head in the door and told her to quit being so darn nice about it and repeated myself again about the blonde terrorists.
lol I was on a role. The whole thing just struck me as wrong.