Air Travelers May Be Assigned Color Codes

The Associated Press ^ | 09/09/03 | Staff Writer

[bedolido]

U.S. Prepares to Assign Color Codes to Air Travelers; Critics Fear System Will Be Too Intrusive.

WASHINGTON Sept. 9 — The government and the airlines reportedly will phase in a computer system next year to measure the risk of every passenger who boards a flight in the United States by using color codes.

According to the Washington Post, passengers will be assigned one of three codes, based in part on their travel plans, traveling companions and the date the ticket was purchased. Sources say those coded "green" will easily pass through security checkpoints. Others will be coded "yellow" and face additional screening. An estimated 1 to 2 percent who get "red" coding will be barred from boarding and face police questioning. They may be arrested.

Critics fear the new system will be far too intrusive, and that some people will be mistakenly "flagged" and even falsely arrested.

Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

[steve-b]

On the contrary, I am being direct to the point. If you establish a special arrangement where some people get a pass from even a portion of normal screening, then terrorists will attempt to obtain that special status for themselves, and some of them will succeed. Once enough of them have done so, they exploit the loophole.

[Squantos]

Awwww fuschia !

[Terridan]

Nope, I am with you... It is so ridiculous, that we, as Americans, have to submit to 2-3 hours of just "hanging around" in Oakland. I would apply for that traveler card in a heartbeat. It should be mandatory now that the state identification system is in the toilet. I'll bet the only valid ID now will be an American Passport.

[New Girl]

It may not be bad credit as much as not having ANY established credit. These days, someone in their mid-twenties to early thirties almost definitely has an established credit record, including a car payment. I would think that lack of credit, loans for someone that age would possibly signify that they have not lived in the country that long.

[tdadams]

I usually show my passport anyway, even when I'm flying domestic. A trust status could be added to your passport. I don't see much validity to all the prognostications that such an idea would be unworkable.

[meyer]

You're assuming the screeners know what they're doing.....

as well, he's assuming that the screeners are not islamic.