TSA Policy: Terrorists Can Fly Without ID If They Ask Nicely

[Matt Molnar]

Ars Technica:

TSA to let polite terrorists fly without ID (http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080610-tsa-defiant-passengers-wont-get-to-fly-without-id.html)

By Ryan Paul | Published: June 10, 2008 - 09:56PM CT

A new Transportation Security Agency (TSA) policy will block passengers from flying if they do not have proper ID, but only if they exhibit defiance. Passengers who merely forgot to bring ID will still be permitted to fly, but will be subjected to a physical screening and enhanced baggage screening.

"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," TSA said in a policy statement. "This new procedure will not affect passengers that may have misplaced, lost or otherwise do not have ID but are cooperative with officers."

Prior to enforcement of this policy, passengers without ID were still permitted to fly after undergoing the more invasive screening regardless of their attitude or their reason for not showing ID. [Full Article (http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080610-tsa-defiant-passengers-wont-get-to-fly-without-id.html)]

[wunaladreamin]

This is a dangerous policy and a dangerous article. What's the point of having the TSA iffin they'll let just anybody fly without id?

[pgengler]

This is a dangerous policy and a dangerous article. What's the point of having the TSA iffin they'll let just anybody fly without id?

It's already the policy. People who don't have ID have to go through secondary screening, but they can still get through. Basically the change is that you just have to lie about not having your ID with you instead of telling them 'no'.

[emshighway]

It has been the policy all along. Just another journalist reading into something the wrong way and having to meet a deadline.

[cancidas]

seriously now, how sad is that. it's like rewarding people for being stupid. BRING YOUR ID!
:evil:

[Lezam]

Id doesn't mean anything anyways, unless its a passport. A fake can easily slip by a TSA agent without being noticed...

[adam613]

Id doesn't mean anything anyways, unless its a passport. A fake can easily slip by a TSA agent without being noticed...

Exactly...this whole ID thing is more security theater than actual security. Any moderately intelligent terrorist would show ID, quite possibly a real one, if he or she intended to cause harm on a plane or inside an airport.

[Informant]

So how does your senile grandma that left her ID at home, with no ID to prove that she is actually holding her ticket get on the aircraft...simple the airline marks her tkt as a Special selectee(SSSS) and she gets the whole 9 yards at the TSA gate...thats how its worked from then till now. This is just a revision,an amendment.

[emshighway]

Id doesn't mean anything anyways, unless its a passport. A fake can easily slip by a TSA agent without being noticed...


Ah, another uneducated comment...

You put up the IDs and I'll get the officers to look through them and tell you which is fake. By the way if you are going to now quote a poster from flyertalk.com (or flyerwhine as I call it) who claims to have gone through with a fake ID they are full of BS.

[emshighway]

So how does your senile grandma that left her ID at home, with no ID to prove that she is actually holding her ticket get on the aircraft...simple the airline marks her tkt as a Special selectee(SSSS) and she gets the whole 9 yards at the TSA gate...thats how its worked from then till now. This is just a revision,an amendment.


A lot of seniors get designated as selectees because they buy one way tickets not knowing if or when they may return.


There are circumstances where the TA can de-select a passenger but most don't bother to take the time.

[Informant]

And just for all of our airline employees out there, if you present a valid ID you cannot be made a selectee, no airline employee can, from bag handler to chief pilot.

[mirrodie]

A lot of seniors get designated as selectees because they buy one way tickets not knowing if or when they may return.

.

Back when I worked for the Long Island Railroad I sold tickets at all teh branch stations and sometimes Penn Station.

I never felt quite right when a senoir asked me for a ONE way ticket to Pinelawn station. Still gets me to this day....



And just for all of our airline employees out there, if you present a valid ID you cannot be made a selectee, no airline employee can, from bag handler to chief pilot.

That sounds a bit unsettling. Wonder how true that is.

[PHL Approach]

And just for all of our airline employees out there, if you present a valid ID you cannot be made a selectee, no airline employee can, from bag handler to chief pilot.

Really? Interesting, a co-worker and I were flying to LAX last January and they did secondary screening on him even though he had his SIDA badge in clear view. I think the screener said his sweatshirt looked bulky - but he's just a bit chunky :wink: If you can get post some official place where I can read that - I'll definitely bring it up next time.

[mirrodie]

And just for all of our airline employees out there, if you present a valid ID you cannot be made a selectee, no airline employee can, from bag handler to chief pilot.

Really? Interesting, a co-worker and I were flying to LAX last January and they did secondary screening on him even though he had his SIDA badge in clear view. I think the screener said his sweatshirt looked bulky - but he's just a bit chunky :wink: If you can get post some official place where I can read that - I'll definitely bring it up next time.


Well, perhaps Informant is a bit misinformed? I figured EMSHighway might clarify at some point. :)

[cancidas]

And just for all of our airline employees out there, if you present a valid ID you cannot be made a selectee, no airline employee can, from bag handler to chief pilot.

Really? Interesting, a co-worker and I were flying to LAX last January and they did secondary screening on him even though he had his SIDA badge in clear view. I think the screener said his sweatshirt looked bulky - but he's just a bit chunky :wink: If you can get post some official place where I can read that - I'll definitely bring it up next time.
don't forget, a SIDA means nothing when you're flying. you'd need the actual airline ID card. a SIDA badge is only valid when you're working and on the area of the airport where you have business. you're not supposed to drive over to AAL to visit the tin kitchen...

[emshighway]

Aircraft operator flight crew members in uniform with valid aircraft operator identification are exempt from random secondary screening and restrictions involving liquids and footwear as long as they do not alarm the walk-through metal detector or X-Ray.

Employees of a US aircraft operator who present a valid aircraft operators employee ID can be designated as a non-selectee by the Supervising Transportation Security Officer only after cleared by a Behavioral Detection Officer. This is usually if the employee is flying. A SIDA card cannot be used to be exempt from any type of screening while flying. The SIDA card is for non flying aircraft operator, airport employees, vendors and other personnel to gain access to Security Identification Display Areas.

Flying aircraft operator employees are not exempt from random screening, liquid and footwear restrictions.

[PHL Approach]

And just for all of our airline employees out there, if you present a valid ID you cannot be made a selectee, no airline employee can, from bag handler to chief pilot.

Really? Interesting, a co-worker and I were flying to LAX last January and they did secondary screening on him even though he had his SIDA badge in clear view. I think the screener said his sweatshirt looked bulky - but he's just a bit chunky :wink: If you can get post some official place where I can read that - I'll definitely bring it up next time.
don't forget, a SIDA means nothing when you're flying. you'd need the actual airline ID card. a SIDA badge is only valid when you're working and on the area of the airport where you have business. you're not supposed to drive over to AAL to visit the tin kitchen...

When I fly out I have my employee badge on top of my SIDA badge. I find that TSA officers of the home facility for the SIDA badge tend to not bat an eye. Now I get looks if I have my badges out at say FLL, SAN etc since they don't know the badge.

[corellian21]

I think that all this is just nonsense, if you don't have the proper ID then you shouldn't be allowed to fly, no matter who you are, then what's the point of having of having them, what are these people thinking.

[moose135]

I think that all this is just nonsense, if you don't have the proper ID then you shouldn't be allowed to fly, no matter who you are, then what's the point of having of having them, what are these people thinking.
Let's suppose that you are in LA - on business, vacation, whatever. Now let's say you lose your wallet - it gets stolen, you drop it when visiting the La Brea Tar Pits, something like that. Now there you are, 3,000 miles from home without ID. It's not like you can run down to DMV and get a replacement, so what do you do, take Greyhound home? (Assuming Greyhound doesn't require you to have an ID to ride the bus?) There has to be a way for people to fly without ID.

[Informant]

Its a well known rule among airlines and their employees or at least it should be, each airline employee receives a manual or training in regard to this, as a jumpseat committee member for a major airline I know this for a fact, and without getting into too much security sensitive information it is listed under CAPPS or Computer Assisted Passenger Profiling system. This rule extends also to those listed under flight benefits of an airline employee as long as they are traveling on a NON-REV tkt.

Also exempt are Diplomats, Active duty members of the armed forces who present a valid military ID card,Governors, Prisoners under escort, and believe it or not forest firefighters.

[emshighway]

Then Informant your posting


And just for all of our airline employees out there, if you present a valid ID you cannot be made a selectee, no airline employee can, from bag handler to chief pilot.

was proven wrong.

Flying airline employees can be made selectee and it is at the discretion of the TSA supervisor and BDO to exempt you. Anyone can be selected for secondary screening but Aircraft Crew (working that flight and in uniform) are exempt from random screening.

You are making general statements and they are not 100% true.

[emshighway]

Your reference is your company's (think you missed one wite-out) manuals. My reference material I take my knowledge from is the actual TSA SOP. Which do you think is more accurate and will be used by the TSA Supervisor?

But you are now talking something different than your first statement which was generalized:

And just for all of our airline employees out there, if you present a valid ID you cannot be made a selectee, no airline employee can, from bag handler to chief pilot.

The CAPPS exemptions are what is suppose to be programmed into the airlines reservation system, the system should not make someone meeting this criteria a selectee, but they can be subject to secondary screening of their person and accessible property as designated by the TSA (which is basically making them a selectee).

Informant I have asked for your photos of Security Sensitive Information be removed since publishing these photos are is in violation of 49 CFR 1520. Not only are you but the Web Board administrator are subject to criminal/civil penalties.

Since you claim to be jumpseat committee member you should know this well, please review the SSI regulations.

Maybe you should check with a few people here like Phil to see what element I am in.

[Informant]

Well you could have easily read that CFR off the bottom of the page.

[emshighway]

Well you could have easily read that CFR off the bottom of the page.

Obviously you didn't otherwise you would have known what you were doing was in violation of the regulation. If you have a spare $10,000 or more lying around you want the federal government to take from you, let me know. We can accommodate you.

Not that I have to prove anything to you but people here have met me and know who I am and what I do.

[mirrodie]

EMShighway, I think you got your point across

http://www.slapbet.com/slapped-by-glenn-ford-640.jpg.w300h242.jpg


No need for the ownage :D

[emshighway]

:twisted: