Privacy: What It's Like To Fly With No ID Under The TSA's New Regulations
David becomes our first reader to fly under the TSA's new ID policy. Formerly, if you refused or were unable to show ID you could still fly -- but were required to undergo secondary screening by the TSA. Now they've altered their position slightly-- fliers who willingly refuse to show ID are now barred from flying. The new rule went into effect over the weekend, and David says that in order to board the plane after forgetting his driver's license he had to answer questions about his political party affiliation and previous addresses.
The new regulation doesn't apply to those passengers who claim to have forgotten their ID-- so essentially you are barred from claiming that you have a constitutional right to refuse to show ID to get on a plane. Here's how the TSA explains it:
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.
It turns out that "and other measures" include questions about political party affiliation and other questionable invasions of privacy, according to David:
So you know how the new TSA regulations went into effect yesterday, where you can only fly without ID if you "cooperate" with the TSA? Well, it turns out you also have to take a test about your personal life. They call up a service to administer it, and the last question they asked was which political party am I registered under (I correctly answered "democrat" and they still let me on board).
Anyway the full story is that I had to go Florida for a funeral, and accidentally left my driver's license in my apartment in Manhattan. I made it through LaGuardia on Thursday the 19th in about 3 minutes, but when I tried to fly back through Fort Lauderdale Airport yesterday, it took about 45.
When I first approached security, I told the initial guard screening all passengers for ID that I had none. Instead of immediately calling the supervisor over like at LaGuardia, he paused and asked if I was sure I didn't have any ID on me, like a social security card or something. I said I only had a credit card, so he then radioed for the area supervisor. She arrived in just a few seconds. Her name was Brenda, and she very politely and apologetically informed me that things had changed, and that the TSA supervisor for the whole airport needed to handle this situation because of the new regulations.
Luckily I had arrived an hour early so had plenty of time. I chatted with Brenda while we waited for the main supervisor to arrive. I started to get a little nervous that I wouldn't be allowed on board, and Brenda repeatedly assured me it wouldn't be a problem -- they just had a few additional steps to go through.
After about 15 minutes, the main supervisor, Laurie, arrived. Again, Laurie was exceedingly nice and professional, but seemed a little more concerned than Brenda. She asked if I was sure I didn't have photo ID, like a credit card with my picture on it, or even a CostCo card. I wound up going through my wallet in front of her to show that I didn't, and she pointed to various cards and receipts in it to ask if they were IDs. I wound up showing her everything to prove I was telling the truth. She repeatedly said they had no way of "verifying" that I was who I said I was, and that someone could have stolen my credit card and traveled under my name. I didn't want to mention that they shouldn't need to verify who I am, because I was afraid they could then say I wasn't cooperating and deny travel on that ground. In fact, I even mentioned several times that I wanted to fully cooperate with them because I was aware that was a component of the new regulation, and they assured me that I was.
Finally satisfied that I didn't have ID, Laurie took my boarding pass and went away. She came back a few minutes later having photocopied it, and also had an affidavit that she requested I sign. It asked for my name and address, and stated in small print at the bottom that I did not have to fill it out, but if I didn't I couldn't fly. It also said that if I choose to fill it out and then provided false info, I would be in violation of federal law.
After filling out the affidavit, Laurie called a service to verify my address. The service needed me to then correctly answer three questions about myself, which Laurie relayed to me. The first was my date of birth, the second was a previous address (which I only got right on my second try), and the third was "You are registered to vote. Which political party have you registered with?" I got all three right, and only then did Laurie clear me to go through security.
Of course, I still had to submit to secondary screening, including a full-body pat-down and total luggage search. Brenda and Laurie stayed with me to make sure the process went as quickly as possible, and were again incredibly helpful and nice. They kept explaining over and over how necessary it was to "verify" who I was, and how times have changed, and how these new regulations must have been as a result of someone trying to get away with something, because there's always a reason for these thing but they don't always know what those reasons are. They were so nice and considerate that I waited until the very end before I finally said that I do not agree with the new regulations, but that I was thankful that the two of them acted so professionally and considerately to me. Laurie actually seemed a little dejected when I said this, because I had been playing along the entire time out of fear that I would not appear cooperative otherwise.
But I made it onboard my flight, and am back in Manhattan. I have flown without ID in the past, a couple years ago, and it was no problem. I almost preferred it because I got to skip the line. This time around though, it was incredibly burdensome, and involved the full attention of two high-level local TSA employees for a considerable period of time. I kept wondering if Laurie and Brenda were so busy with me for so long, what if someone really bad was doing something in another terminal or area? So even though I cannot say enough good things about how these particular TSA employees handled it, I still feel the new regulation is entirely inappropriate and unnecessary. Why do you need to provide a home address to fly? And what if I refused to answer the question about my political party allegiances? Luckily I kept my cool and even befriended the screeners just so they couldn't resort to the subjective lack-of-cooperation carve-out, but 45 minutes of standing at security not knowing if you'll make your flight seems specifically designed to test people's mettle and upset them. The TSA has turned flying without ID into an overly cumbersome and almost unmanageable chore.
We agree with CNet's Chris Soghoian when he says that this new rule is just more security theater-- at the cost of your privacy.
While TSA's announcement stated that the goal of the change was to "increase safety," this blogger disagrees. The change of rules seems to be a pretty obvious case of security theater. Real terrorists do not refuse to show ID. They claim to have lost their ID, or they use a fake.
TSA's new rules only protect us from a non-existent breed of terrorists who are unable to lie.
Your papers please: TSA bans ID-less flight [CNet]
(Photo: Kevin Dean )
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Comments:
"She asked if I was sure I didn't have photo ID, like a credit card with my picture on it, or even a CostCo card. "
Wow! That's nice. I remember when they ONLY took "state or federal government issued IDs"... I worked for the Legislature and I had my employee photo ID. I had to explain to the TSA agent what the state legislature was.
Sounds like they are doing a public information search on the person. Which is dumb since its well... public information. Our party affiliation and addresses is totally public. We can even find out WHEN and therefore how often a person voted, again all public.
It does NOT seem like a privacy issue at all, its just dumb window dressing. It reminds me of the "Did you pack your bags?" question. "No I didn't some weird guy who twitches did, he mumbled a lot."
I think the political party question is being taken out of context. I imagine the "screening service" utilizes a DMV database to ask questions that probably only the person would know, such as previous addresses. Most people register to vote at the DMV (or whatever incantation of it your state has), and they would likely have your noted party affiliation noted. While it's a pretty personal question, it's one that would be hard for an "impostor" to answer.
who needs civil liberties anyway?
You dolt they already know which political party you are registered with. They are looking at that information and they are just trying to verify.
As a Georgia resident where we don't register by political party, I would LOVE to go through this process just to give them shit on the last question.
Sorry, but who travels without some form of ID? I understand the privacy angle, but I can't imagine trying to travel (especially air travel) without ID.
I wonder when I'm going to have to show ID to drive between cities. It's just a matter of time...
@AlexPDL: I agree with you. We could answer those 3 questions for some of our previous neighbors. If you talked to your neighbors and knew the birthday then you already know their previous address and would know or could guess their political party.
In my state, there is no political party registration. Well, I think you can put something on the form, but it's' totally optional and doesn't really mean that much when you go to vote, apparently.
What about the RealID crap? When is that supposed to go into effect? I thought it already was, but a bunch of states, including mine, were fighting it.
Why on earth does it matter what poltical party you're registered with? I wonder what they'd say if you said communist, or facist? Or even more "tame" parties like "libertarian" or (gasp) independent?
This does nothing to improve security. In fact willfully refusing to provide ID doesn't make you any more risky than any other passenger (esp. after they do secondary screening). It's so funny that Bush Admin still thinks terrorists are as naive as they are, "I bet the terrorist could never get a hold of fake ID's"
My ID expired while I was in Florida last year and I was told by the outbound TSA agent it would not be accepted for my return trip. I had to get someone at home to fedex me my passport so i could avoid this kind of hassle. They made it sound like I couldn't fly without it.
Even with the increased screening it's good to know if I get mugged while on holiday and don't have my ID I can at least get home.
Anyway, I agree. It's all BS.
Ah, America, I hardly knew you...
So long. We probably won't meet again.
um...
"What is it is like..."
wat if your not registered to vote?
When Ahkmed goes to the security line and he is asked for his ID and he provides 5 different passports from 5 different countries and they have 5 different names but all have his picture on them they will gladly let him move on.
TSA (a complete crock since 12/19/2001)
Makes me feel good reading the line where this person says that while these two TSA employees were bothering with his ID another potentially dangerous person could have been getting through without a hitch.
It just amazes me that no one stopped along the way to making these rules and said -"hey, you know the terrorists could just lie. After all the 9/11 guys lied to get drivers licenses. Why are we doing this?"
At first I was skeptical about this story, and it seemed like another TSA stupidity case -- if someone refuses to provide ID versus someone who claims to not have ID, what is the difference? Why let one fly, and not the other?
But the full story seems to be that it is because they have alternative ways of checking to see that you are who you are. And if you have simply forgotten your ID, they can check to see who you are by alternate means. But if you refuse any sort of identity check, or refuse to cooperate, even to verify that a person with your name and address, etc exists, then they will not fly you. That is not so unreasonable as I first thought. They just don't want anyone who has no history or traceability at all to be flying.
But the silly thing is that, as many people know, this whole thing ignores the fact that there's a gaping loophole in the whole system -- that you are in control of your boarding pass information and the physical piece of paper that they check against at the security checkpoint. As anyone with photoshop can do -- you can pretty easily simply create a fake boarding pass for anyone, who can then get pass security with a real ID.
If they want to address security in a real way (which costs money), they would need to come up with a system where the ID checkers have the *original* ticket information on a screen in front of them, not a piece of paper that anyone could have created.
And as a parting shot to Consumerist -- there is no Constitutional right to refuse to show ID to get on a plane.
to clear up some misconceptions -- I think the question about political party was like a credit check question where they ask you various things to ascertain your identity. Not to ask about your views or anything...
"Why do I need ID to get ID? Because if I had ID I wouldn't need ID." -Mos Def, The Questions
that party affiliation question won't work on a Texan. There's no party registration in Texas, the closest we get is a little stamp on our voter registration card that states what primary we voted in. This isn't the Gov't trying to track you down because you could be a dissident, this is merely you answering a question only you know the answer to.
@GreatMoose: You don't always have a choice - a friend was pick pocketed directly before flying home from Boston once. Not exactly his choice to fly without ID.
He probably didn't have time to get his ID and make his flight on the original leg. He chose to make the flight.
Silver lining: The fact that the TSA agents behaved like human beings as opposed to comic book goons is at least an improvement.
I don't think the party affiliation question is really that off base.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Osama endorsed John Kerry in 2004.
Could someone please explain to me how the money in airports works? Does it go straight to the government like they own it, so they at least have some right to dictate highly inconvenient measures like the airports do. I get that the TSA is sort of government run but wouldn't airports want it to be EASY to fly so that people would do it more?
Why do they get to invade our personal space, rights, go through our things, SPY ON US NAKED, refuse to pay us when they lose our stuff, and do all these other things that if it was a smaller business, would not be allowed?
@GreatMoose: I can't imagine trying to travel (especially air travel) without ID.
That's just because they got it in your head that you need to be ready to explain, at all times, who you are, where your are, what you're doing, and why you're doing it.
"For your protection," we will watch your every move. Otherwise, the terrorists win.
What is the big deal about showing ID? Just show it and be done. Who cares?! I don't understand why people are making a big deal about your 'right' to not show an ID...right along the lines with showing a recipt. If you don't have anything to hide, then show the damn thing and get on with your life.
I think next time I fly on a plane, Im gonna forget my ID. This way I can have some fun with the TSA. Im gonna have them strip search me while making sexual advances on the searcher, make sure to pack large sex toys in my bag, and at the same time pretend I have multiple personality disorder, one being that of an arabic man.
What in the hell is going on with airlines and the paranoid delusions that they think that someone without ID is the "real terror" in the airport/on the plane? If someone was planning on doing something, you think they'd call attention to themselves by NOT having an ID and making themselves stand out? For fucks sake TSA, grow a brain.
I am honestly done with air travel. If this is what our country is reduced to because bad shit occasionally happens in this world, then I'm taking the train.
All of you hate America. Why do you hate America? ;)
"After filling out the affidavit, Laurie called a service to verify my address. The service needed me to then correctly answer three questions about myself, which Laurie relayed to me."
I wonder how much the service costs. TSA sure wouldn't be paying the bill. Did they charge him right up front $99.95 to provide this service, or did they send him a bill?
Hey couldn't they verify a photo by going to myspace or Facebook or something? - Voila - person matches face.
@GreatMoose: It's not smart. But I had to do it once because I got to Dulles airport at about 7:30 in the morning after a ... ahem ... late night in Adams Morgan only to find that I had taken out a credit card and my ID to go out the night before and left it in my pants pocket (I don't always bring my whole wallet with me when I go out).
So I was in Dulles with an hour until my flight and no ID. They were cooperative and let me on but that was before these new rules. Actually TSA was much better about it than the airline (flyI)
Besides,in DC you can look up someone's political affiliation on their dc.gov website, so it's not like you're giving away some super-secret piece of personal information. Not that being a registered Republican in DC does you a lot of good -- you get a lot of blank primary ballots. Mickey Mouse FTW!
this is really getting out of hand. we aren't getting any safer here.
All this is, is to see how much more crap they can force us to do. Baby steps that lead to a facsist government.
It's all about control.
What about children? Do they need to show ID?
All that build-up and nobody got fisted? C'mon!!
@MrEvil: Then they would rely on the last election and how you voted, which is public information that even I have access to. Don't believe me? Give me your name and I can tell you every election, state or federal that you voted and whom you cast you vote.
I imagine they have dozens of questions that can be easily answered and just go thru the list until they are satisfied with the number of correct answers.
Last summer, a TSA supervisor didn't want to let me through the security lines because my driver's license was over a year expired.
The picture was accurate, the name and address were accurate. I had another ID (from work) with my name and picture on it. I had other random things (like, say, a costco card) with my picture on it. No go. He finally relented, after yelling at me over and over and over for a good 10 minutes about how this was "expired" and "not allowed" and blah blah blah.
It's not allowed for driving a car. It's not expired for BEING ME.
I swear I am so sick of these retarded bureaucratic hoops we are made to jump thru under the guise of keeping us safe etc.. it is all just a load of crap. Hell, you can still sneak things thru security. if someone wants to get something thru they will... meanwhile we give up more and more of our personal freedoms and securities. I am amazed by how collectively we allow all of this to transpire.
I can understand that you have to have an ID to get on a plane... I would not expect to be able to travel without one but it is just all the rest of the unnecessary crap that makes me sick.
But to add to my comments above -- it's all fine to believe what you believe about privacy, government, etc. But when it comes to just needing to fly somewhere, why put up all this fuss and trouble for yourself to purposely not show ID? The TSA doesn't care -- just carry your ID, protest in other ways, and get on with your life.
This alone will kill the airline industry
Those questions sound like the ones I had to answer when I requested my credit reports online. If you can't answer one or two, they give you alternate questions. I think they limit the wrong answers or "I forgots" to two or three, though.
I agree, this is just more security theatre, now in Sensuround...