TSA The Real Deal On ID

Posted on | August 6, 2009 |

It’s not every day you travel and leave your drivers license at home. And I did just that. Even with my check list and arriving to the airport on time, my plans were foiled. Just before I see the lady at the counter say ‘next’, I realize I’d left home without the only government issued ID I have, my drivers license, to get on the plane. I wasn’t going to make my flight. Or so I thought.

While having a government issued ID hastens the process, it is by no means necessary for domestic travel by an us citizen. As long as you can prove you are you, TSA will let you through.

The airline attendant checked me in and informed me TSA would require a special search. The TSA supervisor called in to the do the job couldn

‘t of been nicer. Obviously, they had been through this before. All they needed was enough proof that I was indeed me and not some phony, and I could proceed. After showing a credit card, insurance card, bank card, I presented 2 different prescription medications and that clinched the deal. Had I some form of picture ID that would of helped, as all these merely indicated my name. (I didn’t think the library card would help much either.)

Although I marveled at how polite, considerate and thorough the TSA agents I encounted that morning at PBI were, my husband informed me that for my return trip  it would not go so easily from JFK. It turns out you do not need a government issued ID to get thru secutiry if a us citizen.

• Passengers who do not or cannot present an acceptable ID will have to provide information to the Transportation Security Officer performing Travel Document Checking duties in order to verify their identity. Passengers who are cleared through this process may be subject to additional screening. Passengers whose identity cannot be verified by TSA may not be allowed to go through the checkpoint or onto an airplane. http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/acceptable_documents.shtm

After researching some more, if you willfully state your right not to show ID (the legality of all this is very much in question as well) you will be refused clearance. If you state you lost your ID (or in my case left it in the laundry basket), you can go through additional screening processes until they are satisfied. It just gets more and more confusing. To read how in question this very process is legally go to:

http://www.papersplease.org/wp/2009/05/26/tsa-releases-censored-id-checking-procedures/

I am still awaiting the mail delivery of the contents from that rogue pair of pants pocket. However knowing what I know now, I would not stress out it if happens again. Yes, more time will be needed to clear TSA security, but you will be cleared.  And if known ahead of time, you can make time allowances. As for friendly, cooperative and non-stressed out TSA personnel, that can not be predicted.

happy travels,

wife of star

No related posts.

Comments

Subscribe to our feed

About

Hello and welcome to my blog. It’s all about travel, My Travel Tips For Travel. I travel a lot and what better way to express my opinions about my travels, whatever it may be by: car, plane, bus, train, or boat and yes, even walking and bicycle; It all fits here. Your comments are also welcomed and are appreciated, good bad or ugly, write it here! Maybe you’ll find some common thread on your own travels and share it with us all.

Search

Admin

• Log in
• Wordpress
• XHTML