I know that for some, the constant highlighting of security theater that I do here can get old. Hell, it gets old for me. But this one is just so far past ridiculous that I’ve got to post it. Recall that the TSA recently adopted rules that permits someone who “forgets” her ID to fly, but bars anyone who refuses to show ID (the practical difference between the two is an exercise for another time). So, it was under these new rules that a Consumerist reader found himself having forgotten his drivers license at home, and needing to make a flight. I hope you”ll read the whole thing, but let’s join the story at the point where the traveller has pointed out that he has no ID, and a supervisor has been called:
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.
That’s right, you can get through with a Costco club card. What does this achieve? Your guess is as good as mine. The only thing that seems clear from this is that a Costco card could have avoided what the traveller was next required to do:
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?” [emphasis supplied] I got all three right, and only then did Laurie clear me to go through security.
Ponder that.
Steve Bierfeldt
I had quite the experience at Disney World fairly recently. Did you know Disney World requires your fingerprints to get into the park?
It took me a few minutes of back and forth with them, though I finally made my way in.
Never mind what I was doing at Disney World of course.
Maybe I should have just showed them a Costco Card.
Scott Nolan
It’s probably best to travel without your local county library card, because it is well known that terrorists like to learn how to make bombs by surfing the internet at libraries; so your library card is likely to be considered incriminating and cancel out your Costco card.
MB
Steve, you have seen our future.
(and I won’t ask what you were doing at Disney World, because anyone with any sense would know that Disney *Land* is where it’s at.)
~
Excellent point, Scott. It also reminds me that I did get a rather abrupt email from Arlington Co. lately, saying that my library card was expiring, and that I was to appear at Central Library with ID. Hmmm.