more on TSA and fear, and information on your rights

Begin forwarded message:

From: Mary Shaw <[email protected]>
Date: October 8, 2006 9:15:40 AM EDT
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [IP] more on TSA and fear, and information on your rights

Dave,

Alternative government-issued is a great option if you have it.  I've
been looking for some.  However, the only choices I've found to date
are:

--  Concealed weapon carry permit.  Easy to get (unfortunately), but
doesn't seem like a great idea.  "Hi, I'm here to fly on your
airplane, and I know how to use a gun"

--  PA ID card for non-drivers.  Photo ID issued by the state, but is
has just the same information as the drivers license, and I don't see
how it helps reduce the use of drivers licenses as national IDs --
it's just the same thing as a drivers license without driving
privileges.

--  Passport.  I don't want to carry mine all the time; it doesn't fit
in my wallet, and it's harder to replace than other ID if it's lost

-- I hear the FAA may be planning to offer photo ID pilot's licenses,
but checking in at the airport by showing a pilot's license seems only
marginally better than using a carry permit.

Any ideas about where those of us who don't work for the government
can get government-issued photo ID other than drivers licenses?

Note also that hotels are getting more aggressive.  You can usually
face them down, though.  Last week I used my University ID at a hotel,
but it took about six rounds of saying "this is my photo ID" in
response to various versions of the desk clerk's demand for my drivers
license.

Mary

> From: Andrew C Burnette <[email protected]>
> If not presenting an ID is an issue, I *always* present an alternative
> government issued badge (I hold security clearances and badges with  
> FAA,
> NSA, DoD, among others).  These are often challenged by the $7/hr  
> folks
> at the check in line, but they always back down. I also prefer  
> airlines
> and airports that have kiosk terminals to check in or let me print out
> boarding passes in advance, in particular due to my story below:
>