Judge to Hear Air ID Challenge

wired news ^ | 1/18/03 | Julia Scheeres

[freepatriot32]

John Gilmore, the co-founder of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, has sued United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Attorney General John Ashcroft, alleging that the ID requirement stems from a "secret law" that violates his right to anonymous travel within the United States.

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[inquest]

While the airlines are private entities, and have the option of requiring whatever they wish as part of the contract, the fact the the government has made the showing of ID the law could have this get pretty sticky.

Looks to me like that should be the guiding principle behind all airport security, but we're aways off from that, aren't we?

[JCG]

Gilmore, a longtime libertarian, arrived at the federal building wearing Birkenstocks and a purple suit jacket. Pinned to the lapel, was a button with the words "suspected terrorist" superimposed over the shape of an airplane.

Kook. If there's a "secret law" it should be made public. Other than that, any airline should be able to demand ID from anyone if they want to. Just common sense.

America's Fifth Column ... watch Steve Emerson/PBS documentary JIHAD! In America
New Link: Download 8 Mb zip file here (60 minute video)

Who is Steve Emerson?

[The Obstinate Insomniac]

Does a passenger have standing to sue or would the airline, which was directed to comply be the only party with a legally valid right to sue?

[The Obstinate Insomniac]

Anonymous commercial air travel is hardly a right and there are so many options besides a commercial flight that I don’t think his minor inconvenience in having to show ID could amount to a legally valid case.

[Karsus]

Why should the goverment have the right to know where you travel?

[F.J. Mitchell]

If this buffoon wants to move around the country without revealing his identy, he can drive, walk, hitch hike or ride a pogo stick. If he insists on flying, his fellow passengers have a right to know the airline knows he is who he says he is.

[Blue Screen of Death]

The airlines have had this requirement long befor 9/11. It was started so that you could not sell your ticket (return or different date) to another person. It was to avoid scalpers getting all the good deals then selling them and making a commission. This rule had nothing to do with terrorists. The airlines, like many other orginizations and politicians, are hiding their real motives behind 9/11.

[The Obstinate Insomniac]

The government did not violate the Passenger’s rights. Being forced to show ID and a ticket to pass through security, which is now run by the Federal Government, might be a violation. Being required to follow airline policy before being allowed to fly no matter how the decision was made does not violate his rights. If the Federal Government was standing at the gate demanding ID that would be different, but a directive to the airlines would only violate the airline’s rights.

[weegee]

I've had difficulty with this "law"/policy for some time now (although I have not challenged it).

Originally the airlines wanted this policy in the "name" of security, but it was also to crack down on passengers that were flying with someone else's return ticket (a roundtrip ticket could be purchased often for less than the price of a one-way fare).

I don't understand why the name on the ticket must match the passenger name; I doubt that background checks were run on all of the passengers in the weeks leading up to every flight.

Additionally it is false security. Driver's licenses with false names/addresses have been sold (even after 9/11) to people by employees of the Department Of Public Safety/Department Of Motor Vehicles of numerous states (including Tennessee and Illinois).

Unless they are going to require all passengers to use a federal/international document (like a passport) then the concept is a joke. Additionally until all passports use a biometric device (like an eyeball scan, not a fingerprint) there is no way to confirm that the person holding the ID is actually the person.

[20yearvet]

He did not have to show ID, But He wants to get onbord without ID or being searched.

"Southwest refused to let him board without identifying himself, while United said he could board if he submitted to a hand search, which he refused"