Air Travelers May Be Assigned Color Codes

The Associated Press ^ | 09/09/03 | Staff Writer

[bedolido]

U.S. Prepares to Assign Color Codes to Air Travelers; Critics Fear System Will Be Too Intrusive.

WASHINGTON Sept. 9 — The government and the airlines reportedly will phase in a computer system next year to measure the risk of every passenger who boards a flight in the United States by using color codes.

According to the Washington Post, passengers will be assigned one of three codes, based in part on their travel plans, traveling companions and the date the ticket was purchased. Sources say those coded "green" will easily pass through security checkpoints. Others will be coded "yellow" and face additional screening. An estimated 1 to 2 percent who get "red" coding will be barred from boarding and face police questioning. They may be arrested.

Critics fear the new system will be far too intrusive, and that some people will be mistakenly "flagged" and even falsely arrested.

Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

[Koblenz]

An estimated 1 to 2 percent who get "red" coding will be barred from boarding and face police questioning. They may be arrested.

Are they going to be charged with anything when they are arrested, or is having a computer program declare you a red flag good enough?

[steve-b]

Most fundamental of all, this sort of profiling system simply won't work against any terrorist who has two brain cells to rub together and enough money to buy a dozen or so "dry run" flights to 1)determine with a high degree of confidence that he's been flagged "green" and 2)establish a track record that makes it even more likely that he'll be flagged "green" when it's show time.

[tdadams]

I suspect I'm probably in a slim majority of people around here, but if given the free choice to apply for a 'trusted traveler' card, I'd do it today. I would object to any mandatory requirement to submit information in order to fly though.

I travel by air a lot. If it would allow me to walk into the airport about 15 or 20 minutes before my flight takes off rather than 2 or 3 hours, and a snaking line waiting to be searched (a la Oakland's airport), I'd be more than happy to get a 'trusted traveler' card.

[meyer]

So one out of fifty to one hundred passengers is going to flagged red??? That's going to do wonders for their business...

I'm shooting for "red". I love the smell of lawsuits in the morning - they smell like .... victory!

[TheBattman]

Since this will be put on by a Federal system, does that mean that things that require a background check will also cause airline passerngers to be "red" flagged?

Example: If I go buy a new hunting rifle for the upcoming deer season and then go to buy an airline ticket for a visit to my mom for Thanksgiving, will I then be flagged?

This is getting pretty scarry. It's not hard to imagine the small step to implants/barcodes/tatoo on forhead or right hand.

Sure looks like the end is getting closer every day.

[TheBattman]

Sorry, no lawsuits - it is in the interest of national security/anti-terrorism. I just don't see any successful lawsuits out of these intrusive policies, even when mistakes are made (already lots of complaints with the TSA - and yet no lawsuits as yet to win.)

[steve-b]

Great idea -- give terrorists the option to apply for a "trusted traveler" card until enough of them slip through and get approval....

[Just another Joe]

So if you look like this you get a red flag right?

No, that's what you look like after they inform you that you have a red flag.

[meyer]

Sorry, no lawsuits - it is in the interest of national security/anti-terrorism. I just don't see any successful lawsuits out of these intrusive policies, even when mistakes are made (already lots of complaints with the TSA - and yet no lawsuits as yet to win.)

That's pretty sad - we live in a country where people almost instinctively grab the backs of their necks the minute they hear that the other driver has insurance, but when a legitimate issue arises, nothing can be done. I guess I'll be driving - armed as usual.

[jriemer]

Apparently no-one's looking out for the "blue meanies" any more...

[Centurion2000]

Ron Jeremy's in trouble then.

[ARCADIA]

It just adds to the adventure of air travel. Dump the stocks now.

[UncleDudley]

That'll get me "yellow", I bet, especially since I'm flying from Chicago to Boston and back.

If you go along with this system of tryanny, you deserve it.

[kjam22]

I wouldn't mind giving the info to have a "trusted traveler's card" either. The problem is that within a year of them being issued, you'll be able to buy one on ebay.

[Paved Paradise]

When they start color-coding and then making it into the shape of a Jewish star (as in yellow Jewish star), then I'm putting my foot down.

Seems a bit simplistic to me. I think this system will make it easier for the terrorists as the screeners will start relying on the color coding more instead of their instincts (not that they are any good now). I wish I could be a screener. No one would get on! (ha ha).

[justshutupandtakeit]

So you would propose surrendering? Which RAT are you supporting?

[billbears]

Could you please enlighten me to where I 'proposed' surrender? Or is it surrender to not have a burning desire to bow to Washington DC five times a day?

[tdadams]

If they would slip through with a trusted traveler card why wouldn't they slip through now? It's not like the trusted traveler will get to skip the metal detector.

[Constitution Day]

Others will be coded "yellow" and face additional screening.

Rosie O'Donnell is pretty excited by that prospect.

The Yellow (by Rosie O'Donnell)

[meyer]

If they would slip through with a trusted traveler card why wouldn't they slip through now? It's not like the trusted traveler will get to skip the metal detector.

On the other hand, if they're not slipping through now, why would we need a "trusted traveller" card?

Frankly, the system we have now is a joke - its window dressing. Its a front to give people the impression that they are safer, where the actual safety is augmented by people's being more aware. Nobody would even think of hijacking a plane in the US right now - the passengers would rush them and kill them. The plane may crash, but it would never hit its intended target.

Besides, there are far too many other ways to create havoc in the US and elsewhere. They don't have to use a plane.