Practical Travel Safety Issues - New TWIC ID

I just got my TWIC of Transportation Worker Identification Credentials from DHS. I need this for work to be able to access shipping ports.

Fingerprints, background check, $128 later I gots me a new ID!

I go to fly and show my newly minted TWIC to the TSA and they ask:

"What ID is this? Who issues it?"

I reply Your department does!

Don't these people have any idea what is happening outside of thier little world?........

It's always nice to see that the TSA does not bother to ensure that their frontline employees are properly educated. Especially when the TWIC is the LAST item listed on the TSA Acceptable ID (http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/acceptable_documents.shtm) page.

Don't these people have any idea what is happening outside of thier little world?........

My Passport has a green cover instead of a blue one. It is a standard, non official (Red), non diplomatic (Black) non anything special passport, but it is green. Most Immigration and Customs agents double take when they see it. I think that this TWIC card was probably the first seen by the agent. Heck I have not seen one used in an airport. Can I see yours :)

Oh and a TSA agent has never said anything about my green passport. They just flip it open and look at the front page. Just seems to stump immigration agents.

The TWIC is still fairly new, and even though it's officially on the paperwork as being allowed (our list, by the way, it's somewhere in the middle, not on the end), it's not fairly common. It very well might have been the first TWIC the guy had ever seen.

I finally got to see a passport card yesterday. Really nifty little doohickeys, those.

I finally got to see a passport card yesterday. Really nifty little doohickeys, those.

I didn't even bother posting about my passport card experiences as it is so new. My green passport which I have had for years stumps people. My passport card, which I got as a result of reading this particular forum, positively bewilders people. Not the TSA though. They just wave their magic light over it and say thanks. The airport screeners though have asked for other ID or called their friends over to look. Once I was pointed to the Clear Pass line. I like the new Passport Card, however, really its utility is limited to those traveling to Mexico and Canada as designed. I use it now for my regular ID check, but I had no problem using any of my other ID's before that, and as advertised it is NOT good for international travel.

The issues with the TWIC card is that TSA screeners harldy come across any. In a years time, I have only come across two! The first time I had no idea what is was. The second time was no problem, and the man commented of how surprised he was that I knew what it was. That most check points ask to see other ID.

My Passport has a green cover instead of a blue one. It is a standard, non official (Red), non diplomatic (Black) non anything special passport, but it is green.When was this passport issued? I thought the last green passports the US issued were issued in 1994. Given a 10 year validity period, such a passport would have expired a couple of years ago.

When was this passport issued? I thought the last green passports the US issued were issued in 1994. Given a 10 year validity period, such a passport would have expired a couple of years ago.

I think that you are correct for the bulk of the Special Benjamin Franklin addition passports. To be honest, I have no idea how they determined who got them or if it was just dumb luck. Anyway, when my original Green one expired, I asked for a new one and received it at the passport office in DC.

I think that you are correct for the bulk of the Special Benjamin Franklin addition passports. To be honest, I have no idea how they determined who got them or if it was just dumb luck. Anyway, when my original Green one expired, I asked for a new one and received it at the passport office in DC.

That might explain it. I renewed my green passport by mail and got a blue one in 2003.