TSO1973 just posted that damaged ID's are acceptable to the TSA as ID-- why would you say that it is "no worse than the lack of any ID" when that is clearly not the case?
I don't understand what you mean. Showing ID is not required. It seems logical that showing a damaged ID is no worse than not showing any at all, and even neglecting to show any isn't supposed to disqualify someone from flying. So I stand by my assertion that it's no worse than none at all. It's probably better than none at all.
Not everyone has the time to or wishes to decline to present ID to prove a point
I agree. This person's credentials were damaged and he was concerned about whether he'd be allowed to fly.
Of course that won't prevent him from flying. He's not required to have them in the first place.
clearly the OP is happy to present his ID and just wants to know if the TSA will accept a damaged ID.
TSA will accept someone without ID. What sense does it make to ask if they'll accept damaged ID? When someone asks about what sort of ID TSA will accept, it's a pretty good indicator that the person thinks TSA requires passengers to show ID.
Which of these do you suppose the OP intended to ask:
- My ID is damaged. Will TSA still allow me to fly?
- My ID is damaged. Should I even bother to show it so that TSA still allow me to slip through security with just a walk through the magnetometer and X-ray of my bags?
I suspect it was #1. The answer is "Yes. You're not required to present a pristine ID or any ID. It might take longer than normal, so plan for some extra time. Also, TSA provides lots of misleading information about their passenger identification policies. Even their staff don't typically know the rules, and those who do will sometimes disregard the rules, and there's not much you can do about it. It might not make any difference at all, because their policies are so unclear and so subject to the whims of whoever is working the document checker podium that day."
The answer to #2 is, "Sure. It can't hurt."
At least once per month, someone comes on TS&S to ask if he or she will be allowed to fly with this ID, that ID, an expired ID, or no ID. The truth (best we can tell from press releases, blog posts, tips for travelers, and redacted documents pried out of our government via FOIA) is that none of that matters. Showing ID just gets you through with less scrutiny.
Right, TSO1973? Passengers who wish to pass through your checkpoint with less scrutiny should show ID, right? You're going to search them less thoroughly if they show ID, and more thoroughly if they do, right?
According to your advice, the OP should not bother to present that ID and go through questions and more intense searches.
No, the OP should not worry about whether his ID is damaged or not when considering whether he'll be allowed to fly. He's not required to show ID.
Of course, this hinges on TSA staff knowing the rules and not acting like power-tripping a......s.
Speaking of which:
Originally Posted by
SATTSO
I have encountered a situation like yours and the one you describe. It's quiet easy to deal with. A passenger refused to present ID, he wasn't allowed in. And I did not check his BP.
Why didn't you allow him in? He didn't break any rules, right? Was it because he didn't tell you his ID was misplaced or stolen? Do you think that his choosing not to show you what you wanted but were not entitled to see indicated that he would present a danger to other passengers on his flight? Did the fact that he did not utter the words "I lost it" indicate that he was dangerous? Had he bent over and kissed your feet, would you have continued to perform the procedure we pay you to perform instead of restricting the man's movement?