I noticed that, too. If he was older there would certainly be the expectation that he would show photo ID, but the catch in this case is that the kid is apparently not 18 yet. He could have flown without gov't ID with no problem at all. The AMTRAK alternative was totally unnecessary.

The other thing odd about that story was the business about being asked for ID when he was a back-seat passenger in a car that was in a wreck. What on earth? Cops don't normally ask passengers (especially kids!) for ID at an accident scene.