Originally Posted by
eyecue
It stands to reason though that there must be some form of regulation to the secured area. The ID and boarding pass is that regulation. The other option is that anyone can go out to the gate and that would be too much foot traffic to handle and the cases of theft would go out of site.
It wasn't that long ago (in relative terms) that one did not need a boarding pass to go through security at most airports. Further, at least one airport (PIT?) was announced during the last year as a test bed for allowing non-travelers through security.
I'd love to see before-after data to back up your assertion.
Kippy seems to think that checking IDs confirms that an individual is not on the no-fly list. The airlines like checking IDs for revenue protection. Yet the system has more holes in it than the Mexican and Canadian border put together.
IF, and I repeat IF, the ID is cross-referenced at the point of entry to a permit/deny list, then it serves a purpose of restricting access. If the ID is recorded when one passes the point of entry (e.g. as is done with a corporate access card entering a secure building) - and perhaps recorded upon exit, then it serves a purpose of knowing who is inside the premises at a given time, which is useful for law-enforcement purposes.
If you truly want an ID system that is effective for some kind of security purposes, you will require that the TSA check and record the ID and boarding document upon entry to the checkpoint, you will have the TSA check the no-fly/SSSS list (and cross-reference back to the ID issuer to make sure it's a valid ID) at that time, and you will have the TSA record ID info when one leaves a checkpoint (and/or have them obtain the actual boarding scans from the airline). This does nothing, however, to ensure physical security, other than ensuring that a no-fly/SSSS passenger is treated in accordance with policy. (This, by the way, was supposedly one feature of CLEAR, which was to ensure that the passenger was who they say they are, thereby allowing less of a screening process). Oh, and it would allow TSA one more way to spread their desire to be 'law enforcement' because it would also permit crossing against 'wants and warrants' lists.
I don't think anyone would stand for the marginal additional benefits that such a detailed cross-referencing would provide. But I do note that this is potentially one thing that DHS is thinking by requiring that RealID issuers allow electronic access to their databases.
IOW, the current ID scheme is only for show, and serves no effective purpose other than to make work and add a hurdle for passengers.