I could be wrong here, but I THINK that in most states, it is illegal to drive without a valid drivers license (A drivers license is a valid form of Govt ID). And yes, requesting a drivers license of a driver is legal and not regarded as a search by a LEO.

Car passengers are not driving. That's why I said "passengers" and not "drivers".

That I like the idea of. I am all about returning airports to state, city and commercial control. ^^^:)

And a LEO can and will ask them for ID though it is not required to be on their person by law.

Anyway, I missed the passenger part of your initial statement. Sorry.

I believe that there is a difference between being a passenger on a highway and being a passenger at 30,000 ft.

That's the point. Now think about trucks. Hazmat big rigs. Do passengers need ID (I don't know)?

Besides 30,000ft and a few 100mph, what? As it stands, police could catch a lot of criminals by searching car passengers and checking their IDs.

Sure, aircraft are different from cars. Sure, checking IDs can help reduce crime (if you compare IDs against a list of fugitives), but I don't see any evidence that it really improves the safety of domestic travel in ways that are specific to the unique nature of air travel (which is used as the justification). Or are there statistics to show that verifying IDs has done anything?

Regardless, please explain how checking anyones ID (with the exception of the aircraft operators credentials) contributes to the safe conduct of a commercial aircraft flight.

I guess if an ID was thrown really hard the narrow edge might make a paper cut but then they would be considered a weapon and confiscated with my water.

I thought the purpose of screening was to ensure no weapons, explosives or incendaries made it onto the aircraft.

Isn't all the rest of the play nothing more than poor theater?

I say it is!!

How does valid ID magically prevent anyone from harming an aircraft?

The ID check is a check, not a search.

DOE vehicles require that all drivers and PAX have ID (Drivers are not allowed to pick up hitch hikers :) ). I am not sure about the TEXACO truck.

And you are correct. If you are willing to discount the altitude number of passengers and speed, there is not a lot of difference between a 747 and Chevy Impala. (Please bring back the older Impala SS's, circa 1995, if anybody on this board is in the decision making loop :p )

Which is why I wrote "searching car passengers and checking their IDs."

Department of Energy? Don't you mean DOT?

Ah, the elite Schutzstaffel edition. :D

So, why check ID? Especially if the purpose (stopping terrorists) is total BS, as terrorists are excluded from the lists against which names are checked.

"Papers!!"

Few of the 9/11 hijackers made any attempt to disguise their names on flight and credit card records. A bunch had official Virginia IDs from the local DMV.

Gee, if only some TSA guys had been checking that their IDs matched their boarding passes, huh? :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

What is the ID check supposed to establish or prevent? Seriously?

peace,
~Ben~

No I mean DOE. I don't know anything about DOT passenger requirements for their vehicles.

So, I repeat -- Few of the 9/11 hijackers made any attempt to disguise their names on flight and credit card records. A bunch had official Virginia IDs from the local DMV. All were flying on valid IDs that matched their valid boarding passes. So what is the ID check supposed to establish or prevent?

peace,
~Ben~

Is 9/11 the only paradigm we are allowed to draw air safety lessons from? It is a large one, but not the only.

Fair enough. What are the other paradigms where verifying IDs matched BPs prevented or could have prevented a terrorist attempt by a passenger against an airliner?

peace,
~Ben~

Especially when those checks are not performed against any real, enforceable under color of law criteria (such as wants/warrants checks with local/national databases), which would not be legal under the current regulations anyway?