ID questioned
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 27
ID questioned
Has anyone ever had their ID questioned? I was going through security and the initial TSA person who checked my ID was seriously scrutinizing my picture (and proceeded with further questioning.) What would I do if she said I don't match my picture well enough?
#2
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,702
Serious question for ya - just how different are you now from your DL pic? Some people change dramatically, for better or worse. However, even if the TSA person thinks the ID is not you, you would get through. First they would ask you questions, verify address, DOB, things like that. If worst really came to worst, they would get a LEO would would have to verify that is your DL, and then you would get through.
#3
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Orange County, CA
Programs: Vanishing
Posts: 1,681
Oh yes! Just after TSA took over the ID checking, the smart@.. in DFW checking the ID decided that my EU passport was not good enough for her. Never mind that CBP had looked at it over 30 times without a comment, but this gal decided that there was an "extra" shadow on the picture. So according to her excellently trained brain she decided it was invalid and gave me SSSS because I has "NO ID".
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: DFW
Posts: 28,172
Serious question for ya - just how different are you now from your DL pic? Some people change dramatically, for better or worse. However, even if the TSA person thinks the ID is not you, you would get through. First they would ask you questions, verify address, DOB, things like that. If worst really came to worst, they would get a LEO would would have to verify that is your DL, and then you would get through.
#5
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,657
No ... I think the "worst case" would be that the TDC would treat the persona as someone without a [cough] "valid ID", and subject them to the "it's SSI but everybody else knows the details by now" procedure by which your identity is verified through asking for lots of detailed-yet-publicly-verifiable information.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native
Programs: Amex Gold/Plat, UA *G, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Gold, NEXUS, TSA Disparager Unobtanium
Posts: 21,626
#7
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: CLT
Programs: Choice Hotels/FFOCUS
Posts: 7,256
He won't be able to answer that one...
Tell them to go strait to ,,,,
Last edited by Kiwi Flyer; Sep 9, 2010 at 1:37 pm Reason: merge consecutive posts
#8
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: ORD
Programs: AA Platinum, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 1,177
As to the OP's question. I have had one occasion where my Passport Card was questioned in regards to whether or not it is valid ID to use to pass through the checkpoint. It was never in, question, however, whether or not it was my ID.
My guess, as SATTSO said, is that you would eventually be allowed to pass. It's my experience that TSA wants to verify ID, but being able to present valid ID is only one method they use to verify ID.
#9
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,702
Actually, I think I can - but why bother? On this site unless the critics agree with your answer then the claim is made you haven't answered at all. And we all know that very few here agree with why TSA does things - so explain to me why I should bother we I could safely bet all my money that my answer will not be liked, thus I will be told I haven't answered? If you can do that, I'll answer.
I guess it all depends on what is important to you.. I was thinking time-wise, but everyone is entitled to their opinions.
No ... I think the "worst case" would be that the TDC would treat the persona as someone without a [cough] "valid ID", and subject them to the "it's SSI but everybody else knows the details by now" procedure by which your identity is verified through asking for lots of detailed-yet-publicly-verifiable information.
Last edited by Kiwi Flyer; Sep 9, 2010 at 1:37 pm Reason: merge consecutive posts
#10
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: CLT
Programs: Choice Hotels/FFOCUS
Posts: 7,256
Actually, I think I can - but why bother? On this site unless the critics agree with your answer then the claim is made you haven't answered at all. And we all know that very few here agree with why TSA does things - so explain to me why I should bother we I could safely bet all my money that my answer will not be liked, thus I will be told I haven't answered? If you can do that, I'll answer.
#11
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,657
Serious question for ya - just how different are you now from your DL pic? Some people change dramatically, for better or worse. However, even if the TSA person thinks the ID is not you, you would get through. First they would ask you questions, verify address, DOB, things like that. If worst really came to worst, they would get a LEO would would have to verify that is your DL, and then you would get through.
No ... I think the "worst case" would be that the TDC would treat the persona as someone without a [cough] "valid ID", and subject them to the "it's SSI but everybody else knows the details by now" procedure by which your identity is verified through asking for lots of detailed-yet-publicly-verifiable information.
#12
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,702
Another reason why it will take longer is when our SOP allows us to contact a LEO. We have to go through all the steps before we get to them. So it's a longer process by default.
Last edited by Kiwi Flyer; Sep 9, 2010 at 1:38 pm Reason: merge consecutive posts
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: DFW
Posts: 28,172
Actually, I think I can - but why bother? On this site unless the critics agree with your answer then the claim is made you haven't answered at all. And we all know that very few here agree with why TSA does things - so explain to me why I should bother we I could safely bet all my money that my answer will not be liked, thus I will be told I haven't answered? If you can do that, I'll answer.
As far as TDC inspecting ID they have no references immediately available to know if a given name is on any list so the act of comparing the name on an ID to a Boarding Pass has little or nothing to do with aviation safety. Other law enforcement activities may be going on but I don't think those activities are part of TSA's charter.
#14
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: SW WA
Posts: 3,890
I have been hassled for looking "too different" from my DL. My picture is at least 10 years old, and I have long hair and am wearing contacts. I'm now obviously 10 years older, have short hair, and wear glasses when I fly due to the dry air. I had one ID checker tell me that if I'm going to make such "radical" changes, I should get a new ID. Needless to say, I haven't taken his advice, but I do get scrutinized by some ID checkers who think they've got the next big bust on their hands.
#15
Moderator: Smoking Lounge; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: Lifetime (for now) Gold MM, HH Gold, Giving Tootsie Pops to UA employees, & a retired hockey goalie
Posts: 28,880
Oh yes! Just after TSA took over the ID checking, the smart@.. in DFW checking the ID decided that my EU passport was not good enough for her. Never mind that CBP had looked at it over 30 times without a comment, but this gal decided that there was an "extra" shadow on the picture. So according to her excellently trained brain she decided it was invalid and gave me SSSS because I has "NO ID".