ID requirements
 

Yes, I know I've posted two posts right in a row...bad week, if you couldn't tell by that fact.

As a military spouse, I have a TX DL with an address in another state listed on it (where I actually live) Perfectly legal by the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act. I've used it at several checkpoints with no issues until yesterday.

TSA at PNS apparently decided this was very suspicious and asked me about it. I told them it was a legal license issued by the State of TX and I was under no obligation to explain the "discrepancy" to them. This resulted in a supervisor, threats, etc. I would have like to push the issue, but unfortunately, it was a very necessary trip and I ended up digging my passport out of my suitcase for them Somehow the fact I was carrying a passport made my "suspicious" DL less so and they let me through, although not before patting me down and searching all my belongings.

I can't help but think I should have pushed them farther - after all, I'm not obligated to show multiple forms of ID, am I? Could they have done anything besides refuse to let me through? I had a sneaking suspicion they were about to confiscate my "fake" DL (as if any terrorist would have a DL with anything questionable on it to begin with) Is there anything I can do if they refuse to accept a valid government photo ID?

ETA: No, I won't show them my dependent ID. It has my husband's SSN on it. Would you give that information to one of those people?

From the way this reads, to me, you went in with a bad mindset. If the TSA ID checker questions the ID in a proper and polite manner saying you are issued a TX ID under the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act shouldn't be a problem. If they don't know what that is they should call their supervisor. By stating the clause that grants you the ID puts the problem on their side and keeps you fully in the right. I'm not a TSA fan but sometimes people make a problem with their "must not let the TSA win" attitude.
An ID with an address in another state isn't exactly commonplace. I asked 2 of my friends that are or have spouses in the Military and neither have IDs issued like you do as it can lead to problems and/or they retain original or relocated for tax reasons.

Get a new Dependent ID without your sponsors SSN.
 

Why not just avoid this in the future and show your Dependent ID card?

That's what my wife and kids do, never had any issues.

I never have worried about my SSN. If you are concerned get new card without your sponsor's SSN, the DoD is moving in that direction anyway.

I actually understand not wanting to show something that has someone's SS number on it. I don't use my State ID anylonger either to avoid showing my address. I got a Passport Card as it is easy to use and nobody questions a Federally Issued ID.

That's interesting. They must live in states where they are required to get new ones (like VA). I don't live in a state that cares where my DL is from as long as I'm a dependent and since I am allowed to keep my TX residency, I keep my TX license. Much easier to prove residency that way, even though a DL isn't technically one of the tests. Also prevents an eight hour wait at the DMV!

I did actually tell the supervisor about the MSRRA once it got to that point. He hadn't ever heard of it and all but accused me of making it up. But again, why would a terrorist have anything even remotely questionable? And what if I hadn't had other ID?

And no, again, I'm not showing my dependent ID, for the SSN reason I already mentioned. They steal everything else, I'm sure identity theft is coming as well. ETA: If I don't have time to waste a day at the DMV, what makes you think I have time to wait all day at pass & ID for a new ID?

Thing is, OP has to show her ID all over post, it's not like it's close hold at the PX/BX, base hospital, commisary, check points, etc.

A drivers license with an address from another state is not at all a common thing for them to see. To me it's perfectly understandable that they questioned it.

Had you explained you probably would have been on your way in ten seconds. By not explaining to them why your ID was the way it was you really didn't leave them much of a choice.

Passport cards are done via mail for those with Passports. Print, Fill Out, Mail, wait, open Envelope. It is possible that Active Military Personnel and their family may not have to pay the $30 fee. Might want to ask around base about this. My friend's wife and kids got free passports because of something involving his (the active member) deployment.

As for the showing ID on base...When I was on a military base I showed my ID whenever asked but I wouldn't show my State ID to anyone. There is a trust within unit and the TSA isn't exactly a trusted organization.

That is not always true, unfortunately. A few weeks ago the TSA Document Checker said my passport card was not a valid ID and asked for a driver's license. I said it was in my checked bag. He finally called a supervisor who immediately okayed it and let me through.

Wow, all the hatred for the OP, even though s(he) was right. I'd probably have done the same thing - especially once the TSA turned nasty (which, in my experience, happens quite often with the authority-attitude). Instead of admitting they could be wrong, the TSA accused the passenger.

The TSA didn't know this? In PNS of all places? How big is the military presence at PNS?

This should have been a non-issue. Nada. It's clear that the TSA was trying to make the "big catch" and running a dragnet rather than doing their job. Their job is NOT to question folks with legal ID (the little black light should have shown the hologram and established legitimacy). Aside from the military, there may be other reasons that one has an out of state address on a license. And some states will issue with out of state addresses. Unless the TSA knew the laws of the particular state involved, they should NOT have been questioning this.

That said, the "looking at address" issue is one reason I will not use my DL at the checkpoint. Passport card, yes. DL, no.

I second the advice to get a Passport Card and carry it always for travel. IMO it is currently the most "privacy friendly" "mainstream" ID accepted by TSA. The OP's experience is a perfect example of why we should not show IDs with addresses to TSA if at all possible.

Also, if you can get a dependent ID without your sponsor's SSN, do so at your next convenience or next renewal, and then consider using your dependent ID for travel. There was no such option to remove the SSN back when I was a military brat years ago.

The OP would be well within reason to file complaints about this TSA behavior with TSA at that airport, TSA HQ via the feedback website, her Congressional representative, and/or via appropriate channels at her home military base. If nothing else, make a comment the next time you happen to be around Pass and ID and see if they've heard of others having problems.

If an individual has the time to give, a "'must not let the TSA win' attitude" is the only way to push for real change.

If the TSA is going to claim that "ID Matters" (it doesn't, it's just revenue protection for the airlines and security theatre) then they should properly train their employees on the various types of ID they claim to accept.


The secondary bag search, and especially the grope, was retaliatory. If you decide to follow up with a complaint, be sure to mention what they did to you.


Never. There are way too many instances of criminal activity within the ranks of TSA employees. The only ID they will ever get from me is a passport card that has no personally identifiable information on it.



:rolleyes:

You don't feel that the OP went in with a hostile view when volunteering no personal info s(he) could have been through just by saying my license was issued under the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act and if you have any questions about that contact your supervisor?

We all, especially myself, like to laugh & protest when someone makes it through the checkpoint with a mismatched name but this TSA checker noticed something unusual. Questioned it. Got a hostile response instead of a rather easy statement about the legal act that allows for the unusual ID. I use the Passport card just so nobody seeing it can tell if I'm going home or traveling away. There is also no question about myself being a citizen which has happened before...even though I have a typically arrogant NYC accent.

Now if the Agent/supervisor has been informed by the OP and proceeded with threats and retalitory acts I would fully support the OP is a campaign against the TSA but the OP brought about the initial confrontation.

Sounds like you were just a teensy weensy bit up for a fight from the outset to me. Naturally I shall do the gentlemanly thing and perform a full withdrawal and apologize unreservedly if that wasn't the case. :D

Not sure why this is strange. The HI DMV offered me the option of putting any address I wanted on my DL - since my goal was to hide my real address, I opted for the mailbox place - but they were just as happy to add my FL address if I wanted it.

Didn't seem strange at all.

If the physical ID is legit and has the right holograms, etc., who cares what address is on it?

So what does a foreigner do?

Foreign ID ( unless it is a passprt) is not accepted in USA.

And what if you dont have drivers lisence anywhere cause you dont drive.

As a foreigner, you just show your passport (if you live and drive in a state in the US that has foreigners get local licenses, you can presumably use your US license). Unless you are a foreign spouse of a service member, that is really not related to the OP's situation?

DanishFlyer

You show your passport. Their house, their rules.

If a TSA employee thinks I have given them a fraudulent ID and wishes me to start answering questions, I'm simply going to ask for an LEO. I'm not going to play 20 Questions with all the wannabe Behavior Detection VooDoo practitioners, or worse, milling around.

As you should if they suspect if it fraudulent. In the OP's situation one simple statement could have sent the TSA out of her way and up in the air.

A drivers license is not the only form of ID accepted at the checkpoints. You would look over the list of acceptable ID's and bring one of those, or go through the process of not having an ID.

I do know passports since I only travel outside the country.

I support the OP in this case. It may have helped to mention the MSRRA up front with a brief explanation that it allows an out-of-state home address, but it seems the supervisor didn't buy that line, either.

I have a Texas license with an out-of-state address; there are many reasons to have one, and it is more common than many would think. I have seen Florida, California, Tenn., and Okla. ones all with out-of-state addresses for military, students and a few other catagories. At one point I had an APO address on even.

I don't present my DL often, but I have had a question or two about it. Normally it is something like "How did you get that address on your license?" to which I reply, the change of address form (the truth). The reasons behind it are nobody's concern.

I'm surprised PNS has never seen this but then again with TSA, nothing really surprises me.

I have seen Ark. and TEnn. licenses with a blank picture and "Valid without Picture" in the box or "Valid with Military ID" for military and government employees overseas or out-of-state. All legal, and all it would take is about 10 minutes of training for new TSA clerks but God forbid we do that...

I wouldn't even get into the reasons behind it with the TSA. It is legal, they need to move on. Ask for a LEO and explain it to them.

I have gotten through TSA checkpoints before with my ACT Proof of Age card.

That is correct, I lived and studied in Hawaii on an F1 visa, I got the Hawaii State ID and it was always accepted by TSA (and the Maui Police which I unfortuntly had to deal with during my stay, I was robbed), but I always had my passport with me as a foreigner. Infact my passport was questioned on my way home at the TSA checkpoint in HNL.

I have had my swedish passport questioned also.
Cause they thought I was to young for the picture!
Cant help that I dont do good on pictures.

Cause we are talking about proper ID.
A lot of authorites in USA only accept US drivers lisence and/or US passports.

And I have moved so much the last years . That I would a CA. id 2 times a year. Dont think so. I dont drive at all.

Military spouse, I wore our country's uniform for 26 years and I am right there with you. I have a military wife right there with me who wore the uniform whether or not she wanted to. You guys are our "rocks" and our inspiration more then you can possibly know.

The TSA idiots -- yes, they are idiots in every sense of the word -- at Pensacola see military members and their family members ALL THE TIME. To have a military member, or family member, possess identification involving more than one state is not only common, it's routine.

I agree with your view to NEVER show your dependent ID to a TSA clerk. It not only has your husband's SSN on it, the ID has YOUR SSN on it.

My war was the Cold War. The outcome to the conflict was that we would have all been vaporized (if lucky) in about 25 minutes after the missiles started flying. Those who survivived would have been the unfortunate ones, because they would have suffered the long-term effects of radiation poisioning.

Keep fighting the good fight, military spouse. Keep in the face of the TSA clerks. You have been there and done that...and they haven't even been close.