At my home airport SFO I show my ID once.

At Tampa (TPA) where I fly to frequently I must show my ID 4 times: (1) at "landside" where I take the train to "airside", (2) upon entering the security line, (3) when putting my items on the x-ray belt, and (4) when stepping out of the x-ray scanner or blower machine.

Why four times??? It seems ridiculously excessive. I can understand twice--once at landside and then again at airside--but why the two additional ID checks?

I fly in and out of Tampa all the time, and have never had to show my ID more than twice -- at the landside entrance to the automated shuttle, and then to TSA. After that, it's just boarding pass at the WTMD, just like any other airport. What airline/terminal are you going to???

Because you could be one of those 'shape shifter' terrorists which morph into different forms while going through the security line. Chertoff had a gut feeling we could be invaded by terrorists from outer space, capable of altering their form and identity from average looking, everyday people to different average looking, everyday people between stages of the security check.

In light of this horrific threat, Chertoff awoke in pain from his gut feeling and called his consigliere, Kip, and told him "we must use all means at our disposal to protect the Fatherland - check ID multiple times while passengers are going through the checkpoint! That is the only way we can capture these shape-shifting terrorists!"

In true form, TSA has decided TPA will be the 'demonstration project' for this new initiative. Let's all pray none of these shape shifting terrorists try to attack us by using other airports.

All hail the Fatherland!

This happened yesterday (1/10/07) and on previous trips. I always fly Continental. It seems absurd to me that on "airside" after entering the TSA line and showing ID that everyone has to show it two more times (when putting items on the x-ray belt and upon stepping out of the x-ray/blower machine). What on earth are they thinking? I was tempted to ask but practicing freedom of speech in the TSA zone doesn't seem like a good idea under the Bush Regime.

I have had TSA at JFK try to tell me that a passport was needed even for domestic travel and TSA in MIA wanted to inspect below my belt (for real, a strip down!). Twice in MIA, have been forced to show a second id because for some reason my drivers license picture did not look like me. Nothing surprises me. But as the OP said, if we say anything under the Bush/Cheney regime we are asking for even more trouble.

SFO-SSA: I had the same thing happen last Saturday, when there was hardly anyone in the airport. Here are the people I had to show ID to: 2 landside (lady thought I did not show it to first guy) 2 people before I got to the bins (realize there were 4 people in the whole airside unsecured area) and then 1 person who seemed to just be bringing bins to the other side and THEN to the person as I came through the metal detector. I thought it was probably a game they play for fun on Saturday morning when there are not many people to screen.

bocastephen: you fool, you just don't even know the reality of the threat. The "shape shifters" I worry about are the ones the aliens drop from the sky and just fall right through the hull of the aircraft, no matter where it is on the ground or in the sky...did you hear me...NO MATTER WHERE IT IS, THEY CAN STILL GET IN. we are all in a bucket full of trouble. Don't even get me started if they get the animal shapeshifters involved.

Don't forget to give these ID harassers the Look of Contempt. It's disgusting the way some people treat their fellow citizens and guests in this nation. Let 'em know how you feel about the job they have chosen to do.

I usually fly out of E or F at TPA, and have NEVER had to show it more than twice... EVER.

Yeah, I have been in TPA from 2004 to April 2007. I went into airside A & E, too. I such that I am never had anything problems with me from TSA at TPA. I was cleared security checkpont in Airside E. I remember that I was there during visits in TPA some day off from work. I won't go back to TPA for a long time. TSA was asking me to take off the shoes but, it doesn't sense problems the shoes back in April 2007. TSA seem enough anymore new rules about taking off the shoes.

My way of showing my contempt is to not look at them at all. I avoid all eye contact.
And as for the way they treat guests to our country: The last time I passed through EWR on an international flight I was mortified by the way the prison guards...I mean TSA employees....yelled and demeaned the foreign passengers. I felt very ashamed to think of the first impression they must have upon entering the U.S.