My Experience with a Lost Drivers License
 

Here's my story of getting through security without my driver's license.

Last week, while travelling from Boston to Houston (IAH), I somehow lost my Massachusetts driver's license. I noticed this while checking into my hotel room. After several minutes checking my wallet, my pockets, and my rental car, I dug into FlyerTalk, where I learned that I could fly but that I'd have to undergo a "secondary screening."

The next day, on my return flight, I got to IAH early. When I got to the first TSA agent, I presented my boarding pass, and announced that I had lost my driver's license on my trip, so I didn't have a picture ID. He pulled out a form, and began filling it out. He then said that they'd have to give me a secondary screening. He wrote "SSSS" on my boarding pass. The security area was crowded (it took almost ten minutes to get to this part of the line), but he walked me over to the lone chair, surrounded by the elastic fence, and asked for me to wait for another TSA agent. The whole while this happened, he had my boarding pass.

A few minutes later, another agent came. He was holding my boarding pass, and asked for me to stop into the all-glass "room". He closed the door, and I was able to observe my fellow travelers making their way through security. Another agent came by, and gave me a pat down. Arms. Chest. Then legs. No, I wasn't packing any heat.

Then the same agent who walked me from the chair to the glass cube then asked me to step to another area, towards the gates. By this time (or during the pat-down), he had asked me to take off my jacket and shoes, and I gave him my one backpack. He then spent the next five minutes or so going through all of my contents. I was glad I packed light (not even a carry-on). He checked my shoes first, and when he was satisfied, he handed them back to me. This went on for the rest of my belongings. After that, he hole-punched my boarding pass in a few places, and then handed it back to me. I thanked him.

In the end, the whole process took an additional ten or fifteen minutes. I was at IAH around 5PM when this happened. I got on board my flight without any problems.

Prior to my visit to the airport, I had requested a replacement driver's license, and the receipt e-mail had this sentence: "The bearer of this e-mail has successfully requested a duplicate Massachusetts license. The license is in good standing and is not currently expired, suspended, or revoked." However, the TSA didn't ask for another form of ID, which surprised me when I thought about it later.

Thanks for stopping by to report your ID-less trip through the checkpoint. ^

That's good to know! Thanks to the OP for the recap
I had my wallet (and DL) stolen about a year ago but thankfully had my passport to use until my license was replaced.

What did he write on the form?

I don't remember. It wasn't a lot, whatever it was he wrote.

"THX 1138" :D

I mentioned this in another thread a while back, but I carry a spare DL for just that type of reason. I don't know how other states handle this, but in Florida, you can order a replacement on-line for $10.00.

I must have read your post, because I do remember reading that very idea on FlyerTalk, and I filed the idea away.

My new replacement driver's license has arrived (five days after requesting it), and I may just order another one. I also thought of making a photocopy of my driver's license, but I suppose that won't fly as a substitute.

that's correct, $10 for an address change, thankfully though, an address chance in Florida can be changing 'Drive' to 'Dr.' or 'Fort Lauderdale' to 'Ft. Lauderdale' among other things.

I have a friend with 3 Florida licenses (he's a former Gumballer, got 6 duplicates in case his license was confiscated by police, with the remaining) reading: Port Saint Lucie, Port St. Lucie, and Pt. St. Lucie

Well, was it any of your personal info - or his own info?

Unfortunately in MA, an address change just results in some stickers being sent to you.

The fee for a duplicate license in Florida is $10.00, no address change required. Here is a URL that will take you through the process.

OK I'll bite. What's a gumballer, and why would his license get confiscated by the police?

Have you ever seen the movies "The Gumball Rally" or "Cannon Ball Run"?
Basically its a car race to see who can get from Point A to Point B the fastest.:D

Oh. No. LOL. I guess I'm too old :-)