Due to an accident many years ago, my vision is impaired to the point where I can't pass the driver license eye exam. However, since I live in Manhattan and have good alternative transportation, this is usually a minor annoyance. I use a New York non-driver photo ID card for identification, which is usually accepted without any hassles.

Last week on a business trip to flyover country, though, I got some major pushback at the airport. When I presented my state ID card, I was told, "I need to see your driver's license."

I explained that I don't have one, and the response was, "You've got to be s__tting me. An adult without a driver's license? Do you understand how suspicious that is? What, did you get a DUI or something?"

When informed of my disability, the response was, "Well, that's not my f__king fault, is it?"

Eventually I got a supervisor involved, who resolved the situation. But as I prepared to move on, he discreetly said, "Look, do me a favor and get a passport card for next time."

Has anyone else had trouble using non-driver state ID's?

I don't have a non-drive state ID, however, the suggestion of getting a passport card might not be a good one, as I've had mine rejected on several occasions.

Welcome to Flyertalk.

I really hope you got the agents name/badge ID #, and supervisors ID as well, and file a complaint. If it's a state issued ID, you should have no problem, whatsoever.

That is sadly believable, although it should be unbelievable. What a small minded, ignorant person - there are many cities around the world, including your own, where people simply never learn to drive their entire lives. I have family in that situation.

I don't know the solution for a US traveller but this is a problem which needs to be addressed (one of many - the lack of acceptance of ID which TSA themselves state is acceptable)

What I would get is not a passport card (the dolts at the TSA often seem not to recognize them either). I'd get a complaint form and a supervisr. Good for you for escalating!

Also, I thought the profanity was inappropriate and unprofessional. Anyone else been confronted by such language at the airport?

Kind of like making jokes about the screening process: it's ok when a TSO does it, it's not ok when a pax does it.

File a complaint and point out that the TSA's own website says a state issued ID is completely valid and accepted as ID at TSA security.

The website page is HERE. (See Bullet Point #8.)

You can contact the TSA at:

1-866-289-9673 or at [email protected].

Please file the complaint and give the exact details.

What part of...
didn't they understand?

The supe did the right thing by clearing you, and the WRONG thing by suggesting it was your fault & not reprimanding his own staff.

If that ignorant screener rejected your state photo ID card then it's also likely he would reject a passport card.

I am, frankly, not surprised at the attitude. I've seen it at BWI and IAD, and we see it here sometimes.

Unfortunately, it is a combination of ignorance ("This card isn't accepted as ID.") compounded by laziness ("I am too much of a sloth to actually go and look it up, so go pound sand, peon.").

You tax dollars at work.

Yup, many places won't take my wife's non-driver ID (vision issues.) At least they have a sort-of justification: It lacks an expiration date.

We've never gotten any DUI comments but we have gotten multiple places asking for a driver's license. (Idiots, don't they know you can't have both a non-driver's ID and a driver's license at the same time?!)

I do recall an incident from some years back:

She was trying to cash a check at the bank of issue as it's issuer was extremely careless about whether the funds were there. Her non-driver's ID was rejected because of the lack of an expiration date. (At that time it only a few years old.) We come back with her passport. They want to see something else--out comes the non-driver's ID. They really whine about the passport because they don't know what to do about it, they want a driver's license. They finally grudgingly accept the passport.

She's never tried the non-driver's ID on the TSA as every flight she has taken since the TSA existed has been international. Leaving from the domestic terminal here we have gotten some whining about using our passports but that's always been easily shut up by pointing out that where we are going we must have passports but have no use for driver's licenses.

My current drivers license is 16 years old. It's good until I reach 60, which is still some years off. I have no intention of getting a new one to comply with whatever rules they make up that day. 85% of all my trips are international, so usually they get my passport, which so far, they have always accepted. Who knows what's next, though, with the TSA.

You know, I can understand that some screeners may not have spent a lot of time in cities where a car is more trouble than it's worth, but what jumps out at me is:

• The hayseed unprofessionalism.
  
  
• Not being smart enough to realize that even in the smallest town, it's possible for someone to not have to have vision problems that keep them from driving. What if someone had lost their vision in a traumatic accident, is this is the kind of treatment they can expect?

A passport card is just as likely to get you hassled. There are many posts here about TSA hassling travelers with those or other non-drivers-license non-passport-book IDs. (A nexus card is even more likely to get you hassled.)

You have a serious and valid complaint that might actually get some traction; please consider making use of it. Many of us who (do have drivers licenses and) choose to use alternative IDs get heckled by TSA apologists who say "just make it easier and give them your drivers license." The apologists aren't happy with the response that some people cannot get drivers licenses (DLs) and that those of us who don't use DLs at the checkpoint are helping preserve the rights of everyone.

What those of us with DLs experience with such hassle is "just" harassment. What you experienced is outright discrimination based on a government-recognized disability. Please consider making a stink with TSA, your congressman (who is up for reelection this year), and possibly with the local media.

TSA repeatedly claims that they protect the rights of the disabled, but they can't even universally train their ID-checkers on the simple fact that not all people have, want, or can get a DL. That's a major testament to the incompetence and out-of-control behavior of that agency.

if the op's state issued i/d* has their name, dob, sex and photo, that's all that is required and there is no need for a passport card (or any other i/d for that matter). just because a tso hasn't seen it before, "it's their job to know and it ain't my problem"


*last time i looked, it is a government issued i/d which is required by the tsa and also the last time a i looked, the state of ny is a government entity-the tsa makes no mention nor is it required that it be the federal government which issues the i/d.