First, "checking passports" doesn't apply to domestic air travel. I agree with part of Mr. Gilmore's beef. I maintain that the ID checking rigmarole does nothing to improve air safety. First, does anyone really believe that someone sophisticated enough to hatch a terrorist plot can't come up with a fake ID? Second, I do believe that requiring me to provide ID erodes my ability to travel freely and, if I choose, anonymously. Where I disagree with Mr. Gilmore is on the searching issue. In-depth searches of passengers would provide more real security than the mere fact that they possess a driver's license. However, I think the scope of the search ought to be limited to legitimate threats to the airplane--my stash or bundles of cash or porno or whatever I happen to be traveling with shouldn't be subject to the jurisdiction of the TSA. If I wanted to travel truly anonymously, submitting a thorough search seems like a reasonable compromise. The only reason the ID checks persist is that it suits the airlines--they prevent people from switching discount tickets at the last minute. Nobody for a moment believes that checking a driver's license makes air travel in the U.S. safer, do they? And the price--eroding civil liberties--is still too high. And I believe it would be too high even if checking ID did actually accomplish something. -- Jon Wright voice: 425-635-0338 fax: 425-844-1403 mailto:jwright@halcyon.com -----Original Message----- From: The Airline List [mailto:AIRLINE@LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU]On Behalf Of David J. Wallace Sent: Sunday, January 19, 2003 9:25 PM To: AIRLINE@LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU Subject: Re: Wired: Judge to Hear Air ID Challenge Surely we're all agreed that it's a good idea to check passports before boarding an aircraft?