Registered
Traveler ID Overview
With business traveler frustration mounting over airport security, the
Association of Corporate Travel Executives has launched a new "Registered
Traveler" initiative. This endeavor calls for the creation of a
voluntary passenger I.D. card that would enable frequent travelers to
supply instant background checks in exchange for taking a shorter, faster-moving
line through airport security. It is the association's intention to
reintroduce traveler convenience without compromising passenger security.
The Registered Traveler designation would be given to individuals who voluntarily
undergo the scrutiny of a federal government approved background check.
The basic concept is that a traveler who has undergone and passed the
required background check would be issued a "smart card" by
the government. This card would contain biometrics information (such
as two-finger geometry, fingerprint, or iris scan). Scanners at the
airport security checkpoints would verify the identity and background
of the passenger instantly, enabling the screening staff to treat this
individual with a pre-9/11 scrutiny.
While traveler interest in this program is high, it remains stalled
at the government level. The first step in ACTE's initiative is to encourage
Congress to get moving on the Registered Traveler concept. Please find
a program overview below, and sample letters
for your signature. Visit http://www.house.gov/writerep/
to find the mailing address for your state representative. If you prefer,
ACTE will be pleased to forward your letter(s) to the appropriate officials.
Simply indicate the recipient(s) on the mailing list, sign the corresponding
number of letters, and return them to:
ACTE
515 King Street, Suite 340
Alexandria, VA 22314
(See Registered Traveller News Links Below)
Suggested Recipients:
Your Congressional representative
Your members of the Senate
Governor Tom Ridge
Director, Office of the Homeland Security
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.
Washington, DC 20502
The Honorable Norman Mineta
Secretary of Transportation
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20590
John Magaw
Under Secretary of Transportation for Security
Transportation Security Administration
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20590
What are the primary problems with the current airport screening process?
Today, airport security screening, which is conducted by the federal government,
is slow, inefficient and wasteful. The type and level of security screening
is not appropriately correlated to the level of risk the particular passenger
presents. The screening resources are inefficiently used because security
efforts are indiscriminately spread across all travelers on virtually
the same basis, rather than concentrated on the higher risk passengers.
Travelers- especially business travelers- frequently comment about the
inconvenience, time and hassle of passenger screening, especially the
wasteful random nature of today’s security screening processes. Passengers
are safety and security conscious, but they want to and deserve security
process differentiation among low, normal, and high-risk passengers.
How would a “Registered Traveler” program work?
The “Registered Traveler” designation would be given to individuals
who voluntarily undergo the scrutiny of federal government approved background
check. While the specific processes need to be fully developed, the basic
concept is that a traveler who had undergone and passed the required background
check would be issued a “smart card” by the government, containing
biometric information on that traveler, such as two-finger geometry, fingerprint
or iris scan. When the traveler arrived at the airport, he/she could swipe
the “Registered Traveler” card and submit the appropriate biometric
(two-finger geometry, fingerprint or iris scan) at the same card reader.
Through this technology, the airline and/or security personnel would verify
the traveler was indeed the person who was pre-cleared by the government,
enabling the staff to treat the screening of this individual and their
baggage in a manner that is similar the pre-9/11 process. This would save
time for that traveler, and avoid unnecessary intrusive searches.
This program makes sense because it actually provides more information
about travelers than security screeners have today. With this new program,
federal security screeners would know that the “Registered Traveler”
is a low security risk and could redirect their screening efforts to other
passengers. Additionally, the program would significantly reduce processing
time for the Registered Travelers, and potentially for other travelers as
well, as security resources could be more focused and efficient.
Why should frequent flyers be “registered” to travel?
Frequent business travelers make excellent candidates for a “Registered
Traveler” designation, because they:
•
Are
generally established members of their communities.
•
Travel
frequently and so are more adversely affected by inefficient security
processes
•
Are
more likely to agree to a government background check in order to speed
up their airport processing time
•
Are
important to the economic recovery of the United States
How would pre-clearance improve airport screening process?
Separating processing of “Registered Travelers” from the general
traveling population would improve security since screening resources
would be focused on the unknown passenger rather than being wasted on
low-risk travelers or randomly applied to all travelers.
The Department of Transportation’s Airport Security Rapid Response
Team, consisting of experts in the area of airport security, recommended
a “pre-screening” program in their October 1st, 2001 report
stating:
“There is an urgent need to establish a nationwide program of voluntary
pre-screening of passengers, together with the issuance of “smart”
credentials, to facilitate expedited processing of the vast majority of
air travelers and toe enable security professionals to focus their resources
more effectively.”
Is a “Registered Traveler” program legal?
Absolutely. The Aviation and Transportation Security Act (PL 107-296)
passed
On November 16th, 2001, provided for several processes that will aid in
the improvement of aviation security. One key provision authorized a Registered
traveler program, which uses technology to expedite screening for those
passengers that wish to participate. The program would be entirely voluntary.
|
