Thursday, 24 April 2014

Tsa No-Fly List Search Procedures

By Essie Osborn


TSA releases names of people considered threats to aviation. Prohibition from flying on security grounds has raised pertinent issues on the TSA no-fly list search for frequent travelers. It has been met with skepticism considering that these are just suspects with no criminal record.

Identifying a terrorist before an act is committed is a very difficult affair. Airline agents and security apparatus have been unable to do this for years. 9/11 proved that terrorists can live among people without being detected and still manage to perform heinous acts. People listed by the aviation safety regulators are sometime harmless. Others have names similar to listed individuals.

A person who is suspected of any crime is usually investigated and arrested. The people in the selectee lists have not been charged with any crime. This explains why the list keeps changing. The government has no evidence to link them to any criminal activities.

Only names are listed without supporting details like dates of birth or place of birth. This presents a huge dilemma to ticketing agents and security personnel. Many people may share the same name. There are no images of the accused persons either. It has led to a lot of inconvenience.

False positives are individuals whose names are similar to those listed. The scenario has been stressful especially for frequent travelers. They endure interrogation, searches and delays at various airports. This has happened several times to Senator Ted Kennedy because of the appearance of a person by the name T Kennedy.

Evidence indicates that TSA does not track the names of those listed as threats to aviation security. The reason for such a conclusion is because the same person may be stopped several times. One would expect that a single mistaken identify is enough to get your name removed. Facing similar delays and frisking on regular basis is very stressful.

Only by having trouble at the airport does one discover that his name is in the list. Such information is not available before hand. People are allowed to travel if they are listed as selectees. One can therefore not prepare for such delays especially considering that the names keep fluctuating.

Automated check-in system, internet and kiosks in airports are not open to listed individuals. They are required to present themselves personally at the counter when traveling. It is possible to check if you have been listed through the airport personnel though they are not mandated to give you this information.

Some individuals have managed to reduce the level of suspicion. One is required to fill the traveler identity verification form in order to reduce confusion over similarity in names. The procedure has not been effective in all cases. This has led some people to continue being treated as threats despite handing their details to the Office of Transportation Security redress.

Eliminating the name form the list is done through an appeal process. It is constitutional and simplified through the assistance of several civil societies. It saves a person from constant harassment and suspicion.




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