Originally published December 1 2005
TSA announces new plan for reducing airport security delays
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Before Congress, Transportation Security Administration chief Kip Hawley outlined a new plan tentatively called "the registered traveler program," which would allow passengers who paid a fee and agreed to a background check to avoid extra security delays.
The government plans to offer airline passengers nationwide the chance to avoid extra security checks by paying a fee and agreeing to a background check.
Transportation Security Administration chief Kip Hawley, who announced the plan to Congress on Thursday, said his agency also is studying other ways to reduce security delays.
Hawley said the "registered traveler" program will debut June 20 after an overall evaluation of airport security.
The program, tested at five airports for more than a year, would allow most people to avoid random pat-downs if they pay a fee, clear a voluntary background check and provide some form of biometric identification, such as a fingerprint.
The program is intended to let frequent air passengers avoid delays and to free up security screeners to focus on other travelers.
"We believe that a nationwide registered traveler program can provide expedited screening for many travelers and enhance aviation security as well," Hawley told the House Homeland Security subcommittee on economic security.
There will be occasional random pat-downs to make sure terrorists do not try to beat the system, Hawley said.
"Those who don't want to give up this information - or who can't afford the costs - will have to deal with other airport screening lines growing exponentially longer," ACLU legislative counsel Timothy Sparapani said.
The pilot program began more than a year ago at five airports and ended Sept. 30.
But the government is allowing the program to continue at the Orlando, Fla., International Airport by a private company headed by Court TV founder Steven Brill.
Hawley said officials expect to use private companies to enroll travelers, issue ID cards that would be shown at airports and promote the program.
"For flight attendants, front-line personnel with little or no effective security training or means of self-defense, such weapons could prove fatal," Witkowski told lawmakers.
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