Monday, April 21, 2014

Tsa No-Fly List Search Process

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.

Terrorists do not have name tags to identify them. This complicates matters for travel agents and security authorities. A perfect example is the fact that 9/11 attackers lived unnoticed and went on to cause so much damage and death. The people listed in some of these lists are harmless and have never been involved in any crime. Others are in trouble because their names are similar.

The normal procedure for dealing with a suspect is to investigate and arrest where evidence exists. People listed by the authorities, including the selectees have not been linked to any crime. This explains why they are free. The names are updated on regular basis with numerous names being included while others are struck out. Authorities have no record to prove these people guilty.

The names given on the lists do not have other details like date and place of birth. This means that a ticketing agent has no idea if the person listed is the same seeking to travel. This does not help in situations where people share names. This is a dilemma many agents have to deal with.

Travel delays are very disturbing to those identified as false positives. They are often stopped in airports, searched, interrogated and in the process delayed from travel. One personality who has suffered such an ordeal is Senator Ted Kennedy who was mistake for T Kennedy and delayed several times because of this similarity.

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.

Individuals with a caution on their name are not allowed to check-in through the internet, automated systems or kiosks. They must present themselves personally to the person at the counter. One can check his status through airport personnel but they are under no obligation to disclose this information.

TSA has provided individuals who suspect that their names could be in the list with the chance to reduce suspicion. They have provided the Traveler Identification Verification Form. It helps clear the name in case it is shared. All people are not completely cleared since some continue to experience difficulties during travel.

There are constitutional procedures of ensuring that your name is struck out of the list. There are organizations helping individuals to deal with this challenge. They ensure that false positives are not harassed.




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