TSA Worker: But D.C. Isn't A State! (You Shouldn't Miss Your Plane Because The TSA Hires The Clueless)
But that's what might've happened to a woman with a District of Columbia license -- you know, from our nation's capital. They issue licenses same as all the states -- with a driver's test and requiring proof of who you are. Residents don't just get them out of Crackerjack boxes, really they don't.
Aaron C. Davis writes in the WaPo about Ashley Brandt's problem as she stood in the pretend security line at the airport after a trip to the Grand Canyon:
According to Brandt, an agent with the Transportation Security Administration took a look at her D.C. license and began to shake her head. "I don't know if we can accept these," Brandt recalled the agent saying. "Do you have a U.S. passport?'Brandt was dumbfounded, and quickly grew a little scared. A manager was summoned, she says. "I started thinking, 'Oh my gosh, I have to get home. Am I going to get home?' "
...But the implication from the TSA agent seemed clear to Brandt: The District is not a state; TSA requires a state-issued ID to board a plane.
Nevermind that Brandt had used her brand-new D.C. license, the one marked "District of Columbia" over a backdrop of cherry blossoms, to board her flight to Arizona days earlier.
Brandt says the agent yelled out to a supervisor, working in adjacent security line. Are D.C. licenses valid identification?
Brandt says she could hear the response, "Yeah, we accept those."
"She didn't seem to know that it was basically the same as a state ID," said Brandt, who had only recently traded her Maryland ID for one from the District. "D.C. is obviously not a state, but I didn't ever imagine it would be a problem -- I mean, the whole population of D.C. has to use these."
A comment below the piece:
observer9
Same thing happened to me at SFO, of all places.The young TSA officer wanted to see my passport because she thought my District of Columbia driver's license somehow was from the nation of Colombia. When I explained to her that I lived in Washington, DC and asked her what the capital of the U-S might be - and where the White House was - she gave me a puzzled look. When I told her it was in Washington DC and I lived in the same city where the White House and the Capitol building are located, it seemed like a light when on in her head.
She called for a supervisor, and then said, "so, you're from the state of Washington?"
The supervisor showed up a minute later and let me through.
Academy award winning security theater.
What's most amazing is that there are still citizens who believe the TSA is protecting us. (Protecting us from what, catching our plane?)
via @tedfrank
Oh, if only this was something only the TSA did. Then again, they have to come from somewhere.
Anyway, when I got my last Montana ID card (I don't drive), the man I was dealing with seemed sure that I had a Colorado license somewhere, though it wasn't showing up on his computer. He maintained a grip on my old card while he searched.
I had no idea what he was talking about and after arguing that I had never had any kind of license from Colorado, finally another employee showed up and pointed out to him that the 'co' on my old card stood for 'county'.
Pricklypear at February 26, 2014 3:53 PM
My initial thought on this was "You have got to be fucking kidding me. Can anyone be this ignorant?"
Then I remember Jay Leno's Jaywalking segments and Glenn Beck's More-On Trivia and realize it is so common.
Maybe it's time for me to rebuild the Darwin Awards.
Jim P. at February 26, 2014 4:52 PM
That is pretty amazing. Their whole lives they've never paid attention to the United States. Like it was some kind of background noise. Why would we think they give a shit about it?
Canvasback at February 26, 2014 6:37 PM
Ha! This reminds me of that old joke - a woman moves from the mid-west and her new neighbors ask her where she is from. "Iowa" she tells them. Never heard of it they say, then one day one of her new neighbors realizes he has. "Oh, wait, I know" he says, "only here we pronounce it Ohio."
It would be funny except it sometimes is true and that is really sad.
Charles at February 26, 2014 7:08 PM
It no longer embarrasses me to find out how many TSA disasters in the news occur at Phoenix Sky Harbor.
(I say that as a reluctant resident.)
jerry at February 26, 2014 8:15 PM
@Jerry...great, I'm leaving today for Phoenix. Now I have something to look forward to!
sara at February 27, 2014 5:50 AM
It sounds like the TSA worker wasn't confused by DC's status - in fact he knew it was not a state - but by the fact that the regulations he is required to enforce call for a "state" ID or US passport.
Can anyone say "over-regulation?"
We're reaching the point where the Napoleonic Code will be considered simple compared US laws.
ObamaCare, a 2,000 page law, is supported by 10,000 pages of regulations. I wonder if a DC driver's license is a valid form of photo ID at the doctor's office.
Conan the Grammarian at February 27, 2014 12:51 PM
I wonder if a DC driver's license is a valid form of photo ID at the doctor's office. -- Conan the Grammarian at February 27, 2014 12:51 PM
Well I'm sure it's valid at every gun shop and gun range inside the D.C. borders. :-p
Jim P. at February 27, 2014 1:34 PM
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