Freedom to Travel Event, Part 1

[Michael Fisher]

I may give her a day or two to break this story in the Herald before releasing it to everyone.

That way, when I tell people about it, I can also say "this is a story from the front page of the Portsmouth Herald on Wednesday, I thought you'd be interested in it as well."  This strategy worked very well with the last event.  Once the Exeter Newsletter had it on the front page, I didn't even need to send out press releases anymore.  For example, I just called WMUR Channel 9 news and said "look at the front page of the Exeter Newsletter today", then they called back that day and said they'd be at the event to cover the story. 

[Kat Kanning]

Somehow, a radio station in Missouri called The Power Hour picked up this story and called me this morning.

http://www.thepowerhour.com/

Lordy 

[Russell Kanning]

Connecting with all the right people

[Kat Kanning]

Oh, the power hour...I just remembered...they had some article on the national ID, so I sent them a press release.

[FTL_Ian]

The Power Hour is a kooky conspiracy show on the same network that FTL is on.  Their listener base is very dedicated, and very nutty.  They will frequently call FTL and drop the Power Hour's hosts' names as though we care or anyone knows who the hosts are.

Publicity is publicity, though. 

[Michael Fisher]

The Power Hour is a kooky conspiracy show on the same network that FTL is on.? Their listener base is very dedicated, and very nutty.? They will frequently call FTL and drop the Power Hour's hosts' names as though we care or anyone knows who the hosts are.

Publicity is publicity, though.?

Hmmm...

Well I like how they called it "Al C.I.A.da" instead of "Al Qaeda", but only because our government's reaction to 9/11 is far worse than 9/11.

[Kat Kanning]

I like kooks.

[Kat Kanning]

Russmo cartoon


[attachment deleted by admin]

[Russell Kanning]

The Power Hour is a kooky conspiracy show on the same network that FTL is on.? Their listener base is very dedicated, and very nutty.

I thought that was a description of your listeners
I can't help myself.

[FTL_Ian]

Yes, but the same kind of nutty... 

[Kat Kanning]

http://cryptome.org/no-id-fly.htm

  --------- Forwarded message ----------
  From: Brad Barnhill <bradbva at mindspring.com>
  To: PersonalOdyssey <PersonalOdyssey at yahoogroups.com>
  Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2005 22:40:15 -0800
  Subject: [PersonalOdyssey] No requirement for ID to fly

  -------------------------------------------------------------------~->

  I had to fly out to Kansas to help with the final arrangements for my
  last grandparent.  I decided to challenge the ID requirement with the
  Gestapo.

  I printed a boarding pass thru the website for the airline, so that I
  did not have to go to the ticket counter. I packed my belongings for
  travel in one suitcase so that I did not have to check a bag. If you
  avoid the ticket counter at check-in, then you avoid the one of two
  places they can ask for ID.  They can check at the ticket counter and at
  the gate.

  Because the requirement for ID is in your contract of carriage with the
  airline, not with the Gestapo. There is no statutory or regulatory
  requirement for anyone to show photo ID to the TSA. It flat out does not
  exist.

  I have an FAA flyer document in the Files section of Personal Odyssey. 
  It contains ALL of the law on this matter.  There are only two ways you
  can be denied boarding.  One is to refuse to show ID to the
  AIRLINE--contract of carriage.  The other is to refuse to consent to a
  search by the TSA--statute and regulation. So be prepared to not refuse
  either to the appropriate "person."

  Anyway, I bypassed the ticket counter entirely.  Got in line for entry
  to the "sterile area."  It was pretty busy near noon time in Vegas for
  outbound flights, the line was pretty long, and the "snake" line inside
  the sterile area was longer.  It took about ten minutes to get the the
  entry, and I noticed that most people at the end of the snake when I
  arrived had not progressed very far at all.

  When I got to the entry, the person there was not TSA, she was a rental
  cop.  Pretty fuscia jacket and all.  Handed her my boarding pass and an
  FAA flyer from the site.  She looked at me and asked for ID.  I asked
  her why.  She was dumbfounded.  Took her awhile to say, I need to know
  who you are. Let me introduce myself. I am called Brad.  How else can I
  help you?  I need to see your driver's license.  Do I need to have a
  license to drive in order to board an aircraft?  I ask.  Silence.  You
  have to show me identification.  I would be pleased to show you
  identification as soon as you show me the statutory or regulatory
  requirement to do so.

  So she closed her position by pulling the band across the entry and
  walked me over to someone more "experienced."  Got some dirty looks from
  folks behind me in line.  The new guy was not TSA.  Gave him a flyer. 
  Pretty much the same conversation with the new guy.  He closed his
  position and walked me over to the next person.  Got a "Thanx a lot
  buddy." from someone in line.  Told him that my essential liberty was
  more important than his temporary safety.

  The next person was older, but just as clueless.  Handed her a flyer. 
  Same conversation.  She was talking to another much older woman. 

  Collectively, they had no clue.  They discuss whether they should call
  Metro (police).  I asked them what law was I breaking.  I told them if
  they had me arrested that would be a shame, when all they have to do is
  call over the TSA.  They paged the head honcho TSA guy.  Took him a
  little time to get there.

  I introduced myself and handed him my boarding pass and a flyer.  Do you
  have ID? he asked.  Sure, I said.  Are you refusing to show the ID?  No,
  I am not refusing, I am simply asking for your statutory or regulatory
  authority for me to do so.  Without blinking, he walked me to the head
  of the first class line and asked me to put my stuff on the belt.  He
  told the girl at the metal detector that I was designated as a
  selectee.  I thanked him and he went about his business elsewhere.

  They guy that showed up to hand search me asked if I was wearing a
  pacemaker or had some implant. I said no, I did not.  He was pretty
  confused, as it was apparent that they were not taking folks out of line
  for a hand check.  He wanded me down and patted the spots on my jeans
  where the metal rivets were located.  I had to loosen my belt and he
  checked the belt and inside my waistband.  He then told me he was going
  to pat down my upper torso.  I asked him if he had some kind of probable
  cause to believe I was carrying some weapon when his wand had not
  alerted anywhere on my upper torso.  He indicated that he did not, but
  that he wanted to pat me down.  I told him that I could not refuse the
  search, but that I objected to what I considered to be an unreasonable
  search, given the circumstances.  He patted me down anyway.

  Next my bags were completely emptied, all of the contents where swabbed
  and run thru their chem detectors.  All of the electronic equipment was
  swabbed and sniffed as well.  They did not unwrap my lunch that was
  wrapped in aluminum foil.  The girl repacked my bags and I asked her if
  I was free to go.  She said yes.

  The guy that had fussed at me was still on the other side of the metal
  detectors.  I had gotten thru before him.

  The airline did not ask me for ID at the gate.

  Somebody call John Gilmore and show him how to get on a plane without
  showing ID.

  It is not about refusing to show ID.

  It is about contracting to show the ID after they provide the
  requirement.

  I wonder if any of the TSA read their flyers.

  I think I am going to file a suit for declaratory judgment as to whether
  the search was unreasonable under the circumstances.
  Cost them more than it costs me.

  B


  Only Brad can post messages to PersonalOdyssey.
  Should you wish to post a message, then send it to
  PersonalOdyssey-owner at egroups.com
  I will edit out your email address and other identifying
  information, and post it with my reply.

[Lloyd Danforth]

I can't believe they didn't unwrap his lunch.  Aluminum foil!

[AlanM]

Just goes to show us that the TSA is about harassment, not Safety.

[Russell Kanning]

Very interesting

[FTL_Ian]

Brilliant.