Comments on: Clear Card Holders Jump Airport Security Lines

By: Mark Jaquith

Mark Jaquith — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 23:10:36 +0000

There’s something vaguely un-American about this.

I wouldn't have a problem with it if airport security wasn't government mandated and was completely privatized (i.e. airport policy, no TSA goons).

By: Anon

Anon — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:28:53 +0000

Actually, it’s just fewer people eligible for those lanes. The same reason that fast-track for 1st Class passengers is quicker.

Yes, I should have written: "more resources per passenger", rather than "more resources for those lanes". So this means that the Clear Card procedure is just a way of reducing the number of people eligible for some lanes, to those willing to pay. They might as well just say: "if you are willing to donate $128 to charity XYZ, we will allow you to use a special lane with fewer people". That might at least put the money to good use. This is significantly different from the other interpretation of this program, which is that by "pre-screening" people ahead of time, operations at the security checkpoint can be streamlined in some effective way.

By: alkali

alkali — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:26:16 +0000

Note that the Clear card is offered by a private company -- Verified Identity Pass, Inc. -- founded by Steven Brill, formerly publisher of the American Lawyer and Brill's Content magazines. So there is definitely a profit built in to that fee. (For what it's worth, I have a Clear card myself, but am not affiliated in any way with the company.)

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:47:38 +0000

the only reason that the Clear Card lanes would be faster is the devotion of more resources to those lanes.

Actually, it's just fewer people eligible for those lanes. The same reason that fast-track for 1st Class passengers is quicker.

I gave up (as did you) considerable of our 4th Amendment rights when we sought security clearances.

Sure. But we were seeking to be commissioned officers of our government, not exercising our rights as free citizens to travel.

By: John Burgess

John Burgess — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:42:37 +0000

James: I have to disagree. I gave up (as did you) considerable of our 4th Amendment rights when we sought security clearances. Background checks were considerably more thorough than what's being required of Clear Card applicants.

We both sought a benefit (a particular kind of job that required clearance) and accepted the price (ferreting into our pasts, our associations, our moral and/or criminal behaviors).

Clear Card offers a somewhat similar benefit--not worth $128 for me as I'm not traveling as much as I used to do.

By: Anon

Anon — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:31:41 +0000

I don't quite understand this, though. It is the taking off of shoes and the X-ray machine that is the bottleneck. If that still has to be done, then the only reason that the Clear Card lanes would be faster is the devotion of more resources to those lanes.

By: DC Loser

DC Loser — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:41:06 +0000

This is the same argument used for taking public roads and making them HOT. It's the same concept of taking public assets and transferring them to private enterprise for the stated purpose of "improving public access," but in reality only for making money. FWIW, I think the proposed HOT lanes on the beltway and I-395 will be a disaster.