Comments on: TSA Changes Airport ID Requirement; ID-Less Could Be Denied Right to Fly

By: Phil Mocek

Phil Mocek — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:48:52 +0000

A related FOIA request I made was denied for non-specificity. I’d appreciate any suggestions about how to respond.

My request was for “access to and copies of any documents pertaining to Transportation Security Administration policies regarding discovery and verification of identities of passengers by TSA staff at airports in the United States.”

TSA’s FOIA office responded:

“Your FOIA request does not clearly identify the records that you are seeking with sufficient specificity for us to reasonably identify where responsive records might be located. DHS regulations, 6 C.F.R. Section 5.3(b) require that you describe the records you are seeking with as much information as possible to ensure that our search can locate them with a reasonable amount of effort. Whenever possible, a request should include specific information about each record sought, such as the date, title or name, author, recipients, and subject matter of the records, if known, or the DHS component or office you believe created and/or controls the record.

“The FOIA does not require an agency to create new records, answer questions posed by requesters, or attempt to interpret a request that does not identify specific records.

“Please clarify your request containing a reasonable description of the records you are seeking. Please let us know if you have any questions.”

I’m considering requesting any sections (or pages?) of TSA standard operating procedures that contain any of the words, identification, identity, identify, and ID.

By: Papers, Please! » Blog Archive » TSA releases (censored) ID checking procedures

Tue, 26 May 2009 19:55:28 +0000

[...] (Standard Operating Procedures) manual. Our request was made June 21, 2008, the day the TSA announced what they claimed were changes to ID “requirements” for air travelers. It took the TSA [...]

By: Papers, Please! » Blog Archive » TSA claims new powers of detention, search, and interrogation

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:08:02 +0000

[...] Once again trying to legislate by press release and blog posting, the TSA has asserted that it has the general law-enforcement authority to detain would-be airline passengers, seize their possessions, and compel them to answer questions — for reasons entirely unrelated to aviation or security, and even when it cannot articulate any probable cause for a belief that any law has been violated. [...]

By: TSA One Step Closer to Mandating ID for Domestic Flights « Less Than a Shoestring

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:08:37 +0000

[...] What’s Wrong with Showing ID? Gilmore v. Gonzales TSA Changes Airport ID Requirement; ID-Less Could Be Denied Right to Fly [...]

By: Jesse Bickel dot com » Blog Archive » TSA now enforcing their demands for papers

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:13:12 +0000

[...] I missed this story last week. Papers, Please! reports you can no longer fly without ID. The TSA Press Relase confirms it. This new procedure will not affect passengers that may have misplaced, lost or otherwise do not have ID but are cooperative with officers. Cooperative passengers without ID may be subjected to additional screening protocols, including enhanced physical screening, enhanced carry-on and/or checked baggage screening, interviews with behavior detection or law enforcement officers and other measures. [...]