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.

It is impossible for airline agents and security apparatus to know if a person is a terrorist before hand. The terrorist attacks of September 11 are a clear example of how wrong the intelligence system can be. Many people have been branded as threats to aviation even though they are totally harmless. They have never been caught in any criminal act in the past.

A person who is suspected of any crime is usually investigated and arrested. The people in the selectee lists have not been charged with any crime. This explains why the list keeps changing. The government has no evidence to link them to any criminal activities.

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.

The absence of other details has caused many travelers to be delayed, searched and interrogated falsely. Such travelers are referred to as false positives. A common and famous case is that of Senator Ted Kennedy. The list contained the name T Kennedy which caused officials in airports to link the name to him.

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.

A person only discovers if he is on the list or not when he encounters trouble at the airport. It is impossible to verify if you have been blacklisted before hand. Being allowed to travel could also happen if you are listed among the selectees.

Automated check-in system, internet and kiosks in airports are not open to listed individuals. They are required to present themselves personally at the counter when traveling. It is possible to check if you have been listed through the airport personnel though they are not mandated to give you this information.

Some individuals have managed to reduce the level of suspicion. One is required to fill the traveler identity verification form in order to reduce confusion over similarity in names. The procedure has not been effective in all cases. This has led some people to continue being treated as threats despite handing their details to the Office of Transportation Security redress.

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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