for brave, patient travelers

[firecat]

My cousin-outlaw told me about The Identity Project: http://www.papersplease.org/
They are an organization fighting for the US right to be out and about without a ID.

They have a project you can help them with. According to the Gilmore case, when you fly in the US, you don't actually have to show ID as long as you submit to "secondary screening". So the Identity Porject is encouraging people to refuse to show ID when they fly, and to report back to them on the experience:

http://www.papersplease.org/investigation.html

I don't think I'll be doing it as I can barely stand to be in airports at all, but...

Comments

[necturus.livejournal.com]

Dunno about flying, but if you refuse to show ID when asked for it on Amtrak, you'll get put off the train at the next station.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Wow. I do like the idea, although I admit I probably won't do it either because when I fly it is usually for something fairly important to me. :-(

[pogodragon.livejournal.com]

What is 'secondary screening' though?

The thing I found most odd in the US was being required to show photo id when using credit cards in just ordinary shops and such like. I usually didn't have to, mainly because of having an English accent I suspect, but that was very very strange.

[firecat]

Secondary screening is a full search of you and your luggage, I think.

Most shops here don't require you to show a photo ID when using a credit card, but some do. I'm not sure about the legality of it one way or another.

[pogodragon.livejournal.com]

It was the randomness that bugged me, I didn't feel like keeping my passport anywhere other than in the hotel safe while I was wandering around and I'd be VERY surprised if 'random person in a shop' knew a genuine UK driving licence from a hole in the ground.

I just didn't get it - and as I said an English accent usually got me out of it, at both Disneyland and a nightclub in Hollywood (where it seemed photo id. was mandatory 'cos alcohol was served), we still managed to talk our way past about 3 layers of security. All very odd.

[vito-excalibur.livejournal.com]

I believe it's legal, because using a credit card isn't a fundamental right, kind of thing.

[sarahmichigan.livejournal.com]

For the brave and patient, indeed. I'd love to try something like this, but I think most folks would be too intimidated, or to worried about catching an important flight to try this.

[auntysocial.livejournal.com]

I was under the impression that adults are legally required to carry ID in public. Maybe it's a local law? Anyway, I'm all in favor of challenging it, but I limit my challenge to walking the dogs around the block without ID.

[firecat]

The site claims that being required to show ID is being subjected to a search without a warrant.