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| Home Front: WoT |
| US airports open up to 'trusted travellers' |
| 2005-05-28 |
| Reg Required. This is the shape of things to come and wholly a good thing IMHO. It would have happened albeit much more slowly without the WOT. This will spread through buildings, areas and communities and make us all safer. America will launch a "trusted traveller" scheme this summer to spare passengers from long security checks at US airports if they agree to undergo vetting beforehand. Judge Michael Chertoff, the US homeland security chief, said yesterday that the new programme would seek to make travel to America more convenient. The move comes after growing complaints from travellers delayed for up to four hours while officials verified they were not possible terrorists. On his first visit to Britain since becoming homeland security secretary in February, Judge Chertoff added that he had urged Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary, to ensure that the chips and software used in proposed British biometric passports and identity cards be "compatible" with US systems. The trusted traveller scheme will be tried out first in the Netherlands, probably in two months' time, then hopefully extended to other countries including Britain. Travellers would volunteer to provide personal details to US authorities, which would be checked with their governments. In return, they would be issued with travel documents which would contain details of their visa status and perhaps biometric data such as fingerprints, which would speed up passage through airports and borders. Judge Chertoff added that fast lanes could be created for such trusted travellers, who would be spared the indignity of being pulled out of a queue to be questioned. He emphasised that the scheme was voluntary and was aimed principally at frequent travellers. "Anything that will cut down delays at airports would certainly be welcome," said Sean Tipton, of the Association of British Travel Agents. "As long as the process was not too onerous it would be of benefit, particularly for families and business travellers." |
| Posted by:phil_b |
| #3 -- the chips and software used in proposed British biometric passports and identity cards be "compatible" with US systems.-- We can hook you up w/Intel/AMD, who do you want? Buy American. |
| Posted by: anonymous2u 2005-05-28 13:12 |
| #2 Nein, Their lives must continue to be made a living Hell by the troopers of das TAS. |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2005-05-28 11:14 |
| #1 Any thoughts to extend this to...... .... Actual Americans? |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2005-05-28 11:04 |