Travellers passing through American airports are set to face a significant new financial penalty if they fail to bring the correct identification documents. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has confirmed it will begin charging a fee for those attempting to clear security without an approved form of ID.
New $45 Charge for Identity Verification
The agency announced on Monday that, starting February 1, any individual without a REAL ID or a valid passport will be required to pay a $45 fee. This charge is for the administrative and IT costs of verifying the traveller's identity through an alternative biometric or biographic system.
This move represents the second phase of the TSA's broader rollout of the REAL ID programme. Steve Lorinez, the TSA's deputy executive assistant administrator for security operations, explained the rationale to ABC News. 'The fee was necessary because we need to modernize the system,' he stated. 'We needed to make sure that the systems are safe.'
Fee Increased from Original Proposal
Notably, the final fee is more than double what was initially proposed. According to reports, the Federal Register first suggested a rule last month that included a charge of $18. The TSA has now set the definitive cost at $45.
The agency has been clear that the purpose of the fee is to ensure the expense of the enhanced verification process is borne by the travellers who necessitate it, rather than by American taxpayers at large. The funds are earmarked specifically to cover the operational burdens of the biometric verification programme.
What This Means for Travellers
For passengers, the message is unequivocal: ensure your documentation is in order before heading to the airport. The approved documents are:
- A state-issued REAL ID-compliant driver's licence or identification card.
- A valid US passport or passport card.
Failure to present one of these will result in the mandatory $45 charge to proceed through security, in addition to any potential delays caused by the extra verification steps. This policy underscores the ongoing shift towards more stringent and technologically advanced identity checks in aviation security.
