California wants to crack down on CLEAR at the airport

[GMDino]

(04-25-2024, 09:36 AM)basballguy Wrote: As if California politicians couldn't get any dumber with their virtue signaling


So something that costs less than Netflix now separates haves from have nots?

https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/24/business/clear-california-airports/index.html

Seems like travelers were mad that people could skip the line in front of them.

This bill would allow the program (ran by a private company) to continue but it blocks expansion and would require a separate line so other flyers aren't getting passed when they are already in line.

That seems okay to me.

Quote:California lawmakers voted 8-4 to move a bill out of the Senate Transportation Committee that would create a moratorium on Clear’s expansion at state airports. The bill has to be approved by the full California Senate and Assembly and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to become law.

Clear, a publicly-traded security company, lets members jump the line at airports, sports, concerts and other venues. For $189 a year, Clear members can verify their identity at an airport kiosk using their biometric data, such as a face scan or fingerprint, without having to show their ID to a Transportation Security Administration agent. Once a traveler’s identity has been verified, the traveler is escorted by a Clear employee right to the front of a TSA security line.


...


Line skipping is the issue at hand


But California lawmakers don’t want to end the program entirely. It’s more about the pain of watching someone else skip a line.


The bill, which appears to be the first in the United States, won’t block Clear at California airports, Newman said. Instead, it seeks to have Clear and other third-party screening services operate separate lines for members.


This would mean general passengers won’t have anyone cutting in front of them anymore, and Clear passengers can still fly through their dedicated security lane, he said.



It also would prohibit airports from entering into new contracts with private companies like Clear if they use existing TSA security lines and screeners.


The bill has support from the Association of Flight Attendants and a California branch of the American Federation of Government Employees representing TSA agents.




But Clear, and major airlines like Delta, California airports, and business groups like the California Chamber of Commerce oppose the bill.




Clear did not comment directly on the bill to CNN. But a Clear spokesperson said the company has created hundreds of jobs in the state, serves nearly 1 million California residents and contributed more than $13 million in revenue to state airports. Airports earn fees from leasing space to Clear.

“We are always working with our airline and airport partners as well as local, state, and federal governments to ensure all travelers have a safer, easier checkpoint experience,” the spokesperson said.

I don't like the quotes about it not being "fair" to people who can't afford it.  Life isn't fair.  I flew this past week and one of our fellow passengers upgraded to the faster TSA line but we got through before her anyway...lol.


But I can see where if you get there on time and are in line and they are making you wait so people can pass you would be frustrating vs them having their own lanes.