Tighter security for air travelers

For those who are worried that expanded airport security measures announced last week are an invasion of privacy, realize this: If you're not a terrorist, there's nothing to worry about.

At the behest of Congress, the Transportation Security Administration soon will begin testing a nationwide system for checking personal information on every airline passenger. This, like so many other changes in travel in the past two years, is a response to the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Like many of those other initiatives, it has raised a few eyebrows, though we suspect not as many as some would have you believe. Some people have expressed reservations and suggested that the security measure is more snooping -- another governmental example of privacy invasion.

But those who know what the Computer Assisted Passenger Prescreening System is and how it works should have no such reservations.

Here's how the plan works: Under the program, an airline passenger would provide his or her name, birthday, address and phone number when getting a flight reservation. That information would be checked against commercial databases and a score would be generated indicating the likelihood the passenger's identity was authentic.

A traveler's personal information also will be checked against government databases to determine if the person is on a computerized terrorism watch list or represents a security risk.

Would-be travelers who are evaluated at "elevated" or "uncertain" risk levels will be required to undergo secondary screening with a handheld wand. If someone warrants a "high-risk" designation, he or she will be brought to the attention of law enforcement.

Of course such information is relevant to maintain high security standards. Why would the government go out of its way to collect information just for the sake of doing so?

Again, the only people who should be concerned are those who have something to hide -- like maybe knives, weapons or explosive devices.

Not to mention that the most recent plan more than adequately addresses privacy concerns. Unlike previous versions, the new plan stipulates that personal information be deleted from the system shortly after a person completes travel.

The newest version also removes background checks on bank and credit records and medical histories. Under the new plan, that information is off-limits.

Congress ordered transportation officials to come up with an enhanced screening system following the attacks two years ago. At first glance, this seems like a good way to monitor travels while keeping a watchful eye for those who might do our country harm.

Congress also required that the program to be tested for six months, which should be an encouragement to cynics. If the program has bugs, there is still plenty of time for them to be worked out. If it works, transportation officials expect it to be implemented in about a year.

This is not an invasion of privacy. It is simply another smart, forward-thinking security measure that is meant to make the planes you ride safer. For those who have reservations about the plan, maybe it's time you canceled them.