Verified Identity OK'd to enroll fliers
By John Hughes, Bloomberg News
Published August 11, 2008 at 9:05 p.m.
Verified Identity Pass Inc., the largest operator of a quick-check security program in U.S. airports, will be allowed to again enroll new customers after the company encrypted its computers, a federal agency said.
The Transportation Security Administration, which runs U.S. airport security, suspended Verified Identity from enrollments Aug. 4 for the so-called Registered Traveler program after the company lost possession of a laptop computer on July 26.
The company said Aug. 5 it recovered the laptop and that unencrypted records of 33,000 applicants hadn't been accessed.
Verified Identity, based in New York, took steps to encrypt computers and had an outside party verify the action, TSA said.
TSA will conduct random audits to further ensure compliance, the agency said Monday.
Under Registered Traveler, begun in 2006, travelers can pay a fee for advance background checks and in return get help with coats and bags to move more quickly through checkpoints.
The roughly 200,000 travelers who already use the Clear service at airports nationwide were not affected by the incident.
Denver has represented a rapidly growing market for the company, whose Clear program charges members a yearly $128 fee to use separate security lanes to get through airport checkpoints faster. It has about 20,000 enrollees in the Denver area.
Several other companies also offer Registered Travel cards that are accepted at participating airports.
Featured
-
Legislature Blog
Read live updates from the opening of the 2009 legislative session.
-
Rocky multimedia
The news comes alive in our videos and slide shows. Catch up on what's happening today.
-
Who's next?
Complete coverage of the Broncos' search for a new coach.
-
Rocky year in photos
View an audio slide show of staff selections from 2008.
-
Winter Escapes
Your insider’s guide to the copious joys of the coolest season.
-
Sam Adams' Open Mic
Open Mic: Two-man advantage with Avs
-
Shanahan's career
See photos from Mike Shanahan's career as Broncos coach.
-
12 days of Drew
Look back at the year that has been with Drew Litton.
-
A dream fulfilled
A Rocky Mountain News and MediaStorm production
Post your comment
Registration is required. Click here to create your free user account, or login below.
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.