Do you pay for the “Clear” feature that lets you skip the line at airports? If so, don’t be surprised if people start SHAMING you for it soon.
Two state senators in California just introduced a bill to BAN Clear from airports in the state. Their argument is it’s just letting wealthier people pay to cut the line. (And, yeah . . . that’s pretty much right.)
When you sign up, Clear records your biomarkers, like fingerprints and eye scans. Then for $189 a year, you get to skip the first part of the TSA line. A rep for the company escorts you directly to the X-ray machine. (So, you bypass the poors.)
The new bill would get rid of that. Or, third-party vendors like Clear would have to pay more for their own dedicated security line at airports in California.
One of the politicians behind it is a Democrat, and the other is a Republican. They say no one at the airport should have to suffer the, quote, “indignity of somebody pushing you out of the way to let [a] rich person pass you.”
California would be the first state to ban it. But it could be an uphill battle. Industry groups are lining up against it and calling it government overreach.
Delta, United, and other major airlines are fighting the bill, because they have partnerships with Clear. They claim they might even have to raise ticket prices if it happens.
There’s also TSA PreCheck, which is similar and some say better. It only costs around $80, and that’s for five years.
(Politico)
