The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on July 8 announced a potential benefit of carrying a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC).
The agency indicated that all active TWIC holders as well as Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME) holders who are U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals or lawful permanent residents are immediately eligible for TSA “PreCheck,” which can considerably shorten waiting times in airport lines.
“This new benefit immediately allows nearly 3.5 million individuals to obtain TSA PreCheck at no additional cost beyond what they have already paid for their credentials,” said TSA Executive Assistant Administrator for Operations Support Stacey Fitzmaurice.
As noted in a news release from the agency, TWIC and HME holders “have already paid for, and successfully completed, a security threat assessment comparable to the TSA PreCheck security threat assessment.”
A TWIC is required by the Maritime Transportation Security Act for workers who need access to secure areas of the nation’s maritime facilities and vessels. The HME program is for individuals seeking to obtain, renew or transfer an HME on a stateissued commercial driver’s license (CDL), allowing them to transport hazardous materials in commerce.
TWIC and HME holders can obtain TSA Pre- Check expedited screening by entering the identification numbers printed on their TWIC card or state-issued CDL during the airline reservation process. Active TWIC holders enter their TWIC credential identification number (CIN) in the known traveler number (KTN) field of their airline reservation. The CIN is printed on the back of each TWIC in the lower left-hand corner.
According to the release, “TSA PreCheck is an expedited screening program offered by TSA that allows travelers to leave on their shoes, light outerwear and belt, keep their laptop in its case and their food and 3-1-1 compliant liquids/gels bag in a carryon, in select TSA airport checkpoint screening lanes. More than 200 airports participate in TSA PreCheck nationwide and dozens of airlines participate in the popular program.”
More information is linked in a July 8 news post on the SIU website and on the TSA website (www. tsa.gov).
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