Air travelers may be assigned color codes

September 9, 2003

Associated Press
King 5 News

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The government already has color-coded terror alerts. Now it's reportedly preparing to color-code air travelers. According to The Washington Post, the government and airlines will phase in a computer system next year to measure the risk posed by every passenger who boards a flight in the U.S.

Passengers will be assigned one of three codes, based in part on their travel plans, traveling companions and the date the ticket was purchased. Sources say those coded "green" will easily pass through security checkpoints. Others will be coded "yellow" and face additional screening.

KING
Air travelers waiting at Sea-Tac airport.
An estimated one to two percent who get "red" coding will be barred from boarding and face police questioning. They may be arrested.

Critics fear the new system will be far too intrusive, and that some people will be mistakenly "flagged" and even falsely arrested.