Modern Airport Identity Security: mDLs at TSA at ONT

Today’s acronyms are TSA, ONT, and mDL.

I finally found a legitimate use for my California mobile driver’s license (mDL) this afternoon.

Ontario International Airport (ONT) allows people without tickets to reserve a day pass to see departing passengers off. The day pass functions as the equivalent of a real passenger’s boarding pass…with appropriate identification.

Both the day pass and my mDL were in my smartphone wallet, so all went smoothly. I wasn’t paying enough attention to know if the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) compared my live face to my mDL, but they probably did.

And I can confirm that Richard Reid rule is gone: no shoe removal required. Belts are another matter.

No true pictures, just an artistic re-creation.

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