This is true and I experienced this first hand at the REC NY in February as part of the renewal ordeal. I got in past the Security Guard with my TWIC but when I was called over to submit my fingerprints I presented my MMD and TWIC to the evaluator as he was preparing my paperwork and [I]he asked to see my NJ driver’s license[/I]. I was stunned, but rather than get in a pissing match with this guy I politely (as politely as I could anyway) inquired as to why the documents I just handed him were not enough since the agency I was visiting at that very moment issued the damn things.
The answer I got was absurd, he said that since my prints were being sent to the Boston REC, [I][B]HE[/B][/I] wanted to be certain my ID’s were proper…I mean c’mon, the only thing I haven’t provided yet is a DNA sample, that’s likely to be next. Even so, I handed him my friggin’ NJ DL and got out as quickly as I could before someone changed their mind and decided I wasn’t [I]user friendly[/I] enough for the USCG.
It never ends does it?
Another huge government boondoggle, in my opinion. I haven’t tried to use mine to access any secure areas for fear of the hassle. Driver’s license, company I.D. and/or Passport have done the job so far.
When J. D. Cavo can’t use his TWIC to enter a Coast Guard facility, something’s wrong. Bureaucracy and brother-in-law deals run amuck! Somebody made a pile of money from TWIC.
Our government seems to be operating under the philosophy that if it doesn’t work, hire more big-wigs and throw more money at it. And if that doesn’t work, hire more big-wigs and throw more money at it. And if that doesn’t work…
Apply more rules and regulations, because that makes it better.
It’s not just the maritime industry. Aviation is right up there with it. Bullshit rules coming from every direction and most of them contradict the others. I can wander the ramp at DFW without restriction, but I can’t leave the jetbridge at O’Hare (on the ramp) without an escort.
[quote=Capt_Anonymous;14743]So I’m starting to hear from folks that if you try to use your TWIC card as ID when you darken the doorway at your local REC they won’t accept it.
WTF is THIS all about?!
The good news is, if you already have a TWIC you can do everything by mail these days so why go to the REC at all, unless you have to test. But still,
This happened at Honolulu REC to two guys I know. You guys (and girls) have any stories about this?[/quote]
C_A, I’m not comfortable with sending anything original to them…After what former evaluator reported I want another alternative to the whole process…
I’m new to this, only my third try…but this first two
were 60 days as advertised…
The website was up-to-date also, i was able to log on and track progress.
T
[quote=seadawg;14751]I want to meat the the TWIC lobbist…she must really be something…right now I could really use a really good BJ!!
**I really shouldn’t drink beer and post!![/quote]
HAH!! I’m glad I’m not the only one guilty of that…
But your right she must really be something…
We have a guy on one of our small boats, that went to Cuba on a church mission a few years ago…Has a letter from the state department okaying the trip…he has been held up on his TWIC for over a year and a half and still doesn’t have it…
want to see Cuba…great experience/great bass fishing…fly to Mexico City…use mexican travel agency for Cuban travel…all cash only…no paper trail!![/quote]
It’s on my list of places to visit…Had some friends that went went there on their sailboat…They were with an english couple who did all the purchasing of things ( Beer + cigars) …No trail for them either…
Seadawg, where do you get all of your quotes…? pretty cool…
quotes are from a rather obsure book gifted to me by friends…A Sailors Guide to Life by Randy Deering…always considered books are a mariner’s best friend!
It was an idea thought up by an asshat after 9-11 just to make him and his cronies some money. It’s bad when I find the article I was looking for on another senator’s page.
What REALLY pisses me off is that in the larger airports you can now pay $150 and get a card very similar to your TWIC that lets you into a bypass alot of the the security crap. Wait just found out that that was closed down. I still want us with our TWIC’s to be able to go through security with out being hassled. Im constanly getting hassled in New Orleans because I show up to my flights home form work an hour or more.
Isnt TWIC a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) operation. The same TSA that checks your ID and makes you take off your shoes at the airport becuase right after I got my TWIC the [B]TSA[/B] (yeah the same TSA who invented the thing) wouldn’t accept it to sign off on my boarding pass in the airport security line. Thats like a texas state trooper not accepting a Texas Drivers License. Also, BTW lockheed martin are the ones making big buck from the TWIC program. the last time i was in there they had their name on all of the equipment.
Lockheed got a huge amount of money to implement the program. And I bet they get a big portion, if not all of the fee we pay to get the card. It’s just a money machine for Lockheed.
And another ironic shitter is that your TWIC photo is now your MMC photo. Good cripes, I wish I had known that when I sat for the TWIC photo. I look every bit as pissed off as I was at the whole fricken’ boondoggle bureaucratic bs. No wonder I can’t get a job now - one look at that MMC photo and everyone runs to the hills!
[I][quote=Capt. Nemo;14748]…When J. D. Cavo can’t use his TWIC to enter a Coast Guard facility, something’s wrong. Bureaucracy and brother-in-law deals run amuck! Somebody made a pile of money from TWIC.[/quote][/I]
That was in the first few months the TWIC was being issued. They’ve learned.
The pile o’ money is being made in Kentucky where the TWIC card, the Coast Guard “CAC” and just about every smart card issued by the federal government are made. The Congressman for the district where the card is made was a strong proponent of the TWIC.