United Parcel Service is requiring photo identification for retail shipping as it expands security during its peak season after two parcel bombs were intercepted in October.
The world’s largest package delivery company, which expects a 7.5 percent rise to about 430 million deliveries this holiday season, said on Tuesday that retail customers will not be permitted to ship without a government-issued picture ID at the UPS Store, Mail Boxes Etc and authorized shipping outlets worldwide.
“Since retail centers experience a significant increase in business from occasional shippers during the busy holidays, this enhancement adds a prudent step in our multi-layered approach to security,” Dale Hayes, UPS vice president of small business and retail marketing, said in a statement.
The Atlanta-based company will added “additional security precautions as necessary,” he said.
The photo ID policy has been used at UPS Customer Centers since 2005.
Under the new policy, retail customers without a pre-printed attached shipping label who do not present a government-issued photo ID cannot use UPS services, the company said.
In October, security officials in Britain and Dubai intercepted two parcel bombs being sent from Yemen to the United States in what President Barack Obama called “a credible terrorist threat.”
One of the packages was found on a UPS cargo plane at East Midlands Airport, about 160 miles (260 km) north of London. The other was found at a FedEx Corp facility in Dubai.
UPS has said it expects deliveries to reach 24 million worldwide on Dec. 22, matching last year’s busiest day. That holiday volume would be up 60 percent from a typical day.
I’m not sure of the point. Terrorists have already proved they can get an ID in this country. Is UPS afraid Junior might ship a Christmas present to Grandma without permission?
Cool – more security theater. The biggest threat to the US are the people trying to suppress WikiLeaks.
Looks more and more like the terrorists are being successful at ending the freedoms that we used to take for granted.
As a law-abiding, American-born citizen who is not a terrorist, I will take my shipping business up with FedEx.
Great point, Andreas. I like your thinking. Better yet, we need someone influential enough to lead a boycott against UPS.
Personally, I thank the Jews and Muslims. Their non-stop fighting is really the root of all of this.
@KJ, agreed.
The packages were being mailed *to* the US. For as easy as it is to get forged ID in the US, I’m guessing it’s a cakewalk in Yemen.
Just one more thing to thank our peaceful muslim friends for.
@ Jefferson. Be thankful the United States in not surrounded by Muslim countries. The non stop fighting as you put it would be here as well. Not to mention all the suicide bombers that come with that situation.
Really people? You’re so mad that you have to show your ID at a UPS store that you would go with FedEx? The slightest tweak in security, designed to keep YOU safe and you have a problem with that. Honestly, don’t you have other things to worry about? If you are a law-abidding citizen, then you should have no problem showing your GD license to the person at the UPS store, unless you aren’t a law-abidding citizen and are sending things that are illegal.
@magmystour
If you are a law-abidding citizen, then you should have no problem showing your GD va jay jay for me to look into before you can sit at my bar. After-all it is will ensure you aren’t carrying a bomb up in “there”.
The comment most often made when defending lose of privacy or personal freedoms is this: If you’re law-abiding, then you shouldn’t care.” It’s one huge, slippery slope.
@magmystour: You are the only sane person to post here today.
@JC – Is there a line you won’t cross in the supposed name of “security”? When you you say enough is enough? Since you and mag are the only sane ones posting today?
It is only a matter of time when the following will happen:
Someone will ingest or have surgically implanted some bomb or chemicals. People are smuggling cell phones up the u know what’s into prisons and even with strip searches and digital exams they can’t stop it.
Thousands of people in Chicago have fake ids now, how does showing an ID stop a bomb being sent?
You must realize that this so called security is all just for show and only fools people like you high IQ sane thinkers?
magmystour Today at 2:10 pm
Really people? You’re so mad that you have to show your ID at a UPS store that you would go with FedEx? The slightest tweak in security, designed to keep YOU safe and…
——————————————–
It is NOT designed to keep ME safe, I don’t ride on UPS cargo planes. It is designed to keep UPS planes safe. Stop resorting to stupid tired cliches that make no sense.
We can still be assured that UPS will damage whatever Christmas presents we send.
Yay for more security theater. When did Americans become so stupid?
January 2, 2011: In a further security enhancement, UPS today announced it will no longer ship any packages for anybody. “This new security innovation furthers our position as industry leader in protecting Americans from hazardous packages of any sort” said UPS spokesman Dewey Breakem. UPS assured customers that they would continue to supply their flagship service by having their drivers randomly smash packages left by FedEx or the Post Office.
This should have happened years ago. ” You want to send this where ? ”
” May I see your ID ” What’s the problem ?
the terrorist are winning
Oh please. If, a terrorist wants to do something I’m quite sure they are capable of producing false identification. Plus, after a few customers, counter clerks will care less about “checking” IDs. They are doing nothing but inconveniencing the public.
So its come to this.. we need government approval to ship things via parcel carrier. So now, half the people here from Mexico can’t send anything home via UPS? Its getting out of control, we need government approval to drive a vehicle of any sort, buy alcohol, buy tobacco, buy cold medicine, buy firearms, get on an airplane, etc… and now….just to send a package…stupid stupid stupid… why do we put up with this!
what happened to the LAND OF THE FREE and THE HOME OF THE BRAVE
sure hope I dont stub my toe. we may need to make a new law that for some one to stub ones toe shall be subject to $50.00 fine or 24 hours in jail
where do you draw the line????
I think the government should protect me just like my Mommy and daddy did when I was three
I am agree with you KJ,Terrorists are putting their full efforts in their mission for getting success. I think government should improve the security measures specially of Transportation Jobs .
I noticed that stores are also requiring ID to purchase money orders now. Or at least that’s the case with CVS.
We now have to prove over and over again that we are good citizens.1984 is here people.
Hey Dan-I am glad you posted about CVS requiring ID for money orders.It just happened to me this morning.I took my business elsewhere,but it will probably get worse.
Yes, I was at the UPS store this morning, and the person behind the counter told me that I needed to show my ID because it was a new law! It’s not a law, it just UPS policy. I am quite angry that not only did I have my privacy breached (he entered my information into the system), but I was also lied to about it! I will be transferring my business to FedEx.