Common sense missing in rules on infant passports

Last week, while waiting to have a passport picture taken at my local photography store, the woman ahead of me got me thinking - which is something our government needs to do when they create new security regulations. Here's why.

This woman was planning a trip to Scotland for the fall and she needed a passport for her baby. So she had the 3-week-old in tow and was trying to get an acceptable picture taken for the application. The government's rules are black and white. The snapshot must be in color. You must have two identical 2x2-inch shots. They must be taken within 6-months of when you apply for the passport. The portrait must be full face with a plain white background. There can be no props in the picture and the eyes must be open. No exceptions.

Ever try to take a picture of a newborn? The poor mother tried everything short of standing on her head to keep the baby awake long enough to get the shot. She sang a song about wheels on buses. She tickled the baby's feet. She bounced him on her shoulder until he threw up. Finally, his eyes were open. She placed him in his infant seat which she had lined with a white blanket. The photographer aimed the camera. The baby began to cry. And cry. And cry.

By this time, several anguishing parents were in on the act. One mother suggested giving him his pacifier to calm him down. This of course would be considered a prop so it would have to be removed.

The mother, now covered in projectile vomit, was willing to try anything. The baby was posed. The camera was ready. The crowd was silent as the mother gently pulled the pacifier from the baby's mouth. A brief look of panic crossed the infant's face and then a smile - no doubt caused by gas. The camera clicked. The crowd roared. She got the gold.

So the mother now had her photo, but it wasn't over yet. She still had to go to the application office to file for the passport. She'll again have to take the baby. She'll need a certified copy of the birth certificate. She'll need proof of her own identity, either her driver's license or her passport and she'll need the father. If he can't come, she needs a special form filled out by him which has been notarized. And of course, she'll need her checkbook. That passport will cost her $85. If all goes well, the baby will have her passport in a month and will be free to move about the world.

Up until a short time ago, minors under the age of 16 could travel on their parent's passport. Life was easy. But no longer. Today, anyone, even a newborn, is considered a security risk and must have his own identification. Hospitals are aware of this and offer to expedite the birth certificate if the parents plan to leave the country in the near future.

But here's why I scratch my head. That infant's passport is good for five years. Our government considers a photo taken of a newborn positive identification until the child has reached school age. Realistic? I can't even identify my own children by their baby pictures. The infant's eyes may be open in the photo, but the government's eyes are firmly closed. When it comes to security, common sense doesn't always fly.

Gail Todd, a free-lance writer,worked as a flight attendant for more than 30years. She can be reached via e-mail at gailtodd@aol.com.