Jettison duplicative port identification card

Editorial

To attract more trade, Florida should lower the cost of doing business at state ports. Yet it is doing the opposite by requiring port workers to carry both federal and state identification cards.

Fortunately, legislation sponsored by Sen. Jack Latvala of Pinellas and Rep. Dana Young of Tampa would eliminate the duplication.

Tallahassee officials are widely disdainful of regulations these days, but they seem focused on environmental and growth management regulations, many of which provide necessary protections for the public, resources and taxpayers. But no such justification can be made for the port dictate.

Lawmakers and Gov. Rick Scott should jettison it.

Some background: The state, concerned primarily about drug smuggling, was moving to beef up port security even before 9/11. After the attack, while Washington sought to develop a security policy, Florida rapidly adopted measures requiring fencing, lighting, monitoring and other safeguards at its 14 ports. It also required each port to have its own identification system while it developed the statewide ID card that is now required.

So far, so good. But the feds eventually devised a security system that requires a federal ID card. Florida refused to defer to the federal law. So now Florida is the only state that forces port workers to have a federal ID card and a state ID card.

This does not enhance security. It wastes time and money.

Each card requires similar background checks. Each costs about $130 to administer. The federal ID is good for five years; the state's is valid for only four. The costs add up. One Jacksonville trucking firm estimates it pays an extra $20,000 a year for 300 drivers. And that does not include the time lost complying with the requirement.

The state's demand means companies that are shipping products here must pay more for trucking service in Florida. Some businesses would rather ship from other states, where there are fewer costs and headaches.

Latvala and Young offer legislation that would recognize the federal ID card as the standard credential for accessing Florida seaports.

Doug Wheeler, president of the Florida Ports Council, says, "Streamlining these security measures will once again allow Florida ports to compete with other states on a level playing field."

Florida deserves credit for being proactive and developing its own identification system while Washington dawdled. But there is no reason now to cling to an unnecessary regulation.

Lawmakers should pass the Latvala-Young bill and enable Florida's ports to focus on generating business, not paperwork.