Frequently Asked Questions About Security in Fort Lauderdale
Do I need to show ID to get into the Convention Center?Yes. Everyone 18 and older must show a government-issued ID (driver's license, state-issued non-driver's license, or passport) to enter the Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center.
Where will I have to show my ID?
There are three ways to enter the convention center—by car, by foot/wheelchair/scooter, or by shuttle bus (provided from hotels in our block). If you arrive by car, all occupants of the vehicle may be required to produce an ID at a vehicle checkpoint. If you arrive on foot or by wheelchair or scooter, you pass through a pedestrian checkpoint and will be asked to show ID. Persons riding the shuttle bus will be asked to show the driver their ID upon boarding the bus and will pass into the convention center without stopping at a checkpoint; however security personnel may board the bus to check identification.
Why is showing an ID necessary?
After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, all ports in the United States were deemed to be a security risk. The Port of Fort Lauderdale established a security perimeter in compliance with federal regulations, and checkpoints were established to monitor access to the Port. Because the only roads leading to the convention center also access the Port and because the convention parking facilities also provide parking for the Port, the perimeter of the Port includes the convention center within it.
Who will check my ID?
Personnel from the Broward County Sheriff's office are responsible for checking identification of persons entering the Port. All personnel from the Sheriff's office participate in diversity training and are sensitive to the issues related to racial profiling.
Will my General Assembly ID suffice to enter the convention center?
No. While a General Assembly (GA) badge will expedite the process for youth 17 and under who do not have government sponsored identification, your badge will not serve as a substitute for government-issued ID for persons 18 and older. Your GA badge, however, will still be required for admission to all GA programs, both in the convention center and in hotels, except the Service of the Living Tradition and the Sunday morning worship service.
Does my ID have to be a U.S. government-issued ID? What if I am from a foreign country?
Your driver's license or passport from your home country will suffice.
What if I am from one of the four states (Maine, South Carolina, New
Hampshire and Montana) that have not (as of March 18) filed an extension for the
REAL ID program that is to take effect in May? Will my driver’s license be
accepted as a government sponsored ID?
Yes, it will. According to Will
Latchford, Commander of the Port Everglades, driver’s licenses issued by these
states will be accepted as government issued identification even the May
deadline even if these states have not filed for an extension
What will happen if I don't have my identification on me?
If you are 18 or older, you will not be allowed to enter the convention center and will need to go back and get it.
What if my identification is lost or stolen?
You should file a police report. The Broward County Sheriff's office and the General Assembly office will work with you to obtain necessary documentation.
Will I be able to enter and leave the convention center whenever I want?
Yes, you can enter and leave whenever you want. You will be asked to produce an ID whenever you enter the Port.
Will my bags be checked in order for me to enter the convention center?
No.
Do I need to go through a metal detector to enter the convention center?
No. There are no metal detectors.
Will my ID be run through a computer to see if I have felony record, am on a no-fly list, etc.?
No.
Who might be restricted from entering the convention center?
Only persons 18 or older who do not present a government-issued ID would be restricted from entering the convention center.
What if I am a youth 17 or under? Will I have to prove my age?
Bring an ID (such as school ID) if you have one, and wear your GA badge. We have been assured by security personnel that youth are admitted without proof of age as long as they pose no evident threat, defined as carrying a weapon or being clearly under the influence of an intoxicant.
How should I interact with security personnel?
Have your ID readily accessible and be prepared to show it if asked at the gate, so that you don't hold up others waiting to get in. Wearing your GA registration badge is also helpful. Please treat the security personnel with the same courtesy and respect we try to extend to all. Jokes, threats, or other attempts to provoke the security personnel will result in unnecessary delays for yourself and others waiting. As always in a GA city, remember that we are guests and representatives of Unitarian Universalism in that city.
Are there free speech limitations that will be imposed on any areas of the General Assembly?
No. There will be no limitations on free speech in any meetings of the General Assembly including plenaries, workshops, worship, etc. Convention center staff and security staff will not be monitoring any of our meetings to detect "anti-American sentiment." However, if any direct threat is made to the safety of any General Assembly attendee, security personnel will be notified.
Are there any limitations on the right to assemble at General Assembly in Fort Lauderdale?
The right to assemble in Fort Lauderdale is governed by regulations similar to those in effect in other cities which have hosted General Assembly. Groups that wish to assemble in an organized fashion outside of the convention center will require a permit from the City of Fort Lauderdale and must meet in the area designated on the permit. The Port is not the property of Fort Lauderdale, and organized assembly on Port grounds, outside of the Convention Center building itself, is not permitted.
Does meeting in Fort Lauderdale violate the by-laws of the Association?
No. The moderator, Gini Courter, sought the opinion of legal counsel on this issue and was advised that holding the General Assembly in Fort Lauderdale under these circumstances does not violate our by-laws.
Given this situation, is there any plan to change the structure of GA to make accommodations for the possibility that some delegates may not be able to enter the convention center?
The General Assembly Production Center (GAPC) investigated the possibility of establishing a satellite location where those who either could not or chose not to present government issued identification to enter the convention center could participate in the GA plenary sessions, but they found significant obstacles and concluded that they could not realistically create an equal participatory experience for attendees at a satellite location.
Will there be an off-site area for people to report any problems with the security screening to the General Assembly as it is happening? What recourse will anyone who is stopped have?
The pedestrian checkpoint will have a chaplain or other General Assembly personnel present to assist with any issues. Phone numbers for chaplains and the Right Relations Team will be well-publicized.
Did anyone provide assurances that the conference site would not be in the security zone by our GA date in any way that gives us legal recourse?
No. When the General Assembly site selection team visited in 2003, representatives of the Ft. Lauderdale Convention and Visitor's Bureau (CVB) stated that they were working on a plan to remove the security perimeter that would be acceptable to federal authorities. They said they fully expected this to be accomplished by the time of our arrival in 2008. We believe they made these statements in good faith. While the CVB has continued working on this issue, it has proved a much more difficult problem to solve than they originally thought. Just this year they received approval to build a fly-over road that will allow access only to the convention center and not the Port. The fly-over road will be completed in 2011.
Is there any portion of General Assembly, particularly the Service of the Living Tradition, that will not be subject to the security screening?
Worship services will be held in the convention center plenary hall, as that is the largest venue available, and ID will be required for entrance to the convention center. The worship services are also streamed and may be viewed on a computer with a web connection.
Why should I come to General Assembly under these circumstances—wouldn't boycotting be the best way to express my concerns?
General Assembly is the annual meeting of our congregations, in which they participate in our Association's governance. Our presence is also a witness to our faith in each local community where we hold a GA. We will provide opportunities in Fort Lauderdale for substantive discussions of issues of civil liberties, security, and accessibility, seeking ways to foster constructive action in support of our values at GA and in our home congregations.
What is the leadership of the Unitarian Universalist Association doing to address the concerns of Unitarian Universalists who believe that we are violating our principles by meeting in Fort Lauderdale?
Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) leadership takes these issues very seriously. There is a continuing dialogue with the security staff at the convention center and the Broward County Sheriff's office, a dialogue in which we have made our concerns clear and they have been responsive. We will begin meeting early in the new year with representatives from the groups that could potentially be affected by the restrictions in Fort Lauderdale. At the GA, Unitarian Universalists serving as chaplains will be present at each pedestrian entrance to the convention center; the Broward County Sheriff's Office has warmly welcomed this plan. There will be a portion of a plenary session focusing on the painful reality that the conditions in our nation and in our world result in such attention to security that our basic freedoms are compromised.
How can I be part of the solution?
Come to General Assembly, bring your government-issued ID, and participate in our democratic process.
How can I get a government-issued ID?
Check with your local Department of Motor Vehicles to obtain a government-issued identification card. Most states issue ID even for those who do not drive. A nominal fee may apply. Passport applications are available from your local post office. For persons 16 and older, the total cost for a passport is $97. For persons under age 16, the total cost is $82. It currently takes four to six weeks to receive a passport once the application has been submitted.
What if I can't afford the fees to obtain a government-issued ID?
Financial assistance is available from the Planning Committee. Complete the scholarship application, available March 1.
What has been the experience of other groups who have held meetings at the convention center?
The convention center has hosted numerous groups including, recently, an international boat show of 10,000 people and a Muslim group. There have been no reported incidents of racial profiling.
Will our actions be monitored by law enforcement or security personnel in the Convention Center?
No law enforcement or security personnel are routinely assigned inside the convention center by federal authorities, the Broward County Sheriff's Office, or the Convention Center staff. However, due to incidents of theft at previous General Assemblies, the UUA will hire security personnel to be available in the event of a security issue.
Why did the Planning Committee recommend and the Board choose Fort Lauderdale as a GA site?
There were many reasons that made Fort Lauderdale a good choice. Fort Lauderdale was selected as a site in 2003, immediately following the Boston GA where the UUA was faced with hundreds of thousands of dollars in hotel attrition fees. Fort Lauderdale was the only city to guarantee no attrition fees and a heavily subsidized convention center which made it financially attractive. The convention center was large enough and professionally staffed; shuttling to hotels was affordable since the convention center was subsidized. Hotels were of good quality, relatively affordable, and offered a wide range of rates. In addition, the General Assembly had not been to the Florida District since 1991. A culturally and racially diverse community, affordable hotels, a subsidized convention center, and a welcoming community made Ft. Lauderdale a good choice.
Would it be possible to cancel GA, or move it to another site?
The GA Office investigated this possibility. The Bylaws do not permit cancellation. Because contracts with hotels have already been signed, the UUA would be obligated to pay cancellation fees (different than attrition fees) in excess of $800,000, in addition to substantial costs for searching out and setting up another site. We have established relationships with the local volunteer committee, and several years of preparatory work have been done on our justice initiatives of accessibility and environmental sustainability. Finding an alternative site that is large enough and provides the financial safeguards of Fort Lauderdale while meeting our other justice requirements would be impossible this close to the General Assembly. After weighing all factors, the UUA Board has affirmed its decision to hold GA in Fort Lauderdale as planned.
For more information contact generalassembly @ uua.org.
Last updated on Wednesday, March 26, 2008.
