Thoughts Cubed™

We were getting ready for an airplane trip in two weeks. Then I realized that I had lost my driver license. No problem we have two weeks left, right. I will just go the DVM and get a replacement. Well replacements take four to six weeks. So I checked the DMV web site and there was some information about, after a disaster the DMV would issue a temporary with a photo. Plus I knew that new drivers also get a temporary driver license with a photo. So on Monday I will get a temporary with a photo.

So after waiting the entire weekend, I’m off to the DMV office bright and early only to find out that people with an existing driver license cannot get a temporary driver license with a photo. Now that just does not make any sense. The DMV will issue a temporary with a photo to someone that has never had a license before or if you lost your license in a disaster. BUT not if you just lost your license. All the information is in the DMV computer, your photo, driver license number, SSN, address etcetera; so there should be no question about who you are. But the DMV will only issue a temporary without a photo.

OK So now how are you going to pass the TAS screening check point at the airport without a driver license as your photo ID. Normally the TSA will only accept a Government issued photo identification card, Driver license, military ID or a passport. But all you had was a driver license.

You have time to cancel your trip this time. But image, your on vacation and your Government issued photo ID was stolen our lost. You cannot just cancel your flight home. You’re stuck somewhere. Question start running through your mind on what to do. Should I stay and let my spouse and other family member return without me? Where will I stay? How will I get a government issued photo ID when I do not have the required document to get one? After all who travels with their birth certificate or the other necessary documents? And it is against the law to have two driver licenses. So who know how long you’re going to be stranded somewhere.

UPDATE 01/14/2008 — I talked with a former higher up from the TSA. He informed me that You can travel WITHOUT a goverment issued photo ID. If the airlines give you a boarding pass, TSA will make you a “selectee” if you have no official ID with a picture. So, you can still go, but you will get “special, extra” screening.

What we are going to do is get our passports renewed an keep them active. That way we will have a second means of “Government issued photo ID”. And on a trip we will never keep the two in the same place.

So why did I spend the time to write this. Just to point out how Dumb the system can be some time, like not issuing a temporary ID with a photo. And two; if you travel a lot plan ahead. Get two legal forms of government issued photo IDs so you do not get stuck somewhere unless you’re in some place like Hawaii!

This entry was posted on Monday, January 14th, 2008 at 5:37 pm and is filed under American Consumer, Goverment policy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.