New Drivers License

May 19, 2003 in Personal

Ursula Petula Barzey 0 Like Post 2 Comments

On the way back from lunch, I stopped by the Secretary of State office to get a new drivers license card. It was a spur of the moment decision, as I really hadn’t planned on getting a new card since my license is still valid. But my current card was looking pretty raggedy with all four corners having dog-ears. I’ve had it for 7+ years. When it expired the last time, I didn’t go in to get a new picture; I just had them send me the sticker. In any event, I was really surprised that it only took about 20minutes to get the new card. The last time I was there, I spent close to 2 hours trying to switch my Massachusetts license to Illinois. As I look at the card now, can’t help but smile at my own picture. For once, an official government picture came out looking pretty decent. But having a chuckle over the weight listed. It’s so not even right. Hey, the guy didn’t ask me if weight was still correct, he only asked about my address. Beyond the picture, was surprised to learn that they longer put your SSN on the card. Back in Massachusetts, your SSN was your driver’s license number. I suppose not listing the number is a good security measure. Of course, if people really want to find out what it is, it’s not that difficult.

2 Comments

May 19, 2003 at 11:19 pm

james_jackson

You lucked out with a good picture. YAY!
My last experience @ the DMV was pretty much like yours but I was getting my FL license & getting rid of my MI license. The real kicker of the experience was when the lady working told me that she couldn’t accept my signature because it wasn’t legible.
I said, “Excuse me?” She said “I can’t accept that.”
I pointed out to her that if I signed my name any other way it wouldn’t match my day-to-day signature causing me endless problems when writing checks, etc., but she didn’t care. To end the ordeal I simply wrote my name.
(Un)funny thing is, nobody’s ever questioned the difference.
May 19, 2003 at 7:34 pm

Leigh Hanlon

I’m in total agreement about NOT listing Social Security numbers on driver’s licenses. Legally, SSNs are NOT identification and it’s disgusting how ever piss-ant business seems to think it’s entitled to know it.
As far as the license photo, last time I had my picture taken, the guy was upset that I wasn’t smiling. I explained that (a) I didn’t feel like it, and (b) If the license were ever used to hunt me down or identify my body, I sure wouldn’t be smiling then, either. So, either way, the photo would be more accurate sans smile.

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