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Monday, April 29, 2019

Real ID



Does your driver’s license have a little star on it? Take it out and look at it. It would be on the top right corner. If you plan on getting on a jet and flying somewhere, you’ll either need that star or another form of accepted ID like a passport. Rules passed after the 911 terrorist attacks will fully come into effect next year.

In the state of New Hampshire, my state, having a real ID compliant license is optional. My license does not have a star on it. I could not use it to board a plane. Personally, I think that the Federal government's ID requirement is an intrusion on state’s rights. The requirement for having a compliant ID to fly is an end run around state prerogatives.

If I wanted to fly I’d have to make sure to have my passport with me. Passports are a Federal document so I suppose they have to accept that. Of course, more Americans have passports than ever before. That’s another side effect of the post 911 laws. I used to be able to get into Canada with a nod and a wave. Now I need a passport. A lot of people near the borders who got used to easy access now need passports.

Everyone expects to need a passport to cross International borders. Does anyone else find it weird that for some people it’s necessary for domestic travel? Anyone else bothered by that little star on a driver’s license? Am I the only one who is reminded of a yellow stars having to be visibly worn? Yeah, we are a long way from there, but not as far as we once were.

-Sixbears

18 comments:

  1. Yes, firearm owners being required to have an I.D. card or some type of endorsement is like having a yellow star of David embroidered on your clothing.

    Fwiw, my Texas Driver's license does not have a star on the right hand top corner. I was required to submit fingerprints to get it - that is pretty invasive too. They were later ordered to destroy them, but I'm not sure that really was done.

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    1. Shouldn't you at least have had the joy of a high speed chase or something before being fingerprinted? Fingerprints are pretty annoying.

      Do you have a plan for flying when this goes into full effect?

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    2. It sure was kind of Texas Department of Safety to get a complimentary set of fingerprints done to renew my license wasn't it ? I was warm and fuzzy and felt oh so safe !!

      Guilty Until Proven Innocent - so much easier weeding us out this way.

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    3. Hang 'em all, let God sort them out.

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  2. I've went through 64 years on the planet with a misspelled middle name on my birth certificate. An extra s at the end. This was probably due to a stuck key on the typewriter. To change this may require a court order. Somehow it was no problem getting into the navy, getting a social security card, drivers licenses etc with two s's, now to get a passport I have to get it changed. Should be able to keep getting the old style drivers license though.

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    1. My dad somehow managed to go his whole life with such a misspelling, even got a passport card. Not sure how he did it.

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  3. All things have a starting point. For the Jews it didn't end well.

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  4. Last time we headed for Canada as an extra side trip from Virginia, we were told we could get into Canada with no trouble sans passport, but not back into the US. Strange, huh? Needless to say, we didn't try it, but now make sure we always travel with passports, even on a road trip. Bad news …
    And by-the-way, my Texas driver's license does have a star. Hummm.

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    1. Is that a loop hole way to move to Canada? :)

      They slide Real ID right past you in TX.

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    2. https://www.dps.texas.gov/DriverLicense/federalRealIdAct.htm

      Texas began implementing Real ID in October 2016 and will be 100% on board by October 2020. That is why my TDL does not have the star - I renewed earlier in 2014.

      Next year will be auspicious - I will be ordained a brand new sheep - Baaahhh !!

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  5. Stars, Cars, and other gov. controlled stuff, like the citizen, are now in danger of becoming obsolete.

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    1. Everything has their day in the sun then moves on.

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  6. Actually this came about because some states were giving drivers licenses to illegal aliens and others without proper proof of their identities. They screwed it up for everyone else.

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    1. Is that just a rumor or is there some proof? I'm curious to know.

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