REAL ID or REAL BS

[ProfessorMeThis]

My rant starts here:

I have been a resident of the state in which I live for 71.5 years.  Continuously.
I got my driver's license in this state in spring of 1968 and have held an active driver's license in this state, again continuously, for 57 years.

But, now, in order to get a REAL ID, I have to take two pieces of mail verifying I live at my current address.  Does that really prove anything?

I'm also in trouble for something else.  In my day, we didn't get SS cards until we applied for a driver's license.  So, I got my SS card in 1968.  I put clear tape over it to protect it.  I still have it so I guess that trick worked.  Except, now they are saying its laminated and they can't accept it.

The poor lady at the local DMV just smiles and says, "You know sir, this isn't a county or state requirement, it is the federal government's". 

Its even more difficult for my wife.  She was divorced 45 years ago so her name on her birth certificate doesn't match her driver's license nor our marriage license.  Its difficult and expensive to get a copy of the divorce decree from 45 years ago.  Who knew, that far back, a copy of that document would be necessary??

We both have current passports.  In fact, we successfully renewed them a few years ago with NO HASSLE!  I guess we'll use those if we need to but it is aggravating none the less.

[Chiefsmom]

It's BS.  I agree.
I've been divorced as well.
I'm not doing it.  I don't plan on leaving the country.  
I can drive wherever I need to go.

As far as a Fed building, does this mean I won't have to do Fed Jury Duty?

Perfect.

[Nikita]

It's BS.  I agree.
...
I'm not doing it.  I don't plan on leaving the country.  
I can drive wherever I need to go.

As far as a Fed building, does this mean I won't have to do Fed Jury Duty?

Perfect.

I like the way you think, Chief

[Byrd]

Its even more difficult for my wife.  She was divorced 45 years ago so her name on her birth certificate doesn't match her driver's license nor our marriage license.  Its difficult and expensive to get a copy of the divorce decree from 45 years ago.  Who knew, that far back, a copy of that document would be necessary??

We both have current passports.  In fact, we successfully renewed them a few years ago with NO HASSLE!  I guess we'll use those if we need to but it is aggravating none the less.

I need to get a copy of my SS card, and am bracing for a fight because I, too, have been divorced.  And I'm just a tad older than you are.

The answer is to change the government.  Get rid of this nonsense and go back to what we had.

[UltraBudgie]

It seems weird that it was only about 15 years ago that you didn't need an ID at all to fly -- sure they'd ask for one, and give you a bit of a hassle if you didn't have one, but they'd let you on the plane anyway.

Another time, another world. Boggles the mind of the younger generation. Like how everyone used to be just fine printing their name and home address in a big book that everyone got a free copy of.


Edit: Haha, AI gaslighting me:

when did id start being required for airline travel in the us?

In the United States, the requirement for passengers to present identification for airline travel began to be enforced more strictly after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was created in response to these attacks, and it implemented new security measures, including the requirement for travelers to show a government-issued photo ID at airport security checkpoints. Prior to this, while some airlines may have requested ID, it was not a universal requirement enforced by the federal government.

when was it required?

The requirement for passengers to present a government-issued photo ID for airline travel in the U.S. was officially implemented on January 1, 2002, when the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) began its operations. This requirement was part of a broader set of security measures introduced in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

no, it was still not required, even in 2009.

You are correct that the enforcement of ID requirements has evolved over time. While the TSA began requiring a government-issued photo ID for domestic flights in 2002, there were instances where some travelers could fly without ID, particularly in the years following the initial implementation.

By 2009, the TSA still allowed some flexibility, such as for certain passengers who could undergo additional screening if they did not have ID. However, the general expectation for travelers to present ID has been in place since the early 2000s, with stricter enforcement becoming more common over the years.

Thank you for your clarification, and I apologize for any confusion.

[xuenchen]

So how have married/divorced women been registering to vote for all these decades? Or getting passports that require birth certificates etc? 

[StoutBroux]

You can register to vote online.  No pics, no verification. I just did a fake registration with all fake data and got green checks all the way through.  I didn't actually hit the submit button but I easily could have.  Years ago when I registered to vote, each time I moved locations, you could get the little forms to fill out and mail in. In fact, I think you could get a 'moving packet' from the post office with a voter registration card.....not sure but whatever, it was very easy to get the form and very simple to register to vote and no ID necessary. And never once have I been asked for ID when voting in all my 45 years of voting or location - THAT I RECALL.  But I did receive voter ID cards in the mail.

ETA:  Passports are a different story.  You have to send in a certified birth certificate with your request form.  The Real ID, I was going to get with my last new DL but they wanted too much stuff I would have trouble finding or providing:

Specific Requirements:

• Proof of Identity: This can include a U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, or Permanent Resident Card (Green Card).
  
• Proof of Social Security Number: Options include your Social Security card, a Form W-2, or a pay stub.
  
• Proof of (STATE) Residency: Two separate documents are required to prove your address in (State). Examples include a deed, mortgage statement, lease agreement, utility bill, or bank statement. 
  

Important Considerations:

• The documents must be original or certified copies, not photocopies, scans, or faxes. 
  
• You will need to visit a (State) DMV office in person to apply. 
  
• The REAL ID deadline for domestic travel has been extended to May 7, 2025. 
  
• The cost for a REAL ID driver's license is the same as a regular driver's license. 
  
•  
  

A pain in the ass at the time and I would have had to hunt down the required documents.

[ProfessorMeThis]

Married/divorced women, like my wife, could get a REAL ID license in our state by having a birth certificate, marriage license with same name as birth certificate, divorce decree with same name as marriage license and finally latest marriage license with same name as last divorce decree.

In the case of my wife, she was actually married twice before me and the first one was 55 years ago with the divorce 1 year later.  She was so glad to be out of the marriage at that time keeping the marriage license and divorce decree did not enter her mind.  To obtain copies of those documents is a slow and EXPENSIVE proposition.  Hence, again, we will use passports.