Thursday, April 26, 2012

And Now, From The Florida Dept. of Motor Vehicles Department of State Security ... a real and true story by gimleteye

After a number of automatic, online renewals of my drivers license, The Florida Department of Motor Vehicles sent me a notice, requiring me in person to present three categories of proof of identity to renew my license. Mine is set to expire in one month. I though this was a little excessive, but hey: you can't be too careful these days. So I signed up online for an appointment-- a few clicks. So far, so good. I collected various proof of identity (a passport, bank statements, tax bills, health insurance card). That took half an hour or so. I appeared at the duly appointed time and day having braved nearly an hour of traffic.

At the door, the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles refused to accept documentation I provided to renew my license because I did not have my social security card. A passport, bank statements, health care card, tax bills were insufficient proof of identity according to the three categories, nor living in the same house for twenty five years. The DMV sent me to the Social Security Administration for a replacement of my social security card so I could prove identity to renew my drivers license. That took an additional hour of driving and an hour in the wait room.

There, for proof of identification Social Security accepted my ... drivers license.

15 comments:

Geniusofdespair said...

I didn't believe you when you told me this story...as you said you had your passport. I went to the motor vehicle website and, by gosh, you didn't get inaccurate information:

"Beginning January 1, 2010, Florida has new documentation requirements for residents renewing or obtaining a new driver license or identification card. For office visits, you must bring original documents that prove your identity, social security number and residential address."

I think this ORIGINAL Social Security requirement is anti immigration/voter suppression rolled into one.

If you don't have a social security number here is what you need:

If you do not have a Social Security number

If you do not have a social security number, you must bring a letter from the Social Security Administration indicating that you were never issued one. In addition, you will need to present at least one proof of ID from the following list:

• A driver license from the District of Columbia, U.S. Territories, or one of our 50 states.
• School record stating date of birth, which must contain the registrar’s signature.
• Transcript of the birth record filed with a public officer charged with the duty of recording certificates.
• Baptism certificate, which shows date of birth and the place of baptism.
• Family Bible record or birth announcement in a baby book
• An insurance policy on the customer’s life which has been in force for at least two years and has the month, day and year of birth.
• United States military or military dependent identification card.
• An identification card from the District of Columbia, U.S. Territories, or one of our 50 states.
• Florida license record or identification card record.
• Selective Service Registration (Draft Card).
• Florida Vehicle Registration certificate (HSMV 83399, owner’s copy) obtained from the tax collector’s office where the customer’s vehicle was registered, Florida, or out-of-state registration certificate, if name and date of birth are shown.
• Receipt copy of your last Florida driver license issuance.
Immigration form I-571.
• Federal form DD-214 (military record).
Marriage certificate.
• Court order, which includes legal name.
• A Florida voter registration card, which was issued at least 3 months previously.
• Parent consent form of minor, signed by the parent or legal guardian
•Government issued out-of-country passport, driver license, or identification card
• Concealed Weapons Permit

Anonymous said...

Clearly voter suppression.

Anonymous said...

I remember when.........it clearly stated on my Social Security card "not to be used for identification"!

Not having the need to look at it for a while (since the 80's I believe), I don't know why or when this was changed, if it actually has been changed!

Oh, Florida, I truly doubt this State can get more F****** up if it tried. Carl Hiaasen and others will NEVER run out of crap to write about - all based on the REAL Florida!

Ross Hancock said...

SB 220 was introduced this past session to correct this mess. Obviously the Driver's License folks have everyone's picture and signature on file, so they shouldn't require a friggin DNA test to renew you.

SB 200 died in the Republican-dominated Senate Transportation Committee in March. They were too busy making NASCAR "the official sport of Florida."

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2012/0220

Anonymous said...

Ross, tell me you're kidding about NASCAR? Really?

Why am I feeling so old, and I haven't even hit 50 yet! Remember when we were the go to place for Tennis, Swimming & Diving? And, of course the Natural Parks/resourses, before they were paved over or tainted?

Am I stuck in a time warp or warped reality! OMG, NASCAR?

Anonymous said...

Stand your ground for NASCAR. The official slogan of the dumbest state in the nation. We passed Georgia on the last lap.

Ross said...

SB 266 "designating the sport of automobile racing as the official state sport" passed the Florida Senate on March 2 by a vote of 36 to 3.

Another thing they did instead of fixing the driver's license renewals was to create a vanity plate for former state legislators.

(I would like to see Fresen have his special plate as a former House member.)

(Actually, I would like to see him making license plates as an inmate.)

Anonymous said...

Agree on Fresen. Can anyone explain what the legislature is doing?

Ross said...

Fiddling while Florida burns.

Stand Your Christmas Act (SB 1136), which changes the name of school "winter break" to "Christmas break."

Stand Your Zebra Act (SB 1456) to allow wild African zoo animals to roam public lands.

Stand Your Burning Koran Act (HB 1209) to ban Sharia law from becoming the law of the land.

Stand Your Bunny Act (HB 1197) to allow dying of Easter bunnies and chicks.

Stand Your Little Person Act (HB 4063) to legalize dwarf-tossing in bars.

Stand Your Mad Cow Act (SB 1184) to ban you from photographing the sanitary conditions of slaughterhouses and farms.

Not an unproductive year at all, on balance.

youbetcha' said...

wait wait wait.... You forget their road, overpass and bridge namings.

swampthing said...

redundant reduncedancy

Anonymous said...

Genuis & Gimlete:

Can this post be placed in the Top 10 comments of the year section - if there is one:

"Stand your ground for NASCAR. The official slogan of the dumbest state in the nation. We passed Georgia on the last lap."

Anonymous said...

Just went to the DMV website.
It does NOT say you have to have the original social security card.
It says you have to be able to prove you have a social security number.
You need 3 things:
1. ID: passport works for this
2. Proof of SS #.
You can prove this by the card, a W-2, a paycheck stub, SSA-1099 or a 1099 form. You don't need the original card.
3. Proof of residential address. That's where your bank statements and tax bills come in.
If none of those things you brought had your SS # on it, then you fail under #2.

Geniusofdespair said...

This is right off the DMV website:

"Beginning January 1, 2010, Florida has new documentation requirements for residents renewing or obtaining a new driver license or identification card.( Note this part )For office visits, you must bring ORIGINAL documents that prove your identity, social security number and residential address."

Anonymous said...

Continue on the DMV website and it gives you the list of original documents that can prove your social security number:

"Proof of Social Security Number

Gather one original of the following documents that show your complete name and social security number:

-Social Security card
must be an original in your current full name
-W-2 form (not handwritten)
-Pay check/stub
-SSA-1099
-Any 1099 (not handwritten)
-None - see note below
I don't have a Social Security Number "

There are several choices for someone who doesn't have the actual card itself.

With regard to the reason for this being anti-immigration, I agree you're spot on. But I don't see what happened in this case being anything more about the documents that gimleteye brought or didn't bring to the appt to show proof of ss #.