Comments on: Thank You, DMV! http://www.plannedobsolescence.net/thank-you-dmv/ falling indelibly into the past Fri, 16 May 2008 21:47:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Laura http://www.plannedobsolescence.net/thank-you-dmv/#comment-198 Laura Fri, 27 Oct 2006 23:42:15 +0000 http://www.new.plannedobsolescence.net/?p=87#comment-198 <p>Had the exact same experience, complete with quick renewal on the other end. Though I didn’t have quite the security shakedown you did. </p> Had the exact same experience, complete with quick renewal on the other end. Though I didn’t have quite the security shakedown you did.

]]> By: liz http://www.plannedobsolescence.net/thank-you-dmv/#comment-197 liz Fri, 27 Oct 2006 17:24:53 +0000 http://www.new.plannedobsolescence.net/?p=87#comment-197 <p>Eh, I definitely tried to fly once on a license that had been expired for all of six days (and I was gonna get it renewed once I reached my destination, too!), and was stopped by security and told I couldn’t fly on it.  Luckily, I happened to have my passport with me, too.  But yeah, I’m pretty sure that’s a rule.  </p> <p> P.S. They “puff” everyone at Dulles, and I think it’s kind of awesome.  Like you said--so space age! </p> Eh, I definitely tried to fly once on a license that had been expired for all of six days (and I was gonna get it renewed once I reached my destination, too!), and was stopped by security and told I couldn’t fly on it.  Luckily, I happened to have my passport with me, too.  But yeah, I’m pretty sure that’s a rule. 

P.S. They “puff” everyone at Dulles, and I think it’s kind of awesome.  Like you said–so space age!

]]> By: KF http://www.plannedobsolescence.net/thank-you-dmv/#comment-196 KF Thu, 26 Oct 2006 05:40:36 +0000 http://www.new.plannedobsolescence.net/?p=87#comment-196 <p>God.  Really?  I’ve always heard them to say “valid government-issued photo ID,” and assumed in this instance that validity required it not to be expired.  After reading your comment, in a fit of being pissed off that I might well have buckled to authority when I needn’t have, I did a little googling, and came up with <a href="http://blog.weaverling.org/2006/06/05/tsa-and-expired-drivers-licenses/" rel="nofollow">this post</a> which did nothing to reassure me.  And <a href="https://secure.flyclear.com/faq_joiningclear.html#8" rel="nofollow">this site</a> (for the Clear registered traveler program) suggests that while expired passports remain positive proof of ID, expired driver’s licenses don’t. </p> <p> In any event, you’ve now got me quite righteously indignant over having been grateful for such <i>speedy and efficient</i> invasive examination.  And even more annoyed with myself for not having been annoyed sooner. </p> God.  Really?  I’ve always heard them to say “valid government-issued photo ID,” and assumed in this instance that validity required it not to be expired.  After reading your comment, in a fit of being pissed off that I might well have buckled to authority when I needn’t have, I did a little googling, and came up with this post which did nothing to reassure me.  And this site (for the Clear registered traveler program) suggests that while expired passports remain positive proof of ID, expired driver’s licenses don’t.

In any event, you’ve now got me quite righteously indignant over having been grateful for such speedy and efficient invasive examination.  And even more annoyed with myself for not having been annoyed sooner.

]]> By: Oso Raro http://www.plannedobsolescence.net/thank-you-dmv/#comment-195 Oso Raro Thu, 26 Oct 2006 04:16:38 +0000 http://www.new.plannedobsolescence.net/?p=87#comment-195 <p>This expired driver’s license conundrum recently happened to a friend visiting Cold City, and it was almost the exact same phenomenon: she didn’t realise her license was expired, and only did when it was pointed out to her by security staff. </p> <p> The crucial difference was that she wasn’t put through the security ringer for essentially a glitch. Just as one’s passport, even expired, remains positive proof of one’s citizenship, one’s driver’s license, even expired, is still positive identification, which is the exact nomenclature of what is required of you at the airport. </p> <p> It is absolutely outrageous that you were put through extra security screening for a simple technocratic expiry. And that is what it was. Something insignificant and in fact arguably could be countered by a focus on the very language used by TSA and the airlines. How small-minded and ridiculous and useless. After all, the 9/11 hijackers had positive identification that was NOT expired. But, alas, this is the age we live in. Never learning, being stupid, reinventing the wheel, and paying the price. </p> This expired driver’s license conundrum recently happened to a friend visiting Cold City, and it was almost the exact same phenomenon: she didn’t realise her license was expired, and only did when it was pointed out to her by security staff.

The crucial difference was that she wasn’t put through the security ringer for essentially a glitch. Just as one’s passport, even expired, remains positive proof of one’s citizenship, one’s driver’s license, even expired, is still positive identification, which is the exact nomenclature of what is required of you at the airport.

It is absolutely outrageous that you were put through extra security screening for a simple technocratic expiry. And that is what it was. Something insignificant and in fact arguably could be countered by a focus on the very language used by TSA and the airlines. How small-minded and ridiculous and useless. After all, the 9/11 hijackers had positive identification that was NOT expired. But, alas, this is the age we live in. Never learning, being stupid, reinventing the wheel, and paying the price.

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