4 ms·

Unrelated, but as European why do you need driver's license, if you don't drive, isn't there some equivalent to ID card in US not requiring any test?

the_only_law 4y ago
> isn't there some equivalent to ID card in US not requiring any test? Most states have something like this. Typically you fill out some forms and pay a fee to get a “State ID”. Just be prepared for people to give you shit about it occasionally when ID’d. If you’ve already gotten your drivers license in the past though, I don’t see any good reasons to get a new ID vs just renewing the driver license.
jnovek 4y ago
When I was a teenager my vision was better. It has degraded as I’ve aged. I do still technically pass the vision test, but I don’t think it tests for impairment from astigmatism very well. It’s not rational, but I think a big part of keeping my license is anxiety. It’s really challenging to get around in America without driving. Knowing that my license is still valid makes me feel less trapped.
- samatman 4y ago
  There's absolutely no reason you should forgo the optionality inherent in a driver's license so long as you continue to pass the test. People need a ride to the hospital all the time, if the state says your vision is up to the task of doing it, why not be available for emergencies? There's no downside.
jffry 4y ago
Many states will issue "non-driver ID cards" (examples below), which are typically cheaper than a drivers license, but which still involve the same level of proving who you are before you can get one (involving showing passport/birth certificate/bills/whatever) Because these are relatively uncommon, they will lead to extra scrutiny and hassle in many situations (buying alcohol, showing ID at airport security, etc). The US does not have federal level ID cards, although the federal government has used funding for state programs as a cudgel to make states comply with standards for how they verify who you are before issuing you an ID ("Real ID"). Examples of non-driver IDs: - New York: https://dmv.ny.gov/non-driver-id-card https://dmv.ny.gov/non-driver-id-card - Massachusetts: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-a-massachusetts-identification-card-mass-id https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-a-massachusetts-identi... - District of Columbia: https://dmv.dc.gov/service/non-driver-identification-cards https://dmv.dc.gov/service/non-driver-identification-cards
- Markoff 4y ago
  Isn't passport (sort of) federal level ID card? Thanks for examples.
  - flyingfences 4y ago
    A passport works, but it a) doesn't list a home address, which is sometimes necessary and b) is too bulky to conveniently carry around.
    - jffry 4y ago
      When you renew your passport, you can also get a passport card for an extra $30 or something. They're only good for land/sea crossings (no flights) from US to Canada, Mexico, but you can put it in your wallet. The downside is again that it's non-standard form of ID, but it is a photo ID and may be useful
    - justsomehnguy 4y ago
      Depends on the size of you pockets
- elzbardico 4y ago
  Now I start to understand why Americans consider voter ID excluding. Because IDs themselves are excluding in America because of God Automobile.
  - ALittleLight 4y ago
    I think the extent to which "Americans consider voter ID excluding" is highly politicized and debatable. ID is required for many things. Off the top of my head I've had to show ID to get into bars or buy alcohol, rent a car, drive, doctor visit, picking up kids at school, R rated movies, at the bank, opening a crypto account, opening a Robinhood account, when I need to prove my identity at work - and probably many other times. You need an ID for many random things in life and somehow that's not exclusionary. I've just googled to see what percentage of American adults have ID and I saw percentages in the high 90's. Though, these survey results are a bit confused with some surveys excluding expired results or being strictly "driver's licenses" versus any government photo ID or counting people who "don't know" or decline to answer as not having ID. I haven't voted in a long time, but the last time I did - I think they just asked me what my name is and I didn't show any kind of ID. They then check if the name you gave is on their list of voters. If it is, you get a ballot, and they check that name off the list. If it's not you get a provisional ballot and who knows what happens to that. All this is to say that the politicians who believe voter ID would reduce their share of the vote consider it exclusionary. Politicians who believe voter ID would increase their share of the vote do not.
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]

the_only_law 4y ago

> isn't there some equivalent to ID card in US not requiring any test? Most states have something like this. Typically you fill out some forms and pay a fee to get a “State ID”. Just be prepared for people to give you shit about it occasionally when ID’d. If you’ve already gotten your drivers license in the past though, I don’t see any good reasons to get a new ID vs just renewing the driver license.

jnovek 4y ago

When I was a teenager my vision was better. It has degraded as I’ve aged. I do still technically pass the vision test, but I don’t think it tests for impairment from astigmatism very well. It’s not rational, but I think a big part of keeping my license is anxiety. It’s really challenging to get around in America without driving. Knowing that my license is still valid makes me feel less trapped.

samatman 4y ago
There's absolutely no reason you should forgo the optionality inherent in a driver's license so long as you continue to pass the test. People need a ride to the hospital all the time, if the state says your vision is up to the task of doing it, why not be available for emergencies? There's no downside.

jffry 4y ago

Many states will issue "non-driver ID cards" (examples below), which are typically cheaper than a drivers license, but which still involve the same level of proving who you are before you can get one (involving showing passport/birth certificate/bills/whatever) Because these are relatively uncommon, they will lead to extra scrutiny and hassle in many situations (buying alcohol, showing ID at airport security, etc). The US does not have federal level ID cards, although the federal government has used funding for state programs as a cudgel to make states comply with standards for how they verify who you are before issuing you an ID ("Real ID"). Examples of non-driver IDs: - New York: https://dmv.ny.gov/non-driver-id-card https://dmv.ny.gov/non-driver-id-card - Massachusetts: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-a-massachusetts-identification-card-mass-id https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-a-massachusetts-identi... - District of Columbia: https://dmv.dc.gov/service/non-driver-identification-cards https://dmv.dc.gov/service/non-driver-identification-cards

Markoff 4y ago
Isn't passport (sort of) federal level ID card? Thanks for examples.
- flyingfences 4y ago
  A passport works, but it a) doesn't list a home address, which is sometimes necessary and b) is too bulky to conveniently carry around.
  - jffry 4y ago
    When you renew your passport, you can also get a passport card for an extra $30 or something. They're only good for land/sea crossings (no flights) from US to Canada, Mexico, but you can put it in your wallet. The downside is again that it's non-standard form of ID, but it is a photo ID and may be useful
  - justsomehnguy 4y ago
    Depends on the size of you pockets
elzbardico 4y ago
Now I start to understand why Americans consider voter ID excluding. Because IDs themselves are excluding in America because of God Automobile.
- ALittleLight 4y ago
  I think the extent to which "Americans consider voter ID excluding" is highly politicized and debatable. ID is required for many things. Off the top of my head I've had to show ID to get into bars or buy alcohol, rent a car, drive, doctor visit, picking up kids at school, R rated movies, at the bank, opening a crypto account, opening a Robinhood account, when I need to prove my identity at work - and probably many other times. You need an ID for many random things in life and somehow that's not exclusionary. I've just googled to see what percentage of American adults have ID and I saw percentages in the high 90's. Though, these survey results are a bit confused with some surveys excluding expired results or being strictly "driver's licenses" versus any government photo ID or counting people who "don't know" or decline to answer as not having ID. I haven't voted in a long time, but the last time I did - I think they just asked me what my name is and I didn't show any kind of ID. They then check if the name you gave is on their list of voters. If it is, you get a ballot, and they check that name off the list. If it's not you get a provisional ballot and who knows what happens to that. All this is to say that the politicians who believe voter ID would reduce their share of the vote consider it exclusionary. Politicians who believe voter ID would increase their share of the vote do not.

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]