Posted on 05/11/2010 12:13:33 AM PDT by Sarajevo
Some Georgians could soon be carrying a unique drivers license one that says they have post-traumatic stress disorder.
The legislation, which has to be signed by the governor to become law, would likely make Georgia the first state with a drivers license that denotes a specific health problem, other than poor eyesight.
Some veterans and law enforcement officials say they cant image that many servicemen and servicewomen will want their PTSD diagnosis put on display when they present their drivers licenses to cash a check, buy alcohol, board an airplane or face a traffic cop.
Why would I want to put out there on my license hey, Im a nut job, said Marvin Myers, president of the Georgia Vietnam Veterans Alliance Inc.
PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can occur after a person experiences or witnesses a traumatic event, like military combat, natural disaster or a physical or sexual assault.
Sen. Ron Ramsey (D-Decatur), the bills sponsor, said he sees the potential benefits and no downside.
It is totally voluntary, he said.
Ramsey said he had just finished speaking to a veterans group when he was approached by a former serviceman, who has PTSD and was worried that he might have a bad encounter with law enforcement.
He said, God forbid anybody put handcuffs on me. Id go berserk, the senator said.
The veteran suggested a PTSD notation on drivers licenses could help, Ramsey said.
This is how it is supposed to work -- an ordinary citizen came up and said, This is what I need, he said.
Sen. John Douglas (R-Social Circle), an Army veteran who co-sponsored the bill, said a safer encounter could be the result.
The police officer would know that a sudden move [by the motorist] wasnt necessarily an offensive move, Douglas said.
Ramsey's bill sailed through the General Assembly, despite attempts by some lawmakers to expand it to include other medical conditions. Feedback, was nothing but positive, Ramsey said.
Lea R. Flowers, an assistant professor in Georgia State Universitys Department of Counseling & Psychological Services, said Ramseys bill has some positives in that it may raise awareness of PTSD and calls for strictly voluntary participation.
But it could be a slippery slope, she said. Will we offer that for bipolar? Schizophrenia?
The Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police didnt take a stand on Ramseys bill as it moved through the Legislature, said Frank Rotondo, the organizations executive director.
It probably benefits for law enforcement to know that a person believes that, under stress, they can melt down, he said.
The bill, which could become law July 1, would require a sworn statement from an MD or psychologist, verifying the service members diagnosis of PTSD. It also requires a waiver of liability for the release of the drivers medical information.
The state Department of Drivers Services has yet to decide how the PTSD diagnosis would be displayed on the drivers license, spokeswoman Susan Sports said.
The department currently offers an identification card for the disabled that has a wheelchair symbol and can include the cardholders medical information, Sports said.
This ID is primarily used by the individuals to secure priority seating on buses, et cetera, she said. The ID is not for driving.
It is totally voluntary, he said.
For now.
Good luck filling out the form on your next firearms purchase or for that matter continued gun ownership with PTSD stamped on your DL.
That would just be the beginning.
PTSD just doesn’t mean any stress causes a full blown panic attack. It usually takes a trigger to set it off. A person who had a bad expierence in a swimming pool will not have a problem being handcuffed. This is just about labeling people as unfit and therefore subject to abritrary rules.
This is crazy.
Lot’s of folks with PTSD will no longer seek the help they may need, just to avoid creating a record.
Damn democrats, traitors all.
It doesn’t even always mean a panic attack - it can make you avoid crowds, for one thing.
Big Brother is again, watching.
Why would I want to put out there on my license hey, Im a nut job, said Marvin Myers, president of the Georgia Vietnam Veterans Alliance Inc.
Cops, known the US over for flying off the handle and drawing down (and occasionally blasting away) on anyone and everyone the think, could, might, will, has been or someday will be a threat them... yeah this is gonna go over well.
I'll be used as justification to separate them from their vehicle, slap them in cuffs, search them and their cars from "weapons" all the while interrogating them with the usual bullshit, who are you, where you coming from, where you going, are you a terrorist or militia member, blah, blah, blah...
Not to mention the state could use the admission to restrict them from owning and or carrying any type of weapons.
Nothing good will come from this.
No, it’s about labelling vets as crazy people and subject to arbitrary laws that affect only them.
You know what would be better, though:
They could just adjust it and make it a very fashionable fashion accessory:
Sheesh, Boo Boo! I told you Mr. Ranger was watching us.
Already been there. Done that. RFID tags: Big Brother in small packages (talking about washable RFID tags sewn into clothing)(from 2003)
Leave it to you to attack the police again. Are you out of jail yet?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.