Posted on 05/04/2002 3:48:42 PM PDT by THEUPMAN
The war on terrorism has produced a newfound respect for America's military forces --- except at driver's license examining stations in Georgia.
A nonresident green card or a foreign passport will serve as adequate identification to get a driver's license in Georgia, but an identification card from the U.S. military will not.
Georgia is one of just three states that do not recognize the military identification card as a valid form of identification, though it is good for getting its holder onto many of the most secure defense installations in the world. Kentucky and Rhode Island are the others.
Georgia has nearly 100,000 active-duty military personnel stationed here. And the defense industry pumps nearly $20 billion a year into the economy.
The state does not accept military IDs because the government will not verify the information on the cards, said Harriet Taylor, field operations supervisor for the Georgia Department of Motor Vehicle Safety.
"We require any documents we use be verified through the issuing agency, and the military will not divulge information about their people," Taylor said.
She said the state has not accepted military IDs as a valid form of identification for about 10 years.
Many military personnel stationed here retain licenses from their home states. But those who try to get Georgia licenses find that their military ID is worthless.
Navy Lt. Cmdr. Tom Crain discovered as much recently after spending 90 frustrating minutes in line at the Canton examining station.
Crain said he was in the process of being transferred back to Tennessee after a tour at Naval Air Station Atlanta. But his old Tennessee license was about to expire, and he did not want to risk driving on an expired license for several days.
So, Crain said he put on his uniform and went to the driver's license bureau. He had his valid military ID, a copy of his orders to Tennessee and a copy of the contract on his house.
"The only thing they would accept as proof of identification was the Tennessee driver's license," he said. "They said I couldn't even use the contract on my house because I didn't live there anymore."
Crain went unprepared because everything else that Georgia accepts as identification --- such as an original Social Security card, passport, previous year's income tax return, utility bill or monthly bank statement --- was packed for the move.
"I stood in line anyway because anywhere I've ever been, my military ID has been a more credible source of identification than anything else I ever had," he said.
Crain said he did not get his license and spent several days without a valid license until he got to Tennessee, where his military ID was accepted readily.
Navy Lt. Scott Gilpin had a similar experience about 18 months ago when he was transferred to NAS Atlanta. He and his wife and their daughter, who had just turned 16, went to the examining station in Gainesville to get their licenses.
Gilpin said he stood in line for three hours with his family before being asked for more identification.
"The whole family pulled out our military IDs, but we were told the state doesn't recognize that as identification," Gilpin said.
"I pitched a fit right in front of everybody," he said, "and asked for a supervisor." The sympathetic supervisor allowed them to get their licenses.
"Anywhere you go around the world," Gilpin said, "you flash your military ID and it's treated with greater respect than passports."
Except in three states.
I have a question though. Back when I was in the AF I was told my driver's license was considered valid as long as I was active duty, irrespective of its "expiration date". It did not need to be renewed as long as I served. Upon separation or retirement though, you need to get a new one.
Was I told something wrong or have things changed?
BTW in Illinois, the Military ID card counts for the 3 of 4 pieces od ID needed to get a new license.
Try and explain that to some local cop in Nevada, etc., after he stops you at 3AM.
It wasn't worth it.
As appears in The Atlanta Constitution, Aug. 30, 2001 edition
... Georgia appears to be the next in a short but growing list of states eager to identify and approve illegal aliens through the issuance of driver's licenses. State Reps. Mary Squires and Barbara Mobley are promising a bill to do just that, following fast on the heels of North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Utah. We are promised "better public safety" because illegal aliens will have to take and pass driver's tests.
Boggles the mind.
I'd be more surprised that a state recognizes it, than that it doesn't.
Of course, from what I hear, the DOD is in the process of upgrading to a new "smart" ID card, which is supposed to be harder to forge - perhaps GA will recognize that?
But if there's any outrage here, it's that the DOD went so long with such an important document of such poor design and quality.
Your information appears to be dated.
/john
I can second that: When I show my U.S. Mil. ID card in Europe cops, border gaurds ect., don't give it a second look. When I show my U.S. passport they seem to study it.
The new ID cards were introduced after I got out, but my understanding from news reports was that the changeover only began in 2001, and was still in progress.
It is a DD Form 2 (Retired) dated Oct 93.
It has all kinds of holograms and bar codes and other security type devices on it.
It even appears to have a double hologram overlay, wherein "USA" overlays the Army Seal, which in turn overlays the background pattern of smaller Army Seals.
The only "added" part of the whole pattern appears to be my signature.
It definitely ain't "card stock".
I have seen many of the older cards, both active and retired, that had been mutilated and changed. Some of the changes were very evident, some not.
I think it would be very difficult to reproduce the present card and even more difficult to alter a genuine one.
Anything is possible, though.
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