The other day it became necessary for Dawnmarie to finally (!!) get her Pennsylvania driver’s license. She later sent us an e-mail describing her experience in working with the public servants, some of whom could use some training in the idea of providing service…. Here’s what she wrote:
Okay, I’m back, finally, from getting my license. And I just have to say, this is a completely ridiculous process. It took me an hour, and I’m not even having to take a test, written or otherwise. You have to bring your Social Security card, two forms of ID with pictures on them, two pieces of mail with your address on it and your out of state license. Sounds simple, right? HA HA HA!
So I get there, I show them my stuff, and he says, “No can do.” I wonder why not. He says, “Well, you didn’t talk to us first did you?” I tell him that I’ve been to the license center in another county, got the paper work and then went online, got the same info, so here I am.
He repeats, “Well, you didn’t talk to us.” I look at him like he’s insane! It’s a state run organization! Do I need to talk to the city people when I’ve gone to the web site? Who knows. So I ask him to look at it again. He says that he cannot use my birth certificate (orginal, with raised seal, not a copy, thank you very much) because it does not have the same name on it as my license and social security card. I point out that it does indeed have the same name, it’s just that I’m using Smith as a middle name now. Does not fly. So then he conceeds that he can use my military ID after much contemplation over whether or not it is the same person. Much comparison of the photo to me. The picture was taken 30 days ago. I think it looks like me. So then I’m off to another room where another guy looks at the same stuff, makes two copies of each and says “No can do as the address on the mail is a PO box, not a street address and I have to have a street address on the license and don’t I have anything mailed to me with my street address on it?” I say, “Well, you’d have to have a mailbox at your street address in order to get mail there, and as I’ve already explained, all our mail goes to a PO box.”
So then I have to go out to the car to check the registration and proof of insurance and show them that to see if that will qualify. Only problem being that the car is registered in Kirk’s name and I don’t have my marriage certificate with me to prove that I’m married. So he asks if Kirk is here. I look at him as if he’s insane. Why would I be shoveling gummi bears into Jillian and Kate’s mouths and having them climb all over me if their dad was here to watch them? “No, I say, he’s working.”
So after what seems like a bit of internal conflict for him, he allows it. I verify that the form is correct and am told to go across the lobby to get my photo taken. I get there, and I have to prove yet again that I am who I say I am and that no one has accosted me in my walk of 30 feet to get my precious driver’s license form. Finally I get my picture taken and am released yet again into public life.
I shudder to think what would have happened if I actually had to take a test! Amazingly enough, 19 of the 911 terrorists managed to get US driver’s license. I barely was able to switch mine from another state! It seems a bit extreme. It’s always the assumption that you are trying to lie to them, or pull something over on them. If my name on my birth certificate had been “Daniel Simpson” I’d be able to understand why they would need additional proof that I am who I say I am! But to tell me that Dawnmarie Smith and Dawnmarie Smith Lunnen are too dissimilar is a bit of a stretch to me.
Oh well, I have my license, now I get to go deal with the police department. Will my fun never end?!
Thanks, Dawnmarie, for a great story. It’s now recorded for posterity! When I asked her if I could post the story, she replied, “Have at it! Kirk reminded me that the most important thing to come from all of this was a much better photo on my license!”