dontravis.com
blog post #353
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| Courtesy of driver-tests.org |
A
news item on TV the other night about residents of some states not in compliance with secure ID requirements having difficulty gaining access to federal buildings and departure gates at the local airport this coming year reminded me of my tussle with New Mexico's MVD when they switched to secured IDs.
In other words, all state-issued driver’s licenses must have a white star in a circular gold
field in the upper right-hand corner of the little piece of plastic. If your
license does not already have one, be prepared to go through bureaucratic hell. Inasmuch as I had passed through these same fiery gates some years back, I
dug out the post of November 15, 2016 and republished it below.
That post also advised readers that the first of my BJ Vinson
murder series, The Zozobra Incident, had been released that same day by
Dreamspinner Press. Co-incidentally, the sixth in the series, The
Voxlightner Scandal, is scheduled for release on November 19 of this year.
By the way, I passed up the opportunity to use a New Mexico license as photo art and settled on an Arizona license because that one has the coveted star in the upper right. And the photo of Mr. Sample certainly is not me. (You can tell from the hairline.)
My
tussle with the MVD to obtain the coveted secure license is described below:
*****
ME AND THE MVD
Anyone going to the Motor Vehicle Division to get or renew a New
Mexico driver’s license is in for a shock.
For some time now, the powers that be in the Land of Enchantment
have dillied and dallied (not to mention dithered) over new requirements the
feds imposed for issuing licenses that serve as secured IDs for boarding
airliners or entering a federal building or base. Each year we failed to get
our act together, and each year the federal authorities granted us a delay in
coming into compliance.
I’m here to tell you that has come to an end. As of Monday,
November 14, 2016, all New Mexico licenses issued—including both new and
renewals—meet the federal standards. But getting them is something else.
My license expired a few days back, but I held out until we were
FAA compliant. On Monday, I watched a local news program that explained you
needed proof you were who you said you were and that you were legally present
in the United States, either by birthright or by legal immigration.
Trip One
Went to nearest MVD office Tuesday a.m. a little before 9:00. Took
a number (63) and was called to Window 10 about 20 minutes later.
“What can I do for you,” Window 10 asked.
“I want one of those super-duper driver’s licenses that serve as
ID for airline flights.” With that, I confidently shoved both my driver’s
license and the passport I got last year (in case NM didn’t get compliant
before the feds banned our licenses).
“Where’s the rest of it?” he asked.
“Rest of what? My passport’s got everything you need. And it’s official. Confirmed by the good
old USofA.”
“No, you need your Social Security Card and two things confirming
your legal residency.”
He refused to listen to reason. Hopped into my car and raced back
home (with an expired license, remember).
Trip Two
Spent half an hour trying to print online copies of a PNM bill,
grabbed my lease agreement and Social Security Card and sped back to the MVD.
The waiting room was full. My number this time was 112, with some 40 numbers
ahead of me waiting to be called. If each one took 10 minutes, I’d be out of
here in another 400 minutes. How many hours is that? Forgot to bring a
calculator. Also forgot to bring something to read, so settled down to people
watching… which got old. Fast.
Then I lucked out. The woman sitting beside me couldn’t wait any
longer and offered me her ticket. Number 93. Thanked her and grabbed the scrap
of paper that ought to cut 190 minutes off my wait time. Eventually, I was
called to Window 12.
What can I do for you?” Window 12 asked.
A little more sullen now, I answered, “Driver’s license.”
I pulled out the sheaf of papers I’d brought and shoved them
beneath the thick pane of glass between him and me, now appreciating his need
for a protective device between him and his clients.
He shuffled through bits and pieces of my life until he came to
the SS card. “This is your Medicare Card, not your Social Security Card.”
“It has the same information on it, they’re issued by the same
agency, and they’re both red, white, and blue. Should be okay.”
“Afraid not. I have to have the Social Security card or your
SS-1099 or—”
“Okay, okay! This is the second time I’ve been here, but I’ll go
get it.”
After he condescended to tell me to return to him without pulling
a new number, I risked another APD speeding ticket by racing home once again.
Trip Three
I located the Social Security Card (adjacent to where the Medicare
card had been stored), jerked it out, and once again high-tailed it to the MVD.
(Hey, APD… that’s four opportunities to nail me you missed).
Number 12 had a client, but he saw and acknowledged me. Ten
minutes later, he was free, but indicated he had one other return customer
ahead of me. I sat back down while the gentleman who took my rightful seat
before Number 12 got titles transferred on two vehicles (a lengthy chore, I can
tell you) before starting the process of getting a driver’s license renewed. As
I fidgeted and fumed, I heard a number called. Number 112. Lo and behold, I
still had that number in my pocket, so I beelined it to Window Eleven.
“What can I do for you today?”
I wearily shoved everything at her and leaned back wondering what
he’d find wrong this time.
“Looks like you have everything, sir. Let’s get you taken care
of.”
I walked out of the MVD for the final time at 12:26 p.m. Getting
that license ate up almost four hours of my life… however, that did include
travel time.
*****
AN APOLOGY TO THE 200 OR SO WHO CHECKED OUT THE SITE EARLIER, BUT FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, THE TEXT FAILED TO PRINT.
I hope this is fair warning to those just applying for a secure license and brings back fond (is that the right word?) memories for those who have already done so.
I hope this is fair warning to those just applying for a secure license and brings back fond (is that the right word?) memories for those who have already done so.
The advance buy link for
The Voxlightner Scandal follows: http://www.dsppublications.com/books/upcoming-releases-c
Now
my mantra: Keep on reading and keep on
writing. You have something to say, so say it!
My
personal links: (Note the change in the Email address because I’m still getting
remarks on the old dontravis21@gmail.com. PLEASE DON’T USE
THAT ONE.)
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/donald.travis.982
Twitter:
@dontravis3
Buy
links to Abaddon’s Locusts:
See
you next week.
Don
New Posts are
published at 6:00 a.m. each Thursday.
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