Is it normal: living without valid picture i.d.?

22% Normal
33 Comments

I have been living without a valid government issued photo I.D. for a year now. The story behind it starts like this...I had a drivers license and it got suspended about 3 years ago. I still had the license though so I could still show it as I.D (good for everything EXCEPT driving) if asked. It expired one year ago however so it has been no longer valid as I.D. since then.

I thought about taking the steps to get valid I.D. but continuing to live without it appeals to me more, even if it causes me some hardships here and there.

I also thought about writing a blog about this experience and taking suggestions for things to attempt to do without I.D.

What do you think? Suggestions, ideas, questions and comments welcome!!

Formality: is it normal to live without valid photo I.D.?

Voting Results
22% Normal
Based on 49 votes (11 yes)
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Comments ( 33 )
  • davesumba
    10 years ago

    That has to be the most stupid thing I have ever seen on IIN.

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      10 years ago

      Thanks for offering your opinion. Can you please elaborate though? It would be helpful.

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      • davesumba
        10 years ago

        I think the 100% not normal in the vote is self explanatory.

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        • Anonymous Post Author
          10 years ago

          Well obviously it's not normal, I knew that. The point of the post was to foster discussion. Clearly.

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          • davesumba
            10 years ago

            I really can't think of anything other than that is just the most stupid pointless thing I have ever heard, there is really nothing to discuss. It makes no sense.

            Aside from that fact, there are many plausible life or death/troubles situations where you'll need an ID. Even if you don't drink, if you ever want to hang out with friends at bars or the gas station/store to buy cigs/alcohol, you will have to wait outside like a minor.

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            • Anonymous Post Author
              10 years ago

              Could you describe these dire situations?

              I'm in my mid 30's and purchasing alcohol or tobacco or getting into a bar is no obstacle. Perhaps if I were younger this would be a problem but it's not an issue for me so it's not exactly a valid attack on my position here.

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            • Anonymous Post Author
              10 years ago

              I was really looking forward to a response to my last comment to you. Did you come up with anything?

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  • dinz
    10 years ago

    In this day and age, having no form of photo ID can be difficult.

    Depending on your jurisdiction you might not be able for example to open a bank account, apply for a library card, etc.

    In some countries it is compulsory to carry some form of ID. Usually such countries have some form of a National ID card that a person must produce one on demand.

    In Germany this National ID called "Personalausweis" is compulsory for anyone over 16 years old and you must produce if a police officer for example asks for it. You don't have to carry it with you all the time, but you must for example in Germany present it to your nearest police station within a 48 hour period.

    I'm quite interested in your blog and I suggest you converse with potential readers and ask them to conjure up a bucket list for things you can do. Like for example I would like to see if you are able to open a bank account without photo ID and write a blog on it.

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    • [Old Memory]
      10 years ago

      I highly doubt he could open a bank account without one.

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      • Anonymous Post Author
        10 years ago

        I will try. I was going to try buying a handgun as well. I wager it will be easier to buy the gun than get the account.

        Edit: I do have a bank account that I use but it's not in my name. I've not tried to get one in my name as of yet. I also have acquired several guns but not handguns. Have not tried.

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        • [Old Memory]
          10 years ago

          I think it may be hard to buy a handgun legally without the proper ID.

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          • Couman
            10 years ago

            From a gun dealer, but I don't think it should be a huge problem in a state that allows private sale.

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            • Anonymous Post Author
              10 years ago

              Yeah I know I could buy one down at the flea market no problem. I was going to try a dealer.

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  • [Old Memory]
    10 years ago

    It's interesting. My friend tried to cash a check. They said he had to have a state ID. We found another way, but do you have any tips for that? We could always use more options.

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      10 years ago

      Normally I just have someone who has an account cash it on my behalf. I have gone to the bank the check is drawn from and had no issue. I have also cashed checks using the benefit of a shoppers club card I enrolled in at a grocery store. I have once or twice cashed it at a pawn shop or check casher and they called the person who wrote the check and asked us personal questions to verify I was the
      intended recipient. You could also try opening a custodial account for a child that does or doesn't actually exist.

      intrnded recipient.

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      • Anonymous Post Author
        10 years ago

        My reluctance to have a bank account isn't from my lack of I.D. though. I actually have serious debts to the government and any account I had would likely be siezed.

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        • [Old Memory]
          10 years ago

          You don't seem to have a problem with using the internet where it is very easy for the goverment to monitor its citizens internet usage.

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          • Anonymous Post Author
            10 years ago

            I use a prepaid phone and I don't really do anything exciting or incriminating on it. I do have some issues with the privacy aspect but I believe it's pretty safe overall.

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            • [Old Memory]
              10 years ago

              Be careful.

              I got a friend suggestion on Facebook. Another IIN user. I don't have a Facebook anymore, for a whole multitude of reasons.

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  • [Old Memory]
    10 years ago

    Just get your ID.

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      10 years ago

      No!!

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  • mixwell
    10 years ago

    What steps does it take aside from going to the DMV and be done with ? It's not that fucken difficult. I dont know where you live but in CA it's almost impossible to get a fucken handgun even with an ID.

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      10 years ago

      Well I'd first have to answer to and pay off the tickets, then clear the suspensions and then I'm not totally sure what I'd have to do since my license is expired and I live in a different state from where the license was issued.

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  • Sog
    10 years ago

    You are one traffic stop or violation from being hauled off to prison. You can't drink or get into bars either.

    I can kind of understand if you had no choice and were doing what you could to get by, but you said you COULD get an ID if you wanted to. Why do this to yourself?

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      10 years ago

      I don't see it as doing something "to myself" but rather to them since now it's all set up to benefit them by making YOU pay for an I.D. that THEY want you to have for THEIR convenience. They are taking more than giving in this instance.

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      • Sog
        10 years ago

        You're gonna be taking more than giving when you find yourself sharing a cell with Bubba!

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        • Anonymous Post Author
          10 years ago

          Hey, then I'd get a free prison I.D. though!

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  • Shrunk
    10 years ago

    it's normal but more questionable as to why you lost it in the first place

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      10 years ago

      Multiple traffic infractions and suspensions. I took care of a big one (DUI) long ago but I have about 3 more tickets and 5 or so suspensions. I don't really care. That's part of, but not a main reason, why I don't have I.D. I could easily fix it but like I said the appeal of not having I.D. is greater. They purge the database every so often so I'd like to be inactive for as long as possible. Another experiment, perhaps.

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      • Shrunk
        10 years ago

        Understandable.. The only photo ID I had until I was 21 was my passport, which was just fine for everything except people would think its weird. I have a valid drivers license but not for the state I'm in. They say I need to get it transferred but so far it's not been a problem, people just think I am not from around there.

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