2016-12-30

ID issues and Fort Jackson

The Congressional REAL ID Act of 2005 of May 11, 2005 modifies federal law regarding security, authentication, and issuance procedures standards for the state driver's licenses and identification (ID) cards, as well as various immigration issues pertaining to acts if terrorism.

South Carolina is having to contend with state issued identification like drivers licenses and identification cards which do not comply with the parameters set into place by the Real ID Act, including:

• new federal standards for state-issued driver licenses and non-driver ID cards
• new visa limits for temporary workers, nurses, and Australian citizens
• border security reporting and some pilot project funding
• utilizing a "delivery bond" for aliens who have been released pending hearings
• updates and improvements of the law regarding asylum and deportation of aliens involved in terrorist activity
• waiving legislated interference in the construction of physical barriers at borders

We have a legislative matter whereby SC drivers licenses will no longer be accepted at military bases and airports because they are not conformant to the Real ID criteria. I am hoping that those who can get moving and deal with this prior to it becoming problematic for the citizens.

Fort Jackson Main Gate
My last encounter at Fort Jackson was a disaster ... hilarious in retrospect, but a disaster nontheless. My folks had called me on the cell regarding car trouble at the commissary and that they were stranded. I arrived at the gate, oblivious to the facts that:

1. I had no drivers license in my possession
2. I had no proof of insurance
3. I was not wearing a seat belt
4. My registration had expired

In other words ... I was TOTALLY illicit driving down the road without a care in the world. UNTIL I hit the main gate at Fort Jackson, that is.

Anyway, the gate people jumped into action. They went over each of my discrepancies with a stern admonition that these would require immediate resolution. Then they went to a computer and verifified that indeed I did have a valid drivers license as correlated to the addresss on my (defunct) copy of what should have been a current proof of insurance. They also verified my proof of insurance along with the policy numbers and dates of coverage. They had my expired registration and corrected me for not wearing a seat belt.

I rather sheepishly explained my dilemma and why I was there. Then, as if the irresponsibility gods were acting on my behalf, they let me go through after I signed a paper acknowledging the incident and what required immediate correction ... which happened the next day, which was a Monday.

This encounter was nothing short of miraculous in my book, having been told about the increased security for quite a while up front. I have since made attempts to keep tabs on the expiration dates of insurance policies, licenses, registrations and so forth. I remain somewhat slack on the seatbelt front.

In my rather lame defense, I do view it as a ridiculous incursion into the civil liberties of humanity and I'd like to stick an ungreased seat belt up the butts of each and every one involved in it's passage through the South Carolina legislature — which doesn't take care of necessary business worth a crap but always has seen fit to pass unnecessary fluff like this loser.