PaulKarl

The closest I ever came to truly "going postal":

I was at the Hollywood Post Office submitting the paperwork to rent a P.O. box. I had done my homework online, and I brought two forms of unexpired, government-issued ID, i.e., one California DL and one California ID.

The officious postal clerk demanded more documentation because, even though the DL and ID were different documents with different photos taken on different days, the reference number on both was the same.

I handed over my proof of auto insurance card.

She reviewed it closely and rejected it on the ground that it expired several days earlier.

I explained that sometimes the insurance company sends the new card a week or two late, but that shouldn't matter because (1) I'm obviously me and (2) the Post Office is renting me a P.O. box not a frickin' car.

Not good enough.

So I drove back to Sherman Oaks to retrieve my passport, thinking dark thoughts.

Now I make it a point to avoid that postal clerk.

mkt

I'm going through a similar issue with the Old San Juan post office. I lost my PR license, so until I can get around to replacing it, I'm using my Florida license. They will not accept my FL licence + Passport here for a PO Box. It has to be a PR license + other photo ID.

I should ask them about the cruise line crew members that I see getting their mail 3-4 times a week. What ID's did they have to show?

Grog

Since this thread's been ressurrected anyway, I'll address this:

Flip your ID over. Although the front says INDEF, on all the ones I've seen the back shows EXP DATE and a date probably about 27 years after you retired.

doober

You're saying that the post office requires two forms of government-issued ID?

If that's so, then I guess a lot of people can't rent P.O. Boxes in Hollywood.

essxjay

Utter nonsense. (See the following post for more.)

This is just one illustration of the holes in ID provisions post-Patriot Act. If you opened a P.O. Box prior to the act, you're free and clear of these byzantine identity requirements for as long as you keep it. The rest of you Comrades -- "Papers, please (and you'd better like it)!"

Don't get me started on the strings of nonsense for what DMVs require as "proof" of street address.
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essxjay

Probably. (See Part 1, box 11 of the USPS Application for Post Office Box for the verbatim.)

The problem with USPS's requirement of a second form of valid ID, since a Social Security card or birth certificate is unacceptable, is what the hell form of proof is left to proffer them in addition to the usual state DL/non-DL state ID., if not just some other form of gummit ID? I mean, it's just lunacy! I doubt my press ID would work since it has no expiration. (Oddly, it's practically golden at airport checkpoints. )

Don't you love the doublespeak here:

PaulKarl

No, I'm saying that's what I brought in an unsuccessful attempt to clear the I.D. hurdle on the first trip. As essxjay notes, the application is ambiguous, and there's only so much you can do against a petty bureaucrat conjuring rules on the spot.

STAM4NICK

I have 4 government issued photo ID's from 3 different countries. (HK ID, US Passport, US Driver, Bermuda Driver) I always contemplated reporting my US passport or US Drivers license as "lost" when it really was not and just getting a new license or passport and using it as a backup in case I did loose the real one or having the ability to carry around a copy of multiple forms of ID. One for wallet at the bar, one for airport, one for when cashier ask you for ID when using credit card --even though they are not supposed to deny the transaction if you dont provide.

Also, if you travel internationally always look into getting an international drivers license or a license for the country you are in if it is worth the time hassle (apps, lines, lesson, tests) often international drivers license are valid for more years than US licenses. You can also go to an AAA office with app, and US license and get an international license as another form of backup ID.

All the agents look for at the airport security are, name match and expiry date. I rarely see them check the photo and then look me in the eye even though I am looking at them to do so.

I hope this helps or gives some people ideas on how to cover themselves with multiple government issued photo IDs.

cooper99

Be careful with the US passport mate...when lost the new one has a new number and the old one is flagged/canceled...could get you in a mess using it.

In addition...the International Driver's License you speak of isn't stand alone...it requires a legal and current license from a country to be valid..it is basically just a cheap, paper booklet, multi-language translation of your country/state issued license with a passport sized photo stapled inside...alone it is worthless and looks like it was made in someone's basement with a bad printer. It should also only cost 5 or 10 usd maximum...any website selling them for more or fancier versions are illegitimate and just scamming people.

essxjay

Appreciate the input S4N. ^

essxjay

Only if there's intent to fraud. Expired passports are an acceptable form of ID in the US for the very purpose of obtaining a new passport. So using it at a security c/p isn't materially any different, is it?

But maybe you can give examples of messes one could inadvertently fall into that haven't occurred to me. Seriously, you've piqued my curiosity.

cooper99

Well we all know the people who 'assess' our documents aren't always following the rules so I was thinking that if a canceled passport was 'scanned' or checked you would be in for a big hassle explaining things to whatever napoleon was on duty.

Second if you did inadvertently use the wrong passport to cross a border again hassles would ensue.

For simply flashing to some geek at a gate to compare to your BP or at a hotel desk sure I can't see any troubles.

Personally I'd like to have 5 or 6 'different ' passports like Jason Bourne and avoid the whole mess all together

essxjay

If you're talking about the TSA in this case, they have no business scanning ID, indeed no mechanism to scan ID at all. So I'm not sure to whom you're referring as napoleons.

Of course.

themicah

The mess wouldn't occur from simply using an expired passport as ID. It would come from reporting a passport as lost when it really isn't.

A relative of mine has a friend who is a retired professional card counter. Until recently the friend traveled with documents for several different aliases (to get into casinos where he was banned). He had US passports in at least two names, which he obtained by applying for a passport in one name, legally changing his name, reporting the old passport as lost and applying for a new one in the new name.

A few years ago he got SSSSed and the TSA found his cache of IDs and credit cards in his carryon. He ended up pleading guilty to a federal felony as a direct result of that TSA search, and I'm 90% sure the charge was based on his intentionally defrauding the gov't by saying his old passport was lost when it really wasn't. Be warned.

mkt

I have 2 passports (US and Spain), 4 recognized citizenships (US, Guatemala, Spain, and France), and 1 unrecognized citizenship (PR). I also have valid Florida, California, Puerto Rico, and Texas drivers licenses.

The only benefit this offers me is denying my American nationality when need be... and an extra license should mine ever get suspended.