I flew out of KSFO a few days ago. I handed the TSA woman my boarding pass and drivers license like I have done hundreds of times. She rejects my CA drivers license. Huh? I ask why and she said the expiration date is stamped out. I explain that I just had a motorcycle license amended, they issued me a temporary cert and that is the valid government photo ID. She said it must have an expiration date. I explain, the photo ID (my drivers license) does not have an expiration date otherwise I would not be able to use it in conjunction with the temporary. I go on saying that I am using drivers license solely for photo id and not for driving and therefore do not need the temp cert. Blah blah blah. I'm talking to a moron who works for a moronic agency. I dig out the temporary certificate buried in my laptop bag (it would be in my wallet but I didn't need it for the trip and was too big for my wallet). 30 seconds later I'm through. This email took longer to type than to deal with it but I literally could have been stranded since I don't normally carry my passport. I guess I should now start doing that for 'international travel within the US.' I can't be the first person this has happened too. So what is valid photo ID? Let's see what happens tomorrow at KBOS.

Valid means unexpired. Without an expiration date they can't verify that it's unexpired. That's why you need the photo in combination with a non-photo unexpired ID.

You wouldn't have been stranded. You would have simply gotten a secondary search as though there was a SSSS on your BP.

Moved to the proper forum, Travel Safety & Security, for further discussion. Ocn Vw 1K, Co-Mod TravelBuzz

So if my license expires tomorrow, does that mean I'm no longer who the license says I am? Who do I become then?

I don't buy that. All it means is that my ability to drive may be impaired if I haven't renewed my license.

I had a similar situation with the idjit at DFW Terminal B yesterday- I didn't have my normal ID handy, so I showed my retired military ID, they REFUSED to accept it as it says indefinate for expiration. Finally one of the TSA bubba's strolled over and told them it was okay...

Also this same crew was damn near requiring the soldiers going back to the sandbox to strip to get through the WTMD. Absolutely ridiculous...

Some states have ID without expiration dates at all, but they're all legal ID. I think Tennessee is one of them...

So if it says expiration NONE, doesn't that mean it's valid forever....

just out of curiousity, can anyone cite the reg as to wether it states that it must be a "gov't issued i/d" or a "valid gov't issued i/d". in all my travels, i have not yet once heard anyone of the i/d checkers or barkers mention the word valid.

You become an Unperson, Citizen.

Well, I can't cite the reg, but at the risk of being sarcastic...does "valid" mean "acceptable"? or "unexpired"?

With an expired date how do they know you didn't steal someone's?

Trying to play devil's advocate, but really, people don't become an unself after that date, but people could have been digging in the DMVs trash.

"Hey dude, I need an ID. Can you go to the DMV and tell them you lost yours?"

(Actual conversation that took place many, many times in my fraternity house)

Presto, 2 IDs, both with valid expiration dates.

Conclusion: expiration date proves nothing.

I was in RDU a few weeks ago. For some reason TSA was supervising the ID checker. On my DL, there is a renewal sticker on the back. Hand over my DL, and they say it's expired. I say no it's not, flip it over. They stare at it for a good 30 seconds before they let me through.

idiots

Arizona drivers licenses issued to younger people expire on the 65th birthday...

Does TSA actually check ID at SFO now? I thought contractors were still checking IDs at most airports.