hungryhorace

Well, indeed. Though the scary part is the pro-active use of now informing those with a cell phone in a certain area that they are now 'registered' as a participant in violence! Outrageous.

januarymix

I've lived in the US and would say it depends on where in the US (and, also where in the UK) ..

Steve_

I've had a situation where I showed my NEXUS card at the security desk (issued by CBP) at USCIS and they wouldn't let me through until I showed them my DL. Also, had the same thing with TSA at the airport.

Bearing in mind in the photo you can see the CBP flag in the background.

But frankly the UK has become ID obsessed too in the last few years, I think it must have been awhile since people were there to be saying there is a big difference. Remember the whole fiasco with the national ID card and National Identity Register.

hungryhorace

Agreed, but that was only shelved because of the public outrage at such a system. Do you think there would be similar levels of push back in America?

Bob

MA is a weird one, it's one of a few states where if you're driving and asked for your valid drivers license and you don't have it on hand, that they will arrest you and haul you in. Most states give you a ticket and x number of time to provide proof of license, usually 24-48 hours.

hungryhorace

I carry a copy of my UK paper licence in my glove box just in case

Bob

They look at the date your car was registered and it's over 12 months, doesn't matter if you're a tourist or not, they could arrest you.

Irrelevant though, because your drivers license is tied to your cars registration along with your insurance and they pull that when they run your tags in MA, so they know. Only really likely to be a problem if the town relies on tickets for a chunk of income though.

Steve_

Read up on REAL ID, many States have actually passed laws saying they won't comply with it (which is stupid imo, especially stupid was the opposition to enhanced ID which is purely voluntary). How many times have the REAL ID regulations been put off now, I forget.

If anything there is more push back in the US.

Actually quite a relevant topic as they've just started enforcement of the REAL ID provisions: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/REAL_ID_Act

Sally Redux

Are you saying there are now ID cards in the UK?

hungryhorace

The only ID card is by the back door with the driving licence. Thankfully I have my paper only licence.

Sally Redux

And you still have 5 days to produce it I think?

lansbury

They probably thought you looked like a Romanian, had nicked the item and was trying to exchange it for cash. The ID check would have show this not to be the case.

paranoidandroid

I prefer the UK.

Casual Observer

I for one know no such thing. I promise you that world war 2 did not start because someone was asked to show an ID card. Perhaps I could use your post as an example of where the education system went wrong in another current thread.

hungryhorace

I guess Cambridge and a Rugby public school didn't really do much for my education, but cest la vie.

WW2 resulted in widescale identity checks with internment for those unable to prove their identity. You may wish to live in that type of society, but I do not. Next you'll be telling me that old classic 'those who have nothing to hide...' next!