When I turned 16, I wanted nothing more than to get my drivers license. My father, however, was of the opinion that girls did not NEED a drivers license, that they could go everywhere they needed to go with their parents, their brothers, or their boyfriends. He steadfastly refused to take me to get my license.
Until it occurred to him that he could also take my brother, who is a year younger than me, at the same time. At that time in Georgia, if your parent was with you when you went to get your drivers license, you did not have to show your birth certificate. You parent told the officials how old you were, and they took them at their word.
So, on that day in 1968, my father told them I was born in 1951, so he could tell them my brother was born in 1952. And ever since then, my date of birth has been incorrect on my drivers license. It has never been a problem. Until yesterday.
Yesterday FabGrandpa and I went to the Arizona DMV to get Arizona drivers licenses. His was coming up for renewal in March. Since we are not planning to go to Georgia until November, it would have been a problem for him. He is required to have a valid drivers license for his summer job. An expired Georgia license wouldn’t work. And, because we also got a post office box in Arizona last week, I decided to go ahead and get my Arizona license, too.
When it was my turn, I appoached the desk, and gave the clerk my two forms of ID, which consisted of my Georgia license and my brand new US Passport card. And the dates of birth on them did not match! I went through the whole story of how my father lied on that day in history. The clerks conferred amongst themselves. They called the supervisor. They called The Boss. All of this was making me really uncomfortable. And they finally told me I could have my Arizona drivers license, but that I really need to bring in my birth certificate next time I am in town. You know, the birth certificate that the Passport office said was not a valid one? Thanks, Dad, for all the fun.
Christine says
February 5, 2009 at 10:51 amNow you are going to have to send in a request to the department of vital statistics in the area that you were born, shell out some money and get them to send you a valid birth certificate? That is what I had to do. It cost me fifty dollars 25 years ago. I wonder what this costs now. I think that they should be free.
Lori says
February 5, 2009 at 11:23 amI am going through that with the credit bureau. At some point in time, someone entered the wrong day, the 18th instead of the 22nd. I had no idea, obviously the wrong keys were hit when entering on their end. Now I am in the process of buying a townhouse, and of course the bank looks up credit history. I have perfect credit, but the dates don’t match. This may cause enough of a delay that we lose the townhouse, as all the ‘subjects’ have to be lifted by Feb 11th, or the other people who put an offer in after us will get it. I am beyond angry that someones elses mistake is now my headache. I have a birth certificate/drivers licence etc with my correct birthday, but I guess with fraud scares these days……
Talina says
February 5, 2009 at 8:58 pmOn my current license my birth date is wrong too! Mine is thanks to an indiana BMV employee who typed a 5 instead of a 3… Nice huh?
Glad they gave you a license!
Jason, as himself says
February 5, 2009 at 9:25 pmThat’s messy! That is so funny that back then they just took a person’s word.
The world has changed
Linda's Place says
February 5, 2009 at 11:37 pmyeah….Daddy is still taunting you from his grave….he always was an a$#%$% wasn’t he 😉
Angie Ledbetter says
February 6, 2009 at 9:43 amLOL. Dads and anything to do with driving just do NOT go together well.
LceeL says
February 6, 2009 at 4:43 pmHey – what’s a parent for if not to mess with you – no matter HOW old you are?
nikki says
February 7, 2009 at 7:14 amGee, how wonderful of your dad! That sucks.
Absolutely Not Martha says
February 7, 2009 at 2:04 pmhello fab grandma! I’m adding you now to my blog roll–how about some link love?
Magpie says
February 7, 2009 at 3:16 pmLordy, that is a little dicey isn’t it.
Susan says
February 8, 2009 at 3:27 pmHey Karen,
FYI – you could have renewed your GA license online. I did it last time.
What will you be doing in November?
Oh – I read your Gluten Free blog. Very interesting!
Jacki says
February 9, 2009 at 7:29 amWho knew that years ago people took you for your word? Wonder how many people have “official” birth dates that are different then their true birth dates?
teeni says
February 10, 2009 at 10:48 amThat is a funny story. It’s neat to think back then that all they needed was your parent’s word. I hope you can get all this straightened out without too much trouble.