Lynn Swearingen (c) copyright 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
There is a new component to the Connecticut and Florida Drivers Licenses – the much touted “Gold Star” two-tiered program which is partially Federally Funded, but all Federally Mandated. Starting October 3rd, residents of Connecticut will be required to provide as many as 6 forms of Identification to get this specially marked State ID (PDF). (No that xerox you took of your face does not count!)
There is an opt out, but it comes with an increasingly steep price:
DMV Commissioner Melody A. Currey said that without the gold star travelers will likely face greater scrutiny at airports and when entering federal buildings. Currey said the DMV is rolling out the new program now because Connecticut is on a six-year license renewal cycle and everyone needs to have a new license before 2017, when the federal regulations go into effect.
“This is a federally mandated program to improve security,” Currey said. “We live next door to New York City and after what happened there I think we need to assure our residents that we are doing everything we can to properly identify people.”
I find this humorous. What type of additional scrutiny are we talking about here? Already passengers enjoy the “after dinner foreplay” without the obligatory 3 course cheap buffet to get into an airport, what’s next – a cavity search because we won’t wear carry the Federally Funded and Mandated yellow star? More