The men in our family have to listen as my daughter and I rant about feminist issues … once in awhile. My husband takes the Rodney Dangerfield or Seth McFarlane comedic approach in response usually by adding some offensive comment that elicits an eye-roll from his beloved daughter.
I wouldn’t exactly call the Georgia Department of Driver Services misogynistic, but ladies, especially married ladies, just try getting your driver’s license renewed and you may wonder. Heck, let’s not blame Georgia at all. The federal government passed the Real ID Act necessitating new documentation when renewing your license.
Now before everyone starts emailing me, I know the purpose is to help track illegal immigrants and prevent illegal voting. But doesn’t it seem like every time we attempt to fix one problem, we wind up mucking up three of four other things in the process?
Since the Real ID Act became effective July 1, 2012, renewing your driver’s license has gone from mailing the renewal fee for your previously hard-earned Georgia license and going about your business, to a mandatory appearance at what must be all residents’ favorite, most-well operated government agency … the driver’s license office. I know this is where I want to spend two or three hours on any given day.
Under the new requirements, everyone needs a minimum of four documents to prove their identity and residency. Things get tricky under several circumstances. If you took your husband’s name in marriage, be prepared to prove that ring on your finger stands for more than your love for all things shiny. Gotten a divorce? Changed your name again?
If you are a U.S. citizen and your name has legally changed for any reason you’ll need documentation to prove your identity. Doesn’t matter that you went through this process five or 25 years ago, you’re going to need to dig up the documents to prove, all over again, who you are. Supposedly a valid U.S. passport will cover this, but I’ve had more than one friend say that wasn’t enough.
If you need a copy of a Georgia marriage license, plan on a trip back to the county probate court where the license was originally purchased. Then just take a moment to appreciate the irony. In Gwinnett County, you’ll obtain a copy of your marriage license at the same window as a death certificate.
The Georgia DDS has a four-page list of the various documents you may use to prove your identity and residency at www.dds.ga.gov. I highly recommend not waiting until the last minute to prepare yourself.
I’d still change my name for my husband, and encourage my daughter to do the same some day. But I sure would like to avoid having to prove I did it over and over again.
Karen Huppertz has lived in Gwinnett County for 14 years. Reach her at karenhuppertz@gmail.com.
