New driver licenses available in West Seattle starting today

| West Seattle news | Westwood

As mentioned here last month, today’s the first day that “enhanced driver licenses” are available in our state, for people who want to be able to travel to Canada without a passport when new ID requirements kick in next week. The West Seattle driver-license office next to Westwood Village is one of only 11 statewide where it’s available. By the way, if you’re going to that office to get one of these or handle any other business — you can get an update on current waiting times by clicking the “Seattle-West” link on this page.

Jeff January 22, 2008 (12:55 pm)

We get to pay extra money so they can further enact their big brother surveillance state? National ID cards trough the back door, I love it. Maybe they can tie it in with my credit cards and library card so they can better track everything. And remember, citizen (this from the FAQ): make sure you put your ID in its proper “security sleeve” so you aren’t broadcasting to the baddies the presence of an American tourist!

JimmyG January 22, 2008 (2:31 pm)

Here’s what I don’t understand–if you knew you were going to need to cross the border on a regular basis–why wouldn’t you just go ahead and get a passport?

Michael January 22, 2008 (2:35 pm)

I can’t find anywhere agreement by Canada to accept the card for entry into their country. Which means you’d still need to bring a passport or birth certificate on top of your special EDL.

Chris January 22, 2008 (3:20 pm)

I wonder if anyone is checking to see if the RF frequencies used on this thing clash with the frequencies used in my new Transportation Worker’s Identity Credential (TWIC) card, or the new enhanced passports? It seems like there could be all sorts of untowards goings on in your back pocket now.

I can now be identified at least 125 different ways, by different systems, credentials, logins, passwords, scanners, etc.

Generally, I am a pretty center to right kind of guy, but it really seems like we’re clamping down on the honest citizens rather than addressing some of our true problems.

Sue January 22, 2008 (3:27 pm)

I was all set to get one of these until I read the comment in the original post that directed us to read this fact sheet: http://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/EDLvPassport_factsheet.pdf . I’m not generally a paranoid person, but with identity theft becoming a bigger problem, the last thing I need is unscrupulous people being able to read my personal info just because they bought a reader. No thanks. I’ll just keep carrying my passport when I need it.

Aim January 22, 2008 (3:56 pm)

JimmyG – for some of us it’s a cost issue. I don’t generally have an extra $100 lying around, but I can find $15 to upgrade my regular DL. I don’t travel across the border all that often, but half of my family is there, so I do have to go occasionally. If there were a medical emergency with my grandmother, for instance, I’d have to go right away. However, I’m not pleased with this new card. And the newer passports are supposed to have RFIDs or microchips in them too.

My question is, what about someone who has permanent residency status but is not a citizen? My mother is a permanent legal resident, but is not a citizen. She crosses the border all the time to see her mother. They just changed over all the green cards, so is she now going to have to get further documentation? Probably.

I have been the victim of identity theft. It’s been >5 years and I’m STILL getting new bills and credit “dings” I didn’t know about. I’m less than thrilled to have yet another thing that makes it easy to get my information. Not to mention the Big Brother aspect of it all. I truly fail to see how this is a good thing.

mrsB January 22, 2008 (6:14 pm)

To all you paranoid people out there – you’re not required to get the new EDL. Use your new RFID’d passport instead!

Jack Loblaw January 22, 2008 (8:03 pm)

The new EDL in Washington state is step one of a required change in order to travel on airlines without additional screening. If you were born after 1964 that date is 2011 if before 1964 it is 2017 ( old folks don’t cause trouble I guess ). See this link: http://www.dhs.gov/xprevprot/programs/gc_1172767635686.shtm You may thank the folks that brought us 911 for this since they boarded aircraft with licenses obtained through fraudulent means.