So, a while ago, I lost my wallet, which contained my NJ driver’s licenses (the photo license I got at 17, and the non-photo renewal).
So I got a replacement photo ID at the DMV. I was 22 at the time.
So last night I went to buy some beers and showed this latest photo license. Since I don’t pay any attention to the secondary details in life, it was news to me when the clerk informed me that I had a duplicate license, and that she couldn’t sell me the alcohol with that license! (Luckily, the wallet was found only a few days after I lost it, so I did have the original licenses with me and was able to complete my purchase.)
But now I’m very confused!
Why did they give me a duplicate license if I had lost the original? Perhaps because it is obviously very easy to lie about the loss, or find the original later, and they don’t want people walking around with two “original” licenses?
The clerk told me that the DMV will only issue you a completely new license if you need to change some information on it. Well, I did try to change my height down to 5’7’’, since they have me at 5’8’’ for some reason, but they rejected the change and I’m magically still an inch taller than I really am! Maybe height isn’t one of the properties that will get you a new license? Or did I just experience a typical DMV screwup?
Finally, regarding liquor stores’ policies on duplicate licenses:
I understand that a duplicate license might indicate that the ID is fake, and that liquor stores can reject any ID they want. But what if I hadn’t found my original license? Do you lose the privilege of buying alcohol when you lose your driver’s license?? Or is this just a case of a private business using tighter requirements than the state provides?