# Help! Wife needs ID by Thursday! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 16, 2004, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-wife-needs-id-by-thursday/275089 "2004-11-16T18:25:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jgroub](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b77776/32.png) [@jgroub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jgroub)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-wife-needs-id-by-thursday/275089/1 "2004-11-16T18:25:11Z")
I was reading **Zev Steinhardt** ’s thread “I’m still me, aren’t I?” and realized I have similar problem. Or at least, my wife does. :smack: We are flying to Florida from LaGuardia (NYC) on Friday, and her driver’s license also expired. (Yup, we’re New Yorkers, and we don’t drive.) One of the posters under Zev’s thread mentioned that bringing your social security card would be helpful. She can’t find her passport (don’t ask!) and the only other form of photo ID she has is her (still valid) building ID for the Empire State Building, where she works. Should I just ask to speak with a supervisor if I get any guff (:wally), and go up the food chain until I get someone with a brain who can make a decision like this? Yes, yes, we’ll be sure to get to the airport early. Any other suggestions on what we can bring to avoid headaches? Like me and my daughter for instance, who will vouch for her? Or pictures of all three of us together when my daughter was smaller, but still recognizable as her, proving that we’ve been a family for awhile? Samples of her blood, urine, and stool? HELP!!! ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-wife-needs-id-by-thursday/275089/2 "2004-11-16T18:27:43Z")
How long does it take to renew a driver’s licence in New York? Up here, it’s just a trip to the agency, write a cheque, and it’s done - new card issued on the spot. ---
**Author:** ![Abbie\_Carmichael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@Abbie\_Carmichael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abbie_Carmichael)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-wife-needs-id-by-thursday/275089/3 "2004-11-16T18:27:57Z")
Why not have her run down to the DMV and get one of those photo ID cards that they give to people who, for whatever reason, don’t drive? ---
**Author:** ![simply\_cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@simply\_cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simply_cats)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-wife-needs-id-by-thursday/275089/4 "2004-11-16T18:29:22Z")
I don’t know what life is like there in New York, but in Indiana you can go to the License Branch and get an ID card. I wouldn’t think it would be too difficult. ---
**Author:** ![jgroub](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b77776/32.png) [@jgroub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jgroub)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-wife-needs-id-by-thursday/275089/5 "2004-11-16T18:46:39Z")
Sorry - should have mentioned - she can’t get her DL renewed, because she has to take both an eye test and (I believe) a driving test, and there ain’t time! The part about the eye test gets worse - she needs glasses and will flunk the test, and she doesn’t want to have to get glasses (this would be the first time) to be able to pass the test. So, are we screwed? Any other ID substitutes? Should she just tear the house apart to find that passport? ---
**Author:** ![Servo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@Servo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Servo)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-wife-needs-id-by-thursday/275089/6 "2004-11-16T18:46:49Z")
> [@simply\_cats](#): > > I don’t know what life is like there in New York, but in Indiana you can go to the License Branch and get an ID card. I wouldn’t think it would be too difficult. The ID card would be a temporary one and won’t have a photo on it. The photo version gets mailed to you. I’d call your airline, and maybe the [NY/NJ Port Authority](http://www.panynj.gov/aviation/lgaframe.HTM). ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-wife-needs-id-by-thursday/275089/7 "2004-11-16T18:54:04Z")
I believe that there is a process for being able to fly without ID. A friend of mine set up a group trip to New York and two of the people showed up to the airport without their driver’s licenses. Their reasoning was that they were not going to be driving while in the big Apple… :smack: Anyway after much fun and games, they were allowed on the flight. My suggestions are: A) find the damn passport. Best. I.D. Ever. B) Apply for a lost passport, It will cost some serious bucks, but the passport agency can produce one in a couple of hours. You will have to travel to the federal building and wait, but it may be worth it. C) Take the expired license and pray D) Cancel the trip I don’t think contacting the Port Authority would be much help since security is done by the TSA. You might try their website. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-wife-needs-id-by-thursday/275089/8 "2004-11-16T20:12:02Z")
I don’t think it’s too much of a problem. Does she have a Social Security card on her? The TSA says that two non-picture forms of ID are acceptable, so long as one of them is government-issued. [http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?content=090005198004a900](http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?content=090005198004a900) ---
**Author:** ![jgroub](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b77776/32.png) [@jgroub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jgroub)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-wife-needs-id-by-thursday/275089/9 "2004-11-16T20:14:04Z")
**Rick** , thanks for the help. Yeah, the Port Authority is useless, and Delta doesn’t answer the g@#$%mn phone! I haven’t tried the TSA yet. We can’t cancel the trip because it’s my mom’s 70th Birthday! ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-wife-needs-id-by-thursday/275089/10 "2004-11-16T20:35:35Z")
Oh, and to be sure, you might want to print out that linked page and bring it with you to the airport. ---
**Author:** ![jgroub](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b77776/32.png) [@jgroub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jgroub)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-wife-needs-id-by-thursday/275089/11 "2004-11-16T20:40:19Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I don’t think it’s too much of a problem. Does she have a Social Security card on her? > > The TSA says that two non-picture forms of ID are acceptable, so long as one of them is government-issued. > > [http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?content=090005198004a900](http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?content=090005198004a900) You’ve done it again Magoo! (Even though I don’t know you). Thanks much. I have printed it out to take with me. That’s the “ticket!” (Ewww, bad pun.) Consider this thread closed. Thanks, all! ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-wife-needs-id-by-thursday/275089/12 "2004-11-16T23:36:23Z")
[New York has a non-driver ID card issued by the DMV.](http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/license.htm#nondriver) ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-wife-needs-id-by-thursday/275089/13 "2004-11-17T00:31:54Z")
Pre-911, I just had someone vouch for me when I lost my ID in a taxi in Philadelphia and I had to get home after Spring Break. Get a non-driver ID asap after your trip. ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-wife-needs-id-by-thursday/275089/14 "2004-11-17T01:17:30Z")
> [@simply\_cats](#): > > I don’t know what life is like there in New York, but in Indiana you can go to the License Branch and get an ID card. I wouldn’t think it would be too difficult. [newyorker] Oh, you _are_ funny! [/newyorker] ---
**Author:** ![tryout1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6de8d8/32.png) [@tryout1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tryout1)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-wife-needs-id-by-thursday/275089/15 "2004-11-17T03:16:14Z")
> [@](#): > > The part about the eye test gets worse - she needs glasses and will flunk the test, and she doesn’t want to have to get glasses (this would be the first time) to be able to pass the test. It sounds like your ID problem has been solved, but I’d like to suggest that if she needs glasses to drive \*she should get them. \* With respect, I don’t want to be trying to cross the street in front of her while she’s driving blind. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-wife-needs-id-by-thursday/275089/16 "2004-11-17T03:29:28Z")
I don’t know about you guys out there, but an expired driver’s licence is still a valid form of ID here. You just cant drive with it. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-wife-needs-id-by-thursday/275089/17 "2004-11-17T15:30:23Z")
I’m not sure I want to know what you have planned for Thursday that involves your wife’s id. ---
**Author:** ![jgroub](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b77776/32.png) [@jgroub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jgroub)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-wife-needs-id-by-thursday/275089/18 "2004-11-17T17:08:59Z")
> [@Steve MB](#): > > I’m not sure I want to know what you have planned for Thursday that involves your wife’s id. **Steve MB** , for shame! But I said it at the top of the thread - we need it for a flight. And, **ouryL** , I also mentioned that we’re New Yorkers - we don’t drive (my wife especially). Thus, the lapse in the license. So no worries! But, just to let you know how it turned out, she found her Birth Certificate and our Marriage Certificate, along with her Attorney Registration Form. I think all of that should be enough, especially since she’s also bringing her expired passport with a receipt showing that it was renewed, and my daughter’s Birth Certificate, listing her as mother. Again, consider this thread CLOSED, with many thanks, especially to **Ravenman**!