# Poll--are you honest on your drivers license **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 18, 2011, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-are-you-honest-on-your-drivers-license/600007 "2011-10-18T04:08:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Frosted\_Glass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frosted_glass/32/3926_2.png) [@Frosted\_Glass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frosted_Glass)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-are-you-honest-on-your-drivers-license/600007/41 "2011-10-18T19:12:27Z")
My license does not have an option for weight. The height is off though. I got my license in the spring of junior year right after we had football physicals. They always fudge the heights and weights for hs sports and round up. When I went to the DMV I handed them the papers from my physical. It’s only off by a half of an inch now (it was closer to an inch and a half when I got it). I don’t really consider this an active lie because I adjusted my height in the system when I switched states and got my flashy new horizontal drinking ID. Like **DiosaBellissima** , they ignored my changes. Makes me wonder if its in the real system and just not on my license. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-are-you-honest-on-your-drivers-license/600007/42 "2011-10-18T20:54:28Z")
The height is accurate. I’ve been 5’4" for years. The weight was 110 lbs. at the time I got my learner’s permit. Two years after that, I lost weight with a severe bout of food poisoning and have never managed to gain it back, so I fluctuate between 97-100 (yes, I know I am too skinny). I’m not going to bother to update my license for that. Truth be told, I’m kind of self-conscious about it. 5’4", 110 lbs. is within the range of reason. I don’t want them eyeing me thinking I have anorexia if I change it. I realize overweight people won’t sympathize, but having random strangers come up to you and say “Why don’t you EAT more?” is really obnoxious already. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-are-you-honest-on-your-drivers-license/600007/43 "2011-10-18T21:23:06Z")
> [@Noone\_Special](#): > > The Drivers’ License here (almost) doubles as an ID card, so it makes sense to have the address on it. The address on the license _is_ pulled from the national DB according to your ID number (which is also on the card) > > There are a small number of things that only the official ID can be used for (voting being one of them), but that’s changing. And if you don’t drive then you’re limited to using the official ID in any case. The address-less drivers licence in Sweden is also a national ID Card. The other one I have had (issued by my bank, before I got my UK licence converted) didn’t either IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-are-you-honest-on-your-drivers-license/600007/44 "2011-10-18T21:24:52Z")
> [@gallows\_fodder](#): > > My current PA license shows only the height, which is accurate. > > My former MT license showed height and weight; only the height was accurate. However, I am now the weight that I used to lie and say I was, so that should count for something, right? 🙂 > > E: My current PA license does fib about something else, though – it says I have black eyes, but my eyes are dark brown. Your drivers licence has eye colour? ---
**Author:** ![Ashes\_Ashes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/db5fbb/32.png) [@Ashes\_Ashes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashes_Ashes)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-are-you-honest-on-your-drivers-license/600007/45 "2011-10-18T21:34:02Z")
My age, name, sex and eye color are about the only accurate info on there, these days. Originally, I guessed high on the weight and since then have changed hair color and texture, even address. My height changes because I’m right on the line. It’s enough of a difference I get lots of scrutiny and twice a cashier plain didn’t believe it was me. The pic is pretty bad so I choose to take it all as a compliment and simply look too gorgeous in person to be the troll on my licence. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-are-you-honest-on-your-drivers-license/600007/46 "2011-10-18T21:37:18Z")
MA drivers license doesn’t list weight. For my first drivers license I was 5’4" I can’t remember if I’d entered that or they did. I was 5’4" at the time. When my renewal came around I was 6’1" The DMV lady looked at the info then looked up at my and said ‘you aren’t 5’4" go stand next to that ruler, looks like 6’1" to me sign here.’ No opportunity to lie really. I wouldn’t lie anyhow, seems like it could just cause more hassles. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-are-you-honest-on-your-drivers-license/600007/47 "2011-10-18T22:10:49Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > Your drivers licence has eye colour? Most of the states I’m familiar with in the U.S. list height, weight, eye color, and typically hair color. It makes it more obvious if you try to use someone else’s ID. I just took a state-mandated alcohol serving class (I’m a volunteer bartender at the Elks), and they spent a bunch of time going over different drivers licenses (mostly U.S. and Canada, of course) and ID cards. I was surprised that the ID cards issued by some of the Indian reservations never expire. You can get a 40-year-old guy walking into a bar and ordering a beer, and his ID shows a picture taken when he was eight years old. Height and weight would be pretty useless on a card like that! ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-are-you-honest-on-your-drivers-license/600007/48 "2011-10-18T22:21:15Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:47, topic:600007”] Most of the states I’m familiar with in the U.S. list height, weight, eye color, and typically hair color. It makes it more obvious if you try to use someone else’s ID. [/QUOTE] Wouldn’t the photo make hair and eye colour (at least) kinda pointless? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-are-you-honest-on-your-drivers-license/600007/49 "2011-10-18T22:24:47Z")
> [@Apollyon](#): > > Wouldn’t the photo make hair and eye colour (at least) kinda pointless? You’re used to much higher quality photos than I normally see on driver’s licenses. I’ve seen some that made it hard to see that the person in the photo even had eyes, much less what color they are. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-are-you-honest-on-your-drivers-license/600007/50 "2011-10-18T22:28:42Z")
> [@Apollyon](#): > > Wouldn’t the photo make hair and eye colour (at least) kinda pointless? I don’t know about you, but I have seen very few driver’s license photos where I could make out the eye color. Especially now when there are often holograms over top of the photo. (Whoops - looks like **KneadToKnow** beat me to it) ---
**Author:** ![PandaBear77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-are-you-honest-on-your-drivers-license/600007/51 "2011-10-18T22:30:29Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:38, topic:600007”] No offense intended, but why? Do you ever show your license to anybody that knows you? If it’s just used for ID, why create hassles and get a cop to say, “Hey, you don’t look like 5’5”/115 lbs to me. I’m going to take you in and run fingerprints…" [/QUOTE] Because it’s none of their damn business what I weigh. That said – I certainly didn’t give them a number SO insane that a cop would see my license and go “WTF?” Huge lie, yes, but IME when you’re overweight most people look at you and all their little brains see is someone that’s fat - they can’t guess your actual weight for shit. Depending on how you carry your weight, you can use that to your advantage when getting your license. ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-are-you-honest-on-your-drivers-license/600007/52 "2011-10-18T22:58:51Z")
Oh, I agree that eye colour isn’t obvious on the licence photo… I meant more that looking at my photo it’s recognizably _me_… to the greying red-beard and rather grey hair, etc… and I’m not sure how much extra benefit would be gained from listing eye colour is all. (Oddly, NZ licences have 2 identical digital / printed photos on them – a tiny one in the top right and a larger one bottom left… no idea why). ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-are-you-honest-on-your-drivers-license/600007/53 "2011-10-19T08:14:50Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:47, topic:600007”] Most of the states I’m familiar with in the U.S. list height, weight, eye color, and typically hair color. It makes it more obvious if you try to use someone else’s ID. I just took a state-mandated alcohol serving class (I’m a volunteer bartender at the Elks), and they spent a bunch of time going over different drivers licenses (mostly U.S. and Canada, of course) and ID cards. I was surprised that the ID cards issued by some of the Indian reservations never expire. You can get a 40-year-old guy walking into a bar and ordering a beer, and his ID shows a picture taken when he was eight years old. Height and weight would be pretty useless on a card like that! [/QUOTE] Crikey. Here’s a Swedish driver’s licence: [http://www.korkortet.com/wp-content/uploads/korkort.jpg](http://www.korkortet.com/wp-content/uploads/korkort.jpg) That info in full: 1. Surname 2. First Names 3. Date of Birth 4a. Valid From 4b. Valid To 4c. Issuing Body 4d. Reference Number 4. National ID Number 5. Signature (I’m guessing 6 is the photo but it isn’t labelled) 6. Classes of vehicle licensed to drive. And yes, I have no idea where 8 went to. On the back there is a list of classes of vehicle: 9. Class (again) 10. Valid from. 11. Something I can’t translate regarding the class. 12. Other bits and pieces about that class. 13. Special additional bit that I have never seen used. And that’s it. No height, weight, hair colour, eye colour, address or anything like that. In fact, the photo on mine is also in black and white, although my head is turned slightly to the side so I show my ear, as they used to require that due to the alleged uniqueness of people’s ears. And this works as a valid national ID. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-are-you-honest-on-your-drivers-license/600007/54 "2011-10-19T22:59:43Z")
No weight on PA licenses/state IDs (I have the latter). I am indeed 5’5", on the dot. If my weight was listed I would give whatever was accurate at the time I got the card made. My current photo is very clear, looks just like me and you can see my eyes are blue as stated. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-are-you-honest-on-your-drivers-license/600007/55 "2011-10-20T05:36:48Z")
My height is accurate. My weight is five to ten pounds shy of reality-- I’m no longer seventeen! ---
**Author:** ![geneb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a88e4f/32.png) [@geneb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/geneb)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-are-you-honest-on-your-drivers-license/600007/56 "2011-10-20T20:04:20Z")
No weight on VA licenses, but everything else is accurate. Except my picture. They’re still using the picture they took when I was 17. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-are-you-honest-on-your-drivers-license/600007.md?page=2)