# Screw You, Washington State Department of Licensing! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 20, 2017, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-you-washington-state-department-of-licensing/796822 "2017-09-20T18:21:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-you-washington-state-department-of-licensing/796822/41 "2017-09-22T02:02:28Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > You’re not required to get it changed when you move? Yes, of course. Which is why an ID that never expires isn’t feasible. ---
**Author:** ![HeweyLogan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heweylogan/32/547_2.png) [@HeweyLogan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeweyLogan)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-you-washington-state-department-of-licensing/796822/42 "2017-09-22T05:58:55Z")
NM ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-you-washington-state-department-of-licensing/796822/43 "2017-09-22T12:21:35Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Yes, of course. Which is why an ID that never expires isn’t feasible. So, you want the government forcing you to get a new license because you aren’t responsible and can’t be trusted to replace it when you change addresses? Why do you hate freedom? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-you-washington-state-department-of-licensing/796822/44 "2017-09-22T12:46:05Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I have no dog in this fight, but I’d love to see **Bricker** ’s response to this. > > Counselor ? > > ETA: apologies if circumvention of “Ignore” is improper. Is it? In sequence: Post 6 (the first post in the series): > [@Musicat](#): > > Good to see that Democrats are allowed to vote in Washington. Then AFTER post 6, post 9: > [@Bricker](#): > > Note that Washington does not require ID to vote, and note that the Washington State governor, lieutenant governor, and Speaker of the House are all Democrats. The upper chamber is tied, 24-24 R and D, with the Democratic lieutenant governor able to cast a tie-breaking vote. > > And that’s the state government that created the license fee of which the OP complains, > > Comments? Then post 11: > [@wguy123](#): > > Comment: Your “subtle” jab at Democrats is real clever. Recap: first person to mention a political party, and offer a political jab, did so in post 6, to which I responded. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-you-washington-state-department-of-licensing/796822/45 "2017-09-22T12:48:33Z")
> [@Debillw3](#): > > I’m not **Bricker** , but I could see how > > could be considered a jab at the opposing party. > > At the very least, it renders the “Only you actually brought up Republicans and Democrats” inaccurate, but, as I posted above, that’s the least of the problems with that particular post. Yep. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-you-washington-state-department-of-licensing/796822/46 "2017-09-22T15:03:18Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Recap: first person to mention a political party, and offer a political jab, did so in post 6, to which I responded. Thanks! I was following the thread, but missed post 6. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-you-washington-state-department-of-licensing/796822/47 "2017-09-22T15:16:11Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Yes, of course. Which is why an ID that never expires isn’t feasible. It’s feasible for people that don’t move. Just update it when you move. Here in Michigan, when we change our address, we don’t get new ID’s; we get a sticker with the new address to put on the back. As far as features changing, my passport has 300 pound, 38 year old me with a mustache and beard, but 200 pound me with a five o’clock shadow is still recognizable at 45. ---
**Author:** ![Debillw3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@Debillw3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debillw3)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-you-washington-state-department-of-licensing/796822/48 "2017-09-22T15:43:17Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > As far as features changing, my passport has 300 pound, 38 year old me with a mustache and beard, but 200 pound me with a five o’clock shadow is still recognizable at 45. But will it still be apparently recognizable when you’re 75? It’s one thing to say that 10 years isn’t long enough, but that’s not the point up for discussion. The point up for discussion is why it ever needs to expire at all. Expiration allows for, among other things, an updated photo and updated security measures (similar to how they update money). Whether those things actually need to change every 10 years is a very different discussion than whether they ever need to change at all. And in response to the latter, I think we can all agree than an ID that I got at 21 would be pretty useless for identification when I’m in my 80’s. ---
**Author:** ![Hocus\_Pocus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/41988e/32.png) [@Hocus\_Pocus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hocus_Pocus)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-you-washington-state-department-of-licensing/796822/49 "2017-09-23T11:07:06Z")
Those ceramic salmon aren’t going to pay for themselves! ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-you-washington-state-department-of-licensing/796822/50 "2017-09-24T13:38:47Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > You’re not required to get it changed when you move? I’ve seen many posts about people driving with State A licenses months or years after they left State A , some of whom got ticketed for after being pulled over for some unrelated reason and admitting they have lived in State B long enough to be required to have a State B license. Lots of people don’t bother to get a new license when they move out of state- imagine how many don’t bother to tell the issuing agency when they move in-state. The agency that issues licenses will never know I have moved unless I tell them. BTW, even the fact that the license expires doesn’t mean they have captured correct information for every driver. Although I don’t work for the DMV or equivalent, I have encountered a number of people professionally who live in NYC and have had licenses from North Carolina or Florida etc. As far as I can tell, in most states you have to prove your residence once and the fact that the new license is mailed to you serves as proof that the address is still current. Which works sometimes- but I could still be using the address I used when I first got my license over 35 years ago , since I can still receive mail there. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2017, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-you-washington-state-department-of-licensing/796822/51 "2017-09-25T03:21:18Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > Charging that much up-front for a simple photo ID is just plain discriminatory against low-income people. The photo ID is only different in the colors & design on it. The same technology is used to produce it, it contains the same scannable bar codes, etc. If it costs the same amount to produce, why shouldn’t the fee be the same? And for either one, it’s possible to get a fee reduction for financial hardship. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-you-washington-state-department-of-licensing/796822.md?page=2)