Kieran Healy’s Weblog Sociology and other distractions

That Photo Doesn’t Look Like You

I was at the DMV (or “MVD” as they say here) all morning, getting a new Driver’s License. Laurie came and got one, too. Because I am a worthless foreigner, my license is good only for the length of my current visa. But Laurie got a regular one (her being a bona fide citizen and all). It turns out that Arizona basically lets you have the same license forever! Laurie’s expires in 2041 or something. It’s amazing they even bother to put the date on the card. I don’t know why they do this. Perhaps the state doesn’t want to bother issuing new licenses every five or ten years, like other states. Whatever the reason, it means that if you get a Driver’s License in Arizona, you’ll probably expire before it does.

Kieran,
you of all people should know that most of the civilized world (aka Europe) gives life-long driver’s licenses. Well, Germany does anyway! If I remember right from when I had an AZ license, it’s valid until you’re 60 when you will have to submit to a rigorous “If you can hoist yourself up to lean on the counter, you must be able to drive in AZ!” exam to renew.

Ack, you’re right o course. I’m forgetting my roots.