http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/KennethSchustereit/6764 I've been hauling scrap metal since I was 10 years old. I've recycled more that 200 tons of newspaper, glass, aluminum, stainless steel, copper, brass, radiators, batteries, iron, tin, lead and plastic.   I went to sell a load of junk today and was told I needed a "valid" drivers license to be able to do business! Now I understand the need for an ID considering all the theft of scrap materials nowadays but it's no business of Commercial Metals whether my drivers license is valid or not. Nor is it the business of the girl at HEB when she cashes my paycheck.   Does the name match the picture and the name on the check. That's it! I have news for Commercial Metals Corporation, it's none of their business whether my drivers license has expired.   According to the Constitution I have the right to move about this country freely and do business without showing my papers!   Now don't anyone go out to Commercial Metals and blame the nice ladies who pay the weight tickets! It's not their fault! Don't blame my good friend Lane who runs the place. It's not his fault either!   Look to Austin, the legislature and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Somewhere a few years ago that department of state government was taken over by a bunch of jackbooted Nazi thugs who feel they can do what they want. when they want! This statement excludes DPS patrol officers, my hats off and my thanks for their service!   In 2005 the TDPS sold their entire database of information on Texas citizens and made a cool $58 million doing it! However, in a Wired Magazine article concerning myself they admitted up to 29% of those records were either incorrect or not up to date. That means driving records and criminal records!   29%! Would you hire a construction company to build your home that had a 29% failure rate? Now we're expected to allow these people to dictate whether we can do business? Whether we can walk down the street without our papers?   In 1998 a Hallettsville Reserve Sheriff's deputy stopped my son walking down Main Street with his skateboard! The deputy was driving an ambulance! He wanted to see my son's ID! He told my son that without a Texas Identification Card he could hold him for "48 hours!" Anyone recall the old movies about WWII and the stormtrooper stopping people on the street demanding their papers?   This is supposed to be a free country! We should be able to go about our business on a daily basis without having to show our papers to some very nice, innocent clerk or cashier forced to act on behalf of the state! Kind of makes me wonder what'll happen when the "Real ID" is implemented?   The water in that pot is getting warmer every day! That frog better do something!   I've been hauling scrap metal since I was 10 years old. I've recycled more that 200 tons of newspaper, glass, aluminum, stainless steel, copper, brass, radiators, batteries, iron, tin, lead and plastic.   I went to sell a load of junk today and was told I needed a "valid" drivers license to be able to do business! Now I understand the need for an ID considering all the theft of scrap materials nowadays but it's no business of Commercial Metals whether my drivers license is valid or not. Nor is it the business of the girl at HEB when she cashes my paycheck.   Does the name match the picture and the name on the check. That's it! I have news for Commercial Metals Corporation, it's none of their business whether my drivers license has expired.   According to the Constitution I have the right to move about this country freely and do business without showing my papers!   Now don't anyone go out to Commercial Metals and blame the nice ladies who pay the weight tickets! It's not their fault! Don't blame my good friend Lane who runs the place. It's not his fault either!   Look to Austin, the legislature and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Somewhere a few years ago that department of state government was taken over by a bunch of jackbooted Nazi thugs who feel they can do what they want. when they want! This statement excludes DPS patrol officers, my hats off and my thanks for their service!   In 2005 the TDPS sold their entire database of information on Texas citizens and made a cool $58 million doing it! However, in a Wired Magazine article concerning myself they admitted up to 29% of those records were either incorrect or not up to date. That means driving records and criminal records!   29%! Would you hire a construction company to build your home that had a 29% failure rate? Now we're expected to allow these people to dictate whether we can do business? Whether we can walk down the street without our papers?   In 1998 a Hallettsville Reserve Sheriff's deputy stopped my son walking down Main Street with his skateboard! The deputy was driving an ambulance! He wanted to see my son's ID! He told my son that without a Texas Identification Card he could hold him for "48 hours!" Anyone recall the old movies about WWII and the stormtrooper stopping people on the street demanding their papers?   This is supposed to be a free country! We should be able to go about our business on a daily basis without having to show our papers to some very nice, innocent clerk or cashier forced to act on behalf of the state! Kind of makes me wonder what'll happen when the "Real ID" is implemented?   The water in that pot is getting warmer every day! That frog better do something!   en-us elect a liberal into office and see what happens http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/KennethSchustereit/6764/#c_39697 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/KennethSchustereit/6764/#c_39697 elect a liberal into office and see what happens I have read and re-read this post. I am sooooo confused. Are you driving without a valid (expired) driver's license? If so, what kind of a role model are you? If not, I apologize. http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/KennethSchustereit/6764/#c_39708 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/KennethSchustereit/6764/#c_39708 I have read and re-read this post. I am sooooo confused. Are you driving without a valid (expired) driver's license? If so, what kind of a role model are you? If not, I apologize. Pat: No apology needed. A valid question indeed. My drivers license is indeed valid. The clerk checked the date as she was told to do and I asked why. She said her instructions were that the card had to be valid. On my Social Security card, which is a signed contract between myself and the federal government, it says not to be used for identification. You shall not be issued a drivers license in Texas without showing that card! This is a gross abomination on the people of Texas! The excuse? So the state can better track deadbeat dads! Liar, liar, pants on fire! A 67 year old grandmother is surely not a deadbeat dad! This is nothing more than the state using fascist tactics to keep track of each of us. Enter my name on the google search engine with the words "bad background check" and see what the state of Texas did to me. And now Bush and his "Real ID" scheme will only make it worse. Evilservo: both the extreme right and the extreme left love this idea. I've always said If you drift far enough to the right or left when it comes to civil rights you'll meet around back! The question is; how much more of this fascist/communist garbage are we going to put up with before we clean out the legislature at the ballot box? It's time right-thinking Democrats and Republicans put their heads together and voted the entire state legislature out! Democrats and Republicans ALL voting for incumbants! Wouldn't that be sweet? You reckon they'd listen to us then? http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/KennethSchustereit/6764/#c_39717 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/KennethSchustereit/6764/#c_39717 Pat: No apology needed. A valid question indeed. My drivers license is indeed valid. The clerk checked the date as she was told to do and I asked why. She said her instructions were that the card had to be valid. On my Social Security card, which is a signed contract between myself and the federal government, it says not to be used for identification. You shall not be issued a drivers license in Texas without showing that card! This is a gross abomination on the people of Texas! The excuse? So the state can better track deadbeat dads! Liar, liar, pants on fire! A 67 year old grandmother is surely not a deadbeat dad! This is nothing more than the state using fascist tactics to keep track of each of us. Enter my name on the google search engine with the words "bad background check" and see what the state of Texas did to me. And now Bush and his "Real ID" scheme will only make it worse. Evilservo: both the extreme right and the extreme left love this idea. I've always said If you drift far enough to the right or left when it comes to civil rights you'll meet around back! The question is; how much more of this fascist/communist garbage are we going to put up with before we clean out the legislature at the ballot box? It's time right-thinking Democrats and Republicans put their heads together and voted the entire state legislature out! Democrats and Republicans ALL voting for incumbants! Wouldn't that be sweet? You reckon they'd listen to us then? I have to agree with you about the drivers liscence/i.d. situation. Being in the military some states auto extend you drivers liscence so that it is valid as long as you are in the military, Texas being one of those states. So why is it that when I get pulled over and the officer asks for my drivers liscence and the adress is not current, they tell me that I could get in trouble for it, the address is wrong, It's not like I am deliberatly driving around with an expired liscence. I understand the need to have an updated i.d./liscence, but the implications that you can go to jail or worse for not having one or keeping up to date are borderline cruel and unusual punishment. http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/KennethSchustereit/6764/#c_39724 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/KennethSchustereit/6764/#c_39724 I have to agree with you about the drivers liscence/i.d. situation. Being in the military some states auto extend you drivers liscence so that it is valid as long as you are in the military, Texas being one of those states. So why is it that when I get pulled over and the officer asks for my drivers liscence and the adress is not current, they tell me that I could get in trouble for it, the address is wrong, It's not like I am deliberatly driving around with an expired liscence. I understand the need to have an updated i.d./liscence, but the implications that you can go to jail or worse for not having one or keeping up to date are borderline cruel and unusual punishment. NavyGuy: My son is a PO3 with the Coast Guard in St. Petersburg, Fla. One hand at the Texas Department of Public Safety has no idea what the other is doing. The officers in the field put their trust in a records system that is 29% incorrect and out of date. What kind of system is that? Thank you for your service! http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/KennethSchustereit/6764/#c_39728 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/KennethSchustereit/6764/#c_39728 NavyGuy: My son is a PO3 with the Coast Guard in St. Petersburg, Fla. One hand at the Texas Department of Public Safety has no idea what the other is doing. The officers in the field put their trust in a records system that is 29% incorrect and out of date. What kind of system is that? Thank you for your service! Why has the Advocate blocked out the "St." on the Florida city? How about it Chris Cobler? http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/KennethSchustereit/6764/#c_39729 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/KennethSchustereit/6764/#c_39729 Why has the Advocate blocked out the "St." on the Florida city? How about it Chris Cobler? Saint http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/KennethSchustereit/6764/#c_39730 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/KennethSchustereit/6764/#c_39730 Saint Saint is ok but it's abbreviation isn't? http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/KennethSchustereit/6764/#c_39731 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/KennethSchustereit/6764/#c_39731 Saint is ok but it's abbreviation isn't? Weird.  I have no idea why the system won't allow st.  It's not in our filter list.  We'll check into it.  Sorry for the inconvenience.  http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/KennethSchustereit/6764/#c_39738 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/KennethSchustereit/6764/#c_39738 Weird.  I have no idea why the system won't allow st.  It's not in our filter list.  We'll check into it.  Sorry for the inconvenience.  The time out on blogging is a real irritation. Drives me nuts! What is the actual time limit? I try to edit my posts and re-read them several times for grammer and accuracy and then I hit the post button and an hour and a halfs work disappears into cyberspace! Then I usually call the Advocate and shout into someone's voicemail with great indignation! http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/KennethSchustereit/6764/#c_39744 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/KennethSchustereit/6764/#c_39744 The time out on blogging is a real irritation. Drives me nuts! What is the actual time limit? I try to edit my posts and re-read them several times for grammer and accuracy and then I hit the post button and an hour and a halfs work disappears into cyberspace! Then I usually call the Advocate and shout into someone's voicemail with great indignation! Ken, I have an interesting aside to add to this. About half a year ago, I was pulling out of a gravel county road onto a highway, with somewhat of a rolling stop, and a DPS caught it. Pulled me over, and gave me a warning. I fully admit I did not come to a complete stop and was grateful for the warning and not a ticket. Strange to me, however, they made me get out of the car (I was dressed in scrubs and going to work) and made me stand between their car and mine while they (there were 2 of them) scrutinized my DL. I am one of those unfortunate people who look like their driver's license pic, so no doubt it truly was I on the DL. It is not expired, and about as valid as one can get.  I have no history of infractions, but I tell you, they appeared to pick apart EVERY letter and bit of info on my DL. They asked me if the address was correct (yes, of course it was), asked me if this was my DL (DUH!), and then proceeded to ask me "Well, weren't you coming off county road (an example here, not the actual road number) 123? No, I replied, I was leaving road 321 (the road I live on; I had just left home, about a quarter mile down the gravel road to go to work) and also the number that my DL states is my correct address. The DPS officer looked at me for a few seconds, then said, "I thought that was road 123 back there". Of course I didn't want to correct him, but had to, as I certainly know the road I have lived on for years. I told him, "No, that's road 321, I live right down that road, and as you can see, I am on my way to work...." He just said, "Oh.". What the?????? I thought. Well, they finally let me go but sure acted like they were looking for something - exactly what, I don't know.....but boy I almost felt guilty even though it was a minor infraction that just recieved a warning. All I can say is, officers seem to be scrutinizing our licenses and IDs like never before. Is this part of the Homeland Security thing? If anyone has any answers, please speak up! Otherwise, I am with you on this, Ken, and I know how you were made to feel! Not a comfortable feeling.....so even if it was road 123, or 321, or whatever, what does that matter? Since when do citizens not have the right to travel freely any road they desire. I felt like they were trying to tell me I had no business being down that road, when I had all the business in the world being there! http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/KennethSchustereit/6764/#c_39746 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/KennethSchustereit/6764/#c_39746 Ken, I have an interesting aside to add to this. About half a year ago, I was pulling out of a gravel county road onto a highway, with somewhat of a rolling stop, and a DPS caught it. Pulled me over, and gave me a warning. I fully admit I did not come to a complete stop and was grateful for the warning and not a ticket. Strange to me, however, they made me get out of the car (I was dressed in scrubs and going to work) and made me stand between their car and mine while they (there were 2 of them) scrutinized my DL. I am one of those unfortunate people who look like their driver's license pic, so no doubt it truly was I on the DL. It is not expired, and about as valid as one can get.  I have no history of infractions, but I tell you, they appeared to pick apart EVERY letter and bit of info on my DL. They asked me if the address was correct (yes, of course it was), asked me if this was my DL (DUH!), and then proceeded to ask me "Well, weren't you coming off county road (an example here, not the actual road number) 123? No, I replied, I was leaving road 321 (the road I live on; I had just left home, about a quarter mile down the gravel road to go to work) and also the number that my DL states is my correct address. The DPS officer looked at me for a few seconds, then said, "I thought that was road 123 back there". Of course I didn't want to correct him, but had to, as I certainly know the road I have lived on for years. I told him, "No, that's road 321, I live right down that road, and as you can see, I am on my way to work...." He just said, "Oh.". What the?????? I thought. Well, they finally let me go but sure acted like they were looking for something - exactly what, I don't know.....but boy I almost felt guilty even though it was a minor infraction that just recieved a warning. All I can say is, officers seem to be scrutinizing our licenses and IDs like never before. Is this part of the Homeland Security thing? If anyone has any answers, please speak up! Otherwise, I am with you on this, Ken, and I know how you were made to feel! Not a comfortable feeling.....so even if it was road 123, or 321, or whatever, what does that matter? Since when do citizens not have the right to travel freely any road they desire. I felt like they were trying to tell me I had no business being down that road, when I had all the business in the world being there! It probably has everything to do with inforamtion they receive from Austin. Just guessing! When Wired Magazine did my story I printed it out and took it to the local DPS office and asked Sgt. McBroom to read it! He looked at me in a most insolent manner and suggested he might just throw it in the trash! The higher you go up in that organization the more arrogant you become, it seems to me! Reader's Digest also did my story. I got extra copies and gave them to several state troopers. We are in trouble and it's only getting worse!  http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/KennethSchustereit/6764/#c_39747 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/KennethSchustereit/6764/#c_39747 It probably has everything to do with inforamtion they receive from Austin. Just guessing! When Wired Magazine did my story I printed it out and took it to the local DPS office and asked Sgt. McBroom to read it! He looked at me in a most insolent manner and suggested he might just throw it in the trash! The higher you go up in that organization the more arrogant you become, it seems to me! Reader's Digest also did my story. I got extra copies and gave them to several state troopers. We are in trouble and it's only getting worse!  One evening I was picking up a few kids at the tennis courts.  I was parked in a parking spot waiting for the kids to finish up when a policeman pulled in with his lights on.  I didn't know if I had been pulled over or what.  The engine was off.  I thought, "Am I speeding here while parked?" He asked for my driver's license.  Very awkward moment for me!  LOL http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/KennethSchustereit/6764/#c_39938 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/KennethSchustereit/6764/#c_39938 One evening I was picking up a few kids at the tennis courts.  I was parked in a parking spot waiting for the kids to finish up when a policeman pulled in with his lights on.  I didn't know if I had been pulled over or what.  The engine was off.  I thought, "Am I speeding here while parked?" He asked for my driver's license.  Very awkward moment for me!  LOL Rebecca: I was sitting having a cup of coffee in a local place of business when an off duty sheriff's deputy was talking in a bragging manner of people he'd arrested. He got to talking about identification and I told him I didn't mind any officer asking for ID but I don't use my Social Security Card for identification. He said if he felt he needed "further identification" he'd ask for a SS card. I told him he wouldn't get mine. He said I "take the trip then!" The guy was a real scumbag. A few months later the Sheriff said his deputies would not be asking for SS cards! "Further identification?" I mean it doesn't even have a picture on it! He was just being a fascist! http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/KennethSchustereit/6764/#c_39942 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/KennethSchustereit/6764/#c_39942 Rebecca: I was sitting having a cup of coffee in a local place of business when an off duty sheriff's deputy was talking in a bragging manner of people he'd arrested. He got to talking about identification and I told him I didn't mind any officer asking for ID but I don't use my Social Security Card for identification. He said if he felt he needed "further identification" he'd ask for a SS card. I told him he wouldn't get mine. He said I "take the trip then!" The guy was a real scumbag. A few months later the Sheriff said his deputies would not be asking for SS cards! "Further identification?" I mean it doesn't even have a picture on it! He was just being a fascist!