FreeStateID

[aries]

Free State ID. No driving component yet, just an ID card.

Here are my ideas -
*Orange, because in my head, it's the LP color.
*Photo on the right side
*Standard info on a license or state ID, PLUS we could allow people to display things like blood type, religion, whether to ressucitate or not, and other things they can't currently display.
*A holographic layer with something like "FSID" or maybe a picture.
*Only a birth certificate will be required to get it.
*Under 21 is vertical (not even state ID does this yet), under 18 is vertical and the color is lighter.

Cost?
Should there be any biometric attached, like a fingerprint? I Think no.
Should there be an electronic readable thing, like magnetic strip or bar code? Again, I say not necessary. Bar code MAYBE, but not initially. I cut the mag strip and barcode off my license with a knife.
Can you think of anything else for it?
Renewal period? 2 years would be profitable enough. We could even let customers opt for an automatic reminder, and pay for postage for them to mail back the card with some $$ and get an updated one.
Minor marketing will be necessary, especially to businesses. State liquor stoes will be hard!

We would need to market it to a lot of businesses. Look at the number that accept the liberty dollar, I'm sure many more will accept this as soon as they learn "yes this is legit" and that kids arent having them faked to buy booze. We could make some pamphlets to drop off with the naysayers. Nightclubs and some bars are the hardest to get to respect new things like this, many won't even accept an expired license as ID.

A computer database, say in a spreadsheed or SQL database, that was kept encrypted and did hourly backups to an offsite location would be easy enough, and secure enough not to worry customers.

[Zork]

I like the idea.  Orange is my favorite color, so you won't get any complaints on that one 

Absolutely NO chip.  I would prefer something that is not machine readable in any form.

As far as personal infomation.  I'd say name and birthdate, and all other information optional.  Have standard boxes on the form for common additions such as address, phone number, religion, organ donor, blood type, ressucitate, and a place to list medical allergies, such as penicillin.  On top of that, give the option to put anything else within reason on the ID, such as nickname, a favorite quote or anything else up to X characters.

Holograms should be easy to implement, there are companies that sell generic hologaphic stickers/foil that could be used to emboss our own design.  The ID itself could be printed from a color laser printer connected to a computer with a decent camera.  Besides costs for an actual place to conduct business, startup costs should be under $2000.

To comment on a moment on some posts in other threads about this idea, if there were 1000 people who paid $25/yr, that is $25,000/yr which, as you said, isn't enough to hire employees on.  But 1000 people is only an average of 4 people per day, based on a 5 day workweek and 18 holidays off. So that is entirely within the realm of ability of a single person.  People might not go for it if it's $25/yr.  $25/2 yr or $40/4 yrs (the length of current DL's, at least in NJ) would be more reasonable.  If you run the business out of your home, costs are very nominal.  At biannual renewals, if you have a customer base of ~2000 people,  who can run the whole thing yourself and make a comfortable living.

[AlanM]

Just so you know, the State Liquor Commission allows only 4 types of ID for Alcohol  Sales.
1) Drivers License from a State or Territory
2) Non-driver ID from State or Territory.
3) US military ID
4) Passport

Any other ID is not approved. Seller can be fined or the stores ability to sell can be withdrawn.

[Pat McCotter]

Orange...hmmm...Northern Ireland...

Why renew? I don't lose my identity periodically.

[aries]

Orange...hmmm...Northern Ireland...

Why renew? I don't lose my identity periodically.

Mostly, money. Also, because the design would be updated and security against counterfeiting would be improved as demand and use increased.

Maybe the state liquor commission would allow sales with this ID if we got it accepted at many stores and businesses, and had enough people using it.

I like $25/2 years, myself.

Anybody have any reccommendations for equipment to buy? It doesn't need to be done until 2008, but it's never too early to start looking.

And as far as a storefront, we would need one place where everything was printed, but a few locations around the state where you could apply to get one. Even running it out of the home would not be impossible, it just might look a little amateurish. At first, we could do that. The first $25000 could be well invested in some small office space, and maybe a little lobbying for recognition. I'd rather see the state stop controlling liquor sales, and let businesses choose what they accept as ID.

[dead_hobbit]

In Utah, the IDs for "minors" are vertical

[aries]

In Utah, the IDs for "minors" are vertical

They're considering implementing this here in NH too, I know it is in Vermont.

I am thinking that would be a good idea for FSID since it would help it gain legitimacy, and maybe even favor.

[Lex]

Why not call it YAID? Yet Another IDentification

There is no way this ID will find favor with government because they will not have control over it, thus being accepted for any government function is out of the question.

IDs are a silly concept. They serve absolutely no purpose. So, before you suggest a FreeStateID first you have to argue why we even NEED an ID in the first place.

[aries]

IDs are a silly concept. They serve absolutely no purpose. So, before you suggest a FreeStateID first you have to argue why we even NEED an ID in the first place.

Private businesses like them, too.

[Lex]

IDs are a silly concept. They serve absolutely no purpose. So, before you suggest a FreeStateID first you have to argue why we even NEED an ID in the first place.

Private businesses like them, too.

Private businesses would like to make money by sitting on their butts, too.

Just because someone "likes" something doesn't give them the right to destroy our privacy.

[aries]

IDs are a silly concept. They serve absolutely no purpose. So, before you suggest a FreeStateID first you have to argue why we even NEED an ID in the first place.

Private businesses like them, too.

Private businesses would like to make money by sitting on their butts, too.

Just because someone "likes" something doesn't give them the right to destroy our privacy.

But if they ask for ID, at least you can show them something that you didn't have to disclose everything about your very soul to get, just a birth certificate.

In fact, I'm thinking as an alternative to a birth certificate, I'll let someone get a notarized affirmation of identity, with a fingerprint or something on it, to make sure they don't get two. It would just be a small form stating that you are who you write you are, with space for your signature, name and DOB, fingerprint and the notary's stamp. Of course it's a long way off - 2 years tops though, if 1582 or 399 fails.

From the UL:

Real ID requires states to comply by May 2008 with a standard method of documenting each application for a driver's license. Birth certificates, lease agreements and other proof of identity and address will be required. A bar coding system on all licenses will also be put into place.

And as soon as the commissioner of Homeland Security gets his hands on the wheel "verified fingerprints, retina scans, photocopy of the deed to your home, DNA sample, serial numbers of any firearms you own, VIN of your car, credit history..." Whatever he can think of. And of course, it all has to be stored in a DMV database linked up with every other state in the Union.

[Pat K]

I would only like a card that states= I am (insert your name here) if this is not good enough for you please turn ID over. On the other side would be a picture of my middle finger saying hi.

[aries]

The Canadian LCBO offers this card: http://www.lcbo.com/socialresponsibility/byidcard.shtml

Only available for people 19-35 ONLY for buying alcohol. A license there costs $200+ so $20... I guess it's just for poor alcoholics?

They allow you to get a notarized affidavit, signed by a "guarantor" - a professional like a doctor, or lawyer. They let you use that as your only proof of age and name. So that makes sense for the FSID as well.

And even though the LCBO is a government authority, they aren't really authorized like the American DMV to create an ID card, so this is an example of an "alternative" ID in use somewhere.

[Zork]

NJ has the verticle DL for under 21, I believe.  It might just be minors, but I think it's all under 21.

As far as equipment.  Just a small, cheap computer, with a good color laser printer, such as an HP or a Ricoh, and decent digital camera, if you'll be doing photo ID's. ID card software.  Buy holograms to put on the ID.  Depending on the holograms using (there are some that you can buy that will also laminate), you will probably need a laminator also.  If you're going to save records submitted to protect against dups, you'll need a scanner.  Note on this:  if you store personal information, make sure it's password protected with STRONG, non-dictionary passwords that are routinely changed, and DO NOT connect the computer this information is stored on to any network, and certainly NOT to the internet.

I like the idea of using a letter of reference as proof of identity, although I would prefer some other verification than notarization, because notary publics are government authorized

Proof of identification is a perfectly valid request for a private business dealing in sensitive areas.  In the early 20th century, Herchel was the one who realized the fingerprints were unique and used them as a signature on contracts.  That's perfectly legitamite.  It's the government that doesn't have any business with that information, because you aren't forced to do business with the business, but you can't escape the gubermint!

[Ron Helwig]

I like the idea of using a letter of reference as proof of identity, although I would prefer some other verification than notarization, because notary publics are government authorized

notary privates?