> or office. For the anonymous -- to me -- faces I'd like to see a passport, or
> a bank-card, or thirdly a drivers-licence, all with a written signature made
> in front of me. Remember that neither drivers' licences nor community service
> cards are really id at all because of the ease with which, possibly false,
> supporting documents can be obtained, but I suppose a wallet full of cards of
> one sort or another which all corresponded would probably be ok. A rates
> demand notice is also pretty good supporting evidence.
Anything without photo is not suitable ID. As you say, it seems
reasonably easy to obtain a false driver's license. A wallet full of
identical plastic cards is no better than a false driver's license, as
all of those cards can be easily obtained starting with the false
license. Bank cards are zero ID, I can open any number of accounts with
a false driver's license. I never understood why someone asks for
things like electricity bills - when I move into a house and call the
power company, I can call myself Mickey Mouse and they wouldn't know
any better. What does a rates demand notice prove? That someone who can
obtain the letter mailed to that address can pay/has paid the sum -
does the city council care one bit who pays as long as they get their
money? I've read stories of how easy it is to get official cards ("no
sorry I can't show any more ID because my whole wallet got stolen").
With the lack of a useful personal ID card, the only really useful ID
in New Zealand is a passport. Yes everything can be bought, but it's as
safe as it'll ever get. This doesn't solve the problem for those who
don't have one of course. Is there anyone though who doesn't have a
driver's licence - considering it's essentially only a question of age,
answering a few pre-learned questions, and payment of some fee (nothing
to do with the ability to drive a vehicle)?
Volker
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Volker Kuhlmann is possibly list0570 with the domain in header
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