On Sat, 08 Nov 2003 19:16, you wrote:
> > 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.
Not no more. Since the international anti-money-laundering treaties came in it
is now really quite difficult to open a bank account.
> 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.
Agreed
> What does a rates demand notice prove?
While not quite a Title Deed, it does prove that you own the property. Nick
Rout will correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that you have to prove to
the legal person doing the conveyancing that you are who you say your are in
order to get your name on the property title. We are one of the very few
countries which have a officially administered system of land tenure.
> 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?
They do not care who _pays_ but the rates demand will be sent to the owner of
the property.
> 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
And we do not want one either. It stinks of the Totalitarian Police State
treating everybody as a criminal. In a free country it's not the Government's
job to check the identity of the Citizenry as they move about doing their
lawful businesses.
> the only really useful ID in New Zealand is a passport.
Agreed absolutely.
> 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
I have an epileptic friend who is not allowed to drive, and thus does not have
a 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)?
Oh too true! I don't go out on the road very much now simply because it's so
dangerous.
--
Sincerely etc.
Christopher Sawtell
NB. This PC runs Linux. If you find a virus apparently from me,
it has forged the e-mail headers on someone else's machine.
Please do not notify me when this occurs. Thanks.
