Identification Please!

I recently lost my license. But I was responsible about it - as soon as I realized that it was officially gone I marched down to the RMV and plunked down the $20 for a duplicate. In the meantime I was given a paper temporary by the "kinder, more understanding" RMV.

I had been carrying this wonder of modern ID requirements for about a week when I stepped into the Pride gas station to buy cigarettes. It should be now before I get into the story that I tell you all that I am well over legal cigerette buying age.

I go to the counter and ask the kid behind the counter for a pack of Newport Lights. He walks over to the cigerettes, brings them over to the register, scans them in and then asks, "Can I see your ID please?" Not thinking it would be an issue, I pull out the paper ID and hand it over.

"Sorry, we can't take this - Do you have the laminated one?" He grimaces and looks up at me as if this question is painful to ask.

"No - I have this one because I lost my laminated one." I probably look a bit peeved at this point.

"Well, this isn't a legal ID and I can't take it - Sorry agian." He voids the cigerettes and starts to walk away.

I don't usually make a big deal out of this stuff - but he said it wasn't legal... this paper temporary is legal all right. If I have to take it at a bank, as long as it's accompanied by a secondary ID (ie signed credit card, ss card... etc), for things a lot more important then buying a pack of Newports! "What do you mean this isn't legal? Can I speak to your manager please?"

"No. These can be easily duplicated so we don't take them." Right after he said this the manager - an old woman who belongs in a geriatrics ward, not managing a Pride station - comes shuffeling out of the back room.

"We don't take those because they can be easily made."

I mutter some choice words under my breath and just walk away at this point. Cigarettes aren't important enough to make a fool out of myself in public for, I can always walk down to the next place and get them their. The point to the story is that if a bank, or a policeman has to use these ID's than what makes these gas stations any more important?