Temporary Washington license not a valid ID?

Published 2:46 pm Wednesday, January 13, 2016

I thought I was thinking ahead by getting my Washington license before the holiday break. It would be a new month by the time I got back from my vacation in New Jersey, and I wanted to get this over with.

I was pleased at the speed of the process at the facility in Kent. In less than 15 minutes, I had my temporary ID stashed in my wallet, with the assurance that the permanent one would soon arrive in the mail.

I had no problem getting through security at Sea-Tac. However, at Newark Liberty Airport, the TSA official was incredulous that I thought this flimsy piece of paper could possibly be considered a valid form of ID at an airport. Fortunately, I had additional identification with me; my health insurance card and a credit card allowed me to board the plane. Nevertheless, I had to suffer the indignity of being thoroughly searched by security.

Question: would it really be cost-prohibitive for a licensing facility to produce a laminated driver’s license with a holographic seal? Even a simple heads-up during the busy Christmas season would have been much appreciated.

– Lynda Accisano