Posted: January-28-2009 at 6:56pm | IP Logged	Tweet

Yep SRII, I went through the same thing when my four year renewal came up here in Sullivan County, TN a couple of years ago.  I went to the office on 11W going towards Kingsport.  I walked in and took my number and filled out my paperwork.  I brought proof of residency in the form of a mortgage statement and electricity bill.  When I got to the clerk I provided the proof and my paperwork to be told by the clerk that the proof I provided is not what they needed this time around but my birth certificate.  I got mad for two reasons:  1.  The paper they mailed me did not say I was to bring a birth certificate for the first renewal (they said it was a new policy in which it had not been updated on the papers that the county/state sends out).  Also, I did not have to provide a birth certificate when I first got my Tennessee drivers license which I thought was backwards.  2.  I waited over an hour for my number to be called to be told this information. 

So, I went back home or should I say to my parents house to get my birth certificate.  Mom only gave me the one that the hospital gives out not the "official" birth certificate.  So, I drive back to the office from Abingdon, take another danged number and waited for over an hour again.  Got to the clerks window and gave them my paper and my birth certificate.  The clerk says "you have to provide the "official' birth certificate.  I remember saying to the clerk "for the love of God please accept this birth certificate, it has my name on it, it matches the name on this paper, my current license, my social security card, and my Tennessee and Virginia fishing licenses.  Please let me renew my drivers license."  She went ahead and renewed them. 

So, when I moved to my new house last April, I was afraid of going to the office so I went online and changed my address on my license and they mailed me a copy. 

I know how you feel!  Been there, done that!!

Posted: January-28-2009 at 8:07pm | IP Logged	Tweet

Hey "SpeedRacer," you've heard me say in the past that I don't have any issues with those who want to enter the United States, just do it through the legal avenues and don't break the law. You're just a "Desperado." ROFL ... Just be glad you didn't have your nephew (Shawn) with you, he might've called you "Sam The Snowman," and you'd really been in trouble then, being it doesn't say that on your current driver's license. LOL LOL LOL

So what's the deal the Commonwealth of Virginia has with you? You're an illegal alien. You should've told 'em you changed your name to Lynnjose Peres Peteros. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

Hey guys, I was very worried back the first of January that I was going to have to retake the Tennessee Driver's Examination to renew my license. I know we're responsible for knowing when our driver's license will expire, but c'mon, does anybody really look closely to see when your license will expire? A lifelong buddy of mine, his younger brother (also a buddy) let his driver's license expire last summer. His license was four months expired. It happened because Robbie and his wife and kids had bought a new house since last time he'd had to renew his license, and he didn't receive any renewal information at his current residence. Being his license was four months expired, he had to retake the driver's written exam.

Well, being my birthday is December 26, I would've expected to have received by renewal notice at least by the first week of December. My birthday was on Friday, December 26 and I received my renewal notice on Saturday, December 27.

The local Tennessee Highway Patrol testing location here in Johnson City is just off I-26 at the Boones Creek Road exit, and it's only open Monday through Thursday for driver's license testing/renewal. I go out there on Monday, December 29 about 2:30 p.m. and the place is jam-packed.

When I showed the lady my renewal notice I received in the mail on Saturday, the day after my birthday, I nicely asked her "Do I have to retake the driver's license test? I hope not, I might fail it." And I laughed. I told her I know it's my responsibility to know when my license will expire, but being I was turning 50 years old this year I was traumatized, and again I laughed. HA HA HA HA ... She looked at me and smiled, and said I'm now officially a senior citizen and I'd have to take the senior citizen exam. I thought, "Oh no, I am going to have to take an exam." 

She finally told me I wouldn't have to take an exam, that all I needed to do was either use one of the computer terminals to renew my driver's license online and use a credit card to pay, or I could take a number if I didn't have a credit card and I'd have to wait my turn. She said it would probably take at least two hours. I told her I'd renew over on one of the computer terminals. Heck, it took about maybe 5-8 minutes to do that. And what was even more amazing is, I thought I'd done something wrong. Because before I could close my wallet and put it in my pocket, my name was called out. I was kind of stunned, and I looked over and this lady motioned me over. It was to have my new photo made.

I was really glad the process turned out to be so simple. Because I just knew since my license had expired that I would have to retake the exam.  

Posted: January-28-2009 at 9:03pm | IP Logged	Tweet

Obviously the Commonwealth of Virgnia decided that it was "odd" also to have licenses expire on the last day of your birth month. They changed it a very few years ago, and that was a change that I hadn't kept up with.   HA HA

Used to be though, in Virginia, that a drivers license, just like your vehicle registration was good through the last day of the month. Last time I had been in the DMV to renew my license would have been 2001 I suppose. In Virginia, we could renew every other time online and keep the same photo on the license. I did that last time, renewing online... and renewed it on 12/16..... the very day that I received the renewal notice...and that license was valid until 01/02/09. Thing is that I just never thought about it. I received the renewal notice last month and just assumed that I had until the end of this month. That was my mistake and I take full responsobility for that. However, the fact that DMV employees who know me, and who are requiring me to PROVE that I am in this country legally have insulted me just to show their authority. As they themselves pointed out when I questioned the need for a certified birth certificate, they only have to look at it to verify that I am in the United States legally before they can proceed with renewing my license. It goes nowhere else and nobody else has to see it. My point was that these people could just as easily have looked at any of several items of identification I had with me.... and I still contend tha the mere fact that I had a drivers license in the first place, and that the DMV records showed that my license had been in effect uninterrupted for 43 years should show anyone with resonable intelligence that I was in this country and in Virginia with "legal presence". For them to require a certifed birth certificate was an insult. Heck, with a 43-year excellent driving record you'd think that the DMV might give some kind of award instead of treating me with such disrespect.   HA HA   AND, for them to tell me that they could also accept a Resident Alien Card if I had one was totally unprofessional and uncalled for..... unless they were dumb enough to think that I might actually have one.

Ahhhh.... but, it probably made those ladies day to get to harrass somebody like that, and if they are happy I'm happy for them. People like them don't bother me. I used the experience to write a humorous story and make light of a ridiculous situation created by a stupid system that allows true illegals freedom to drive on our highways in rickety cars with "Farm Use" tags and no insurance, while people like me have to park our vehicles and spend a couple of days proving that we have a "legal presence" in this country. I love this country. The USA is wonderful. The problem is that a lot of the people in positions of authority are idiots.  Bottom line.

Posted: January-28-2009 at 9:09pm | IP Logged	Tweet

Yep, RW.... the vehicle inspection requirement in Virginia is an excellent program, I absolutely do not mind paying the annual inspection fee, and I like the idea of knowing that every other vehicle in the state also gets a basic safety inspection every year.

Posted: January-28-2009 at 9:35pm | IP Logged	Tweet

"SpeedRacer" as you and others who know me, y'all know I'm an easy-going person. But just thinking about any doggone illegal Mexican in this country absolutely makes my blood boil. Mainly, if they or any other foreigner want to enter the United States, do so through the legal avenues available. Don't break the dang law to enter the country illegally, and then take advantage of employment, medical, and other opportunities available.

I've had first-hand experience getting my vehicle torn-up by an illegal Mexican, and ol' Jose took off running never to get caught. Why did he run? Well, he was an illegal to start with. No insurance is another.

What really upsets me with the state of Tennessee is, how can a D-A-M-N illegal Mexican apply for and take the test to receive a driver's license? Then, they will purchase a cheap vehicle and not buy insurance. They know they're illegally in the country, and if they are involved in an accident, they just take off running and abandon their vehicle.

The damage my vehicle sustained, my insurance provider had to pay for my Explorer to get fixed. Incidents like what I'm talking about is why our insurance premiums increase, it's because of unisured motorists.

I've got a few good friends who are law enforcement professionals, and they tell me what a problem the illegal Mexicans are causing vehicle-related (drug and robbery related too), how they'll just run if they wreck.

Back to what you said "SpeedRacer" (true illegals freedom to drive on our highways in rickety cars with "Farm Use" tags and no insurance) ... well, something needs to be done about all the illegals in this country.

I'd vote for Barack Obama to be president forever (well, I don't want to get carried away HA HA HA HA), if he'd say he was going to build a 40-foot high wall all across the United States border with Mexico to keep anyone below the United States from entering this country illegally.

I truly hope no one ever gets involved in a wreck with an illegal Mexican, or worse yet is a victim of violent crime at the hands of an illegal.

Whew, now I'm going to have to take a nerve pill to relax, and I've never taken the first nerve pill in my life. LOL LOL LOL

Posted: January-28-2009 at 9:48pm | IP Logged	Tweet

Just curious, is the vehicle inspection very costly?

In the state of Tennessee, in some counties there's what's called a Wheel Tax. When you renew or buy new license tags, on top of the cost of the tag, you will pay a Wheel Tax. The cost varies, from $25 in some counties to as much as $65. Heck, come to think of it I believe I've noticed inside the pamphlet showing each county across the state there's even some $75 and maybe a $90 Wheel Tax.

I know locally, Hawkins County has a Wheel Tax. "BugMan," is there also a Wheel Tax in Greene County too? A Wheel Tax ws proposed here in Washington County last year and was soundly voted down. I'm definitely not for a Wheel Tax. We pay enough taxes the way it is. Being I live in the Johnson City city limits, I have to pay both city and county property taxes. I don't think that's right. I think you either live in the city, or the county. And you should only pay one property tax, based on where you live.

Something some might not agree with, but I've talked with several people and they like it: What I'm talking about is, I don't think teenagers still in high school or in college should be allowed to vote. One shouldn't be allowed to vote until they're at least paying taxes, be it on income or homeowners, etc. An 18- or 19-year-old living under mommy and daddy's roof, they shouldn't be allowed to vote. Or if they're in college letting mommy and daddy pay their bills. If you're going to vote, then be paying taxes. Look at the number of young people in this country who voted for Barack Obama, and they're not even tax-paying citizens. Some teenager or college student voted a president in office, and really they're not going to be affected by monetary decisions made while the president is in office. Not just president, but moreso decisions made by their local government leaders.

Posted: January-29-2009 at 7:58am | IP Logged	Tweet

If Tennessee has budget problems, here's how to fix it.  Require a $10-$15 state inspection fee for each vehicle.  Since there is no state inspection currently required in Tennessee the requirement of an inspection would generate even more money for the state.  Here's how.

• If the car failed inspection they would have to buy parts from an auto parts store or junk yard to fix the vehicle which would generate more sales tax for the state.
• If the car failed inspection and wasn't worth fixing the individual could buy a new(er) car which in return would give the state more sales tax. 

Also, this would get some of the biggest pieces of junk off of our highways!

I have always said since I have lived in Tennessee the last almost 7 years that Tennessee needs to have a vehicle inspection. 

Posted: January-29-2009 at 3:48pm | IP Logged	Tweet

Hey Speed for all they know you could be one of those pesky canucks trying to cash in.

Here in ontario the date on the licence is expired from when you got your licence nothing to do with your birthday but your tags for the car expire on your birthday and in order to renew you need proof of insurance (insurance is mandatory here and a big fine)..  Safety inspections are only required to get licence plates.  However emissions tests are required to get your tags every two years which is a 35 or 40 dollar dyno run for your average car. (awd and light duty diesel visible smoke test while stationary) and opacimeter snap testeing for heavy duty).

Posted: January-30-2009 at 3:21pm | IP Logged	Tweet

Well..... here it is Friday afternoon..... two days after I was officially classified by the DMV as a person of "questionable presense" in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States.

I just wanted to post an update that I am indeed "bona fide" once again, (to use one of my favorite phrases from the movie "O Brother where Art Thou?").

I got good friend Russell Stacy ("Graybeard" on RacersLounge) to drive me to the Post Office to pick up my certified copy of my birth certificate this afternoon, and then on to the DMV where I again took a number and waited my turn.  Unlike on Wednesday when I was the only customer in the place, today it was packed. When my number was finally called I walked to window #5 as the automated voice commanded. It was a different window and a different clerk than Wednesday. This lady was actually smiling and friendly.  "What can I do for you today?", she asked.

"Well, I am here to restablish myself as "bona fide".

She laughed.

I handed her my paperwork, she looked at it and immediately apologized. She leaned forward and said, "This is ridiculous. I wish you had been directed to my window before. She quickly looked at the certified birth certificate copy, folded it, put it back in the envelope and handed it back to me.  "Absolutely ridiculous!" she said again. She apologized again.

Anyway..... I am now legally "bona fide" once again, and officially have a legal presence in this country and the Commonwealth of Virginia.   ..... and, I can drive again.

Posted: January-30-2009 at 4:28pm | IP Logged	Tweet

I disagree with this suggestion because I have read the laws on the books right now for automobiles that are on the road.

Many think that if an auto is over 20 years old it is exempt, and this isn't the case in Tennessee.  In fact, the case is that every car on the road that are 1975+ is required to have all stock components.  This isn't feasible.

How many do you know that have trucks or cars with replacement engines that no longer have the stock emmission and exhaust components?  Know anyone with dual exhaust that didn't come dual exhaust from the factory?  Don't matter if they have two catylic converters on it or not, it isn't stock, it isn't legal.

Not everyone can afford to drive a new car every few years, and not everyone can afford to have their arm broken to repair a vehicle to factory specs.  And if someone can take a car and strip the factory exhaust off of it and replace it with a dual exhaust with converters, and get better emmission readings than that particular car would have stock, then they should be on the road.  The TN law doesn't read that way.

So, be careful what you wish for, unless you really know the laws that are on the books right now.  Be very careful.

Posted: January-30-2009 at 4:31pm | IP Logged	Tweet

BTW, Lynn, you've always been "of questionable presence" in my book. lol

Posted: January-30-2009 at 4:42pm | IP Logged	Tweet

Hey OldPro.... That would be an "affirmative".

But , now I am also "bona fide".