Background Checks

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Berkut

I think the cost in New York is so high because they do fingerprinting and a pretty full check.

So you get the added bonus of having your fingerprints on file with the State somewhere as well. Joy!

Talk about being paranoid. Do you worry about your photo being on file with the DMV....it is basically the same thing....they have something to identifiy you with. What about your income history? They have that too.

Just as you don't have the right to drive, you don't have the right to officiate. Both of them are privileges that you can choose to engage in as long as you follow the requirements of that choice. Those granting the privilege basically have the authority to set the requirements for that privilege. Don't like them, do something else.

[Berkut]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Talk about being paranoid. Do you worry about your photo being on file with the DMV....it is basically the same thing....they have something to identifiy you with. What about your income history? They have that too.

If there was no need to take my picture to get a drivers license, yes, I would question why they wanted to do so.

However, it seems rather clear that it is in fact necessary to the concept of licensing drivers that their picture be taken, so I accept that as a reasonable request.

There is nothing "paranoid" about this - I don't think that word means what you think it means.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Berkut

If there was no need to take my picture to get a drivers license, yes, I would question why they wanted to do so.

However, it seems rather clear that it is in fact necessary to the concept of licensing drivers that their picture be taken, so I accept that as a reasonable request.

It is? I have had a US driver's license that did not have a picture. Pictures have only become standard on driver's licenses in the past 20-25 years. For the 1st 100 years or so of cars, pictures were not part of driver's licenses. So, it is demonstrably clear that they are not a necessity.

Originally Posted by Berkut

There is nothing "paranoid" about this - I don't think that word means what you think it means.

That is exactly what it is.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

It is? I have had a US driver's license that did not have a picture. Pictures have only become standard on driver's licenses in the past 20-25 years. For the 1st 100 years or so of cars, pictures were not part of driver's licenses. So, it is demonstrably clear that they are not a necessity.

There is a compelling reason for law enforcement officers to be able to positively identify a driver during a traffic stop. No, it's not so they make sure they write the ticket for the right person. It's for officer safety, so they know whether or not the driver has a history of violence. Without a picture ID, such positive identification is impossible.

So, maybe they did it without pictures for the first 80 years (I would say that's an overstatement as I think most states have had pictures on the licenses for quite a few years.) I think there is a very clear distinction here between having your picture on a license and submitting your background check to every venue you officiate.

The picture on your license provides a very clear benefit. The background checks do not.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

So, maybe they did it without pictures for the first 80 years (I would say that's an overstatement as I think most states have had pictures on the licenses for quite a few years.)

I don't think it is. I know all of the states around me when I first got my license in the early 80s had "paper" drivers licenses without pictures. The transistion to pictures occured in the mid 80's. Technology made photo ID's much easier around then. Before, they would have to take a paper "photo" and laminate it along with a paper license. The ability to print photos onto plastic licenses just didn't widely exist much earlier.

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I think there is a very clear distinction here between having your picture on a license and submitting your background check to every venue you officiate.

Well, if they're asking you to submit it to EVERY venu, I agree that is unnecessary. Only the state certification should need access to the info. Being certified by the state should be sufficient to the venus to indicate that your check has been done.

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

The picture on your license provides a very clear benefit. The background checks do not.