So why do we need ID Cards anyway?
ID Cards Produced by FullIdentity.com's Staff
Being in the ID card industry, I’ve worked for just about every type of organization you can imagine when it comes to producing photo identification cards. When it comes to the selling the services we offer in the industry, it’s almost become a self governing marketplace. An organization with the equipment to provide this type of product has to monitor their own activities since there any not real any types of laws or regulations dictated for them. It’s become a dividing point between plastic card companies to either decide to produce fraudulent identification or only legitimate ID cards. In reality, there is a much higher price paid for fake identification so the temptation to sell this type of product is fairly high. As a point of reference, you can Google “fake ID cards” and find sources that can cost as much as $30 per card! When you search for a solution for a legitimate need, the range is much more competitive and usually in the $5 to $8 range.
If you accuse the organizations that have chosen to sell fraudulent identification cards of breaking the law, you have to look at the fine print in their advertisements. Many offer “novelty” identification to anyone willing to pay the price. Or you will find that some may not be based in the same country that their goods are being sold. So deciding that the companies that have chosen to sell fake identification are engaged in illegal activity isn’t always the case simply because of the fine legal lines that are drawn.
So I have to question myself as to whether or not, ID cards mean anything anymore since it’s so easy to purchase false identification. Although if we look around we find that many individuals and companies are required to have IDs even for the simplest of services. Financial institutions commonly require two photo ID cards to cash a check or start a new account. TSA at the airport demands a form of photo ID card as do many other security personal to enter a protected area. Everywhere we look someone is requiring some form of photo identification from us.
Recently there was even a law passed that allows retired police officers to carry a firearm anywhere in the country if that officer also carries an identification card stating the officers retired status. Even bounty hunters and private detectives are now required by many states to carry ID cards that indicate their status and organizational affiliations. And guess what; there is not a government agency to supply any of these required cards so these people have to seek out a provider.
Beyond being required by law, if I consider an emergency services person such as an emergency medical technician or fireman I even have to admin that seeing photo identification on them makes me much more comfortable. So I guess ID cards are needed even in the sectors of society that are not mandated to carry ID cards.
So as long as we are in a society that does not trust everyone just because what they tell us, I’m sure that we will be in a society that requires some form of identification. The future technologies may change some of the forms of identification, but in my perception will always be a need for some type of identification card; even it if’s only for the latest club you joined.