Photo Id Cards. Who Needs Them Anyway?
Its surprising to see how many organizations outsource their identification needs. Is it simply because of the expense incurred when an organization decides to implement some type level of required identification cards? Sometimes the identification requirements are dictated by law and other times its simply to give an organization a higher level of credibility. Regardless many companies are finding solutions other than purchasing expensive software and plastic card printers.
Personally since Ive been in the identification and tracking industry for over 10 years I have worked with many different types of organizations in helping them develop solutions for their registration or simply photo identification needs. One thing that has become clear is the providers of these services have either chosen the high road or the low road. Many of these service providers have become self governing to ensure only individuals that should carry identification proving the person is really a police officer EMT or whatever the case may be. While others have chosen a more profitable route of selling ID cards to anyone who is willing to pay the price. You can search the internet for Fake ID Cards and you will find a plethora of companies that will provide you a card that will cost as much as 30. When searching for a legitimate solution the range is commonly in the 4 to 8 range. Because of the high level of profit its easy to understand why some would choose that more lucrative path.
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 isnt always the case simply because of the fine legal lines that are drawn.
So when you consider how easy it is to produce or purchase a fake id card I have to ask myself if identification cards mean anything anymore. Well just look around and you will find that they are simply required for even the simplest of services. Many banks require two forms of photo identification to start an account or cash a check. The airport requires a form of photo identification and just about any type of secure area requires some form of identification.
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.
Even if we go beyond the requirements of law I have to admit that when a police officer or fireman comes to my door it give me a feeling of comfort seeing them display some form of identification. So I guess even when the cards are not mandated by law they are needed in many other areas of our daily lives.
So as long as we are in a society that does not trust everyone just because what they tell us Im 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 ifs only for the latest club you joined.
About the writer: Author of Personal Discipline: Tools for Consistent Success and founder of http://www.fullidentity.com and Virtual Tournament Director Allen Richardson has been a leader in developing solutions for registration and ID cards for organizations for over seven years. Additionally he as served Southwest Airlines and Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railway as a consultant for automation and internal development.
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