I was told by a store that they would not accept my state ID card as valid verification because they were advised that someone is forging the cards. I think this is unfair and fear more stores will follow suit. What can be done about this? State ID cards will get
green light in two weeksState officials are trying to make the ID cards harder to duplicate in hopes of resolving the problem. In the meantime, you should be able to use your card again with no problem in two weeks.
The concern about state IDs was raised last November, when Uni-
Check, a check verification service, issued a news bulletin to its clients, warning retailers about the circulation of fraudulent state cards. It advised merchants to either ask for a second ID or not accept the state ID at all.
However, Uni-Check will begin accepting the cards again on April 1, said company Vice President Kevin Murphy.
"Usually, when a scam is perpetuated, it happens, then goes away," he said. "We don't want to inconvenience our merchants or customers."
Fake state IDs don't appear to be a widespread problem, said Liane Moriyama, administrator of the state ID card program.
But officials have introduced a bill at this year's Legislature seeking to add an expiration date and to make it so the card can't be easily forged.
Now, once you get a card, you can keep it forever. It also is made using "old technology, using laminate and Polaroid pictures," Moriyama said. The office hopes to issue something more like a driver's license or credit card, possibly with 3-D holograms.
The estimated start-up cost is $250,000 for new equipment, Moriyama said. However, she noted that her office already is self-sufficient. The office issues 40,000 cards a year, charging $10 a card. The yearly operating cost is $200,000, so the office generates an income of $200,000, she said.
More Kokua Line
in today’s Star-Bulletin:
- Large commercial vehicles prohibited from overnight street parking
- Mahalo
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Info] section for subscription information.
Need help with problems? Call Kokua Line at 525-8686,
fax 525-6711, or write to P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802.
Email to kokualine@starbulletin.com
Text Site Directory:
[News] [Business] [Features] [Sports] [Editorial] [Community]
[Info] [Letter to Editor] [Stylebook] [Feedback]
© 1997 Honolulu Star-Bulletin
http://starbulletin.com
