Hmmm

[telophase]

Normally, when people complain about having to show ID at times such as when paying by credit card, I just roll my eyes.

Today, however, I would like to know just why it is that I have to show my driver's license when paying a $2.25 library fine IN CASH? Wow, maybe I stole someone's library card and am viciously paying their fine! The horror!

Mind you, it's been on my record for about a year. Being a librarian myself, I tend to get most of my library materials at work. I'd tried to pay the fine online a few times, but their online credit card payment system consistently failed to work. But they've recently (for values of "since the last time I looked") instituted an ebook-borrowing thing, and I couldn't try it out without paying the fine and clearing the blocks on my account.


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Comments

[catseye2001.livejournal.com]

My library does the same thing. It's harder to get a library card than it is to get a driver's license, and you have to show ID to pay late fees. What really got me was the time they refused to let me pay my father's late fees when I returned a book for him (I live 2 blocks from the library). They told me that he would have to come in and pay the late fee himself the next time he wanted to check out a book. And then they wonder why people don't visit the library or attend their events anymore...

And I get very annoyed when I use my VISA check card and the clerk asks me for ID. There was a huge ad campaign that no-one seems to remember about how if you used a VISA check card you wouldn't have to dig around for your ID anymore--just swipe and go. My favourite commercial was this one with Kevin Bacon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afJRKbBEr2Q but the Bob Dole one was just as much to the point: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZdsMJskCOg