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Florida Drivers License address and Real ID Act


Nick Russell

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This was posted on the Living The RV Dream Facebook page. Has anybody heard of or encountered this using the Bushnell address?

 

Just wanted to post a little blurb about something we learned today about how the Real ID Act may affect full-time RVers. It is a bit long, but worth a read if you are thinking about declaring domicile in a state other than the one you currently use.

The backstory: we decided to change our domicile from TX to FL. It made sense for us since we spend the majority of our time in FL (we winter here in our RV). We went through all of the necessary things, securing a new mail se...rvice (St Brendan's Isle), registering our vehicle and RV, getting insurance, collecting the necessary documents, etc...

Forward to today: All went well and today we became Floridians (yay!). The interesting thing that we learned is that since FL is now complying with the Real ID Act, the address on our driver's licenses is:
Our RV license plate number
Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
It is going to be very interesting explaining that to anyone who asks us for ID.

It was explained to us that due to the full implementation of the Real ID Act by FL earlier this year, the address on the license must now be a 'physical' address and can no longer be a mail service address or a PMB. Apparently the definition of a 'physical' address is a bit wishy-washy and can be defined by the individual state. The state of FL has decided to handle the situation by using the RV license plate (or vessel registration) as the street address.

Interesting side note: Our new mail service address couldn't be on the driver's license, but we did have to provide pieces of mail that we had received at the mail service address to get it. The mail service address is also just fine to use as the address for the vehicle registrations, including the RV registration which is on the driver's license. So if you think about it, our drivers licenses are linked to our plates, which are linked to our mail service address. A ridiculous round-robin that only the government could dream up

Edited by Nick Russell

Gypsy Journal RV Travel Newspaper

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Author of "Meandering Down The Highway, A Year On The Road With Fulltime RVers" and "Work Your Way Across The USA, You Can Travel & Earn A Living Too!"

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You only have to use the license for the next 8 Years. :) Then you can renew it on line.

My next FL. renewal is in 2020.

 

I have never had anyone use the address on my license for a ID that I know of.

Most medical places do make a copy of it along with Medicare card & supplemental Insurance card.

 

Or some stores when using my Debit/CC ask to see it for ID to match name/picture to CC.

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Makes one wonder if there are going to be changes in other states approach to the issue. I wonder if they keep the LEO's in FL aware of such things, let alone those of other states. Just for fun, why don't you drive a few states away and then do something to get stopped, just so we can hear the "rest of the story?" :lol:

Good travelin !...............Kirk

Full-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.
Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure

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RealID compliance by states for DL was to have been done in 2014. Some states got an extension. SD was way ahead and when we renewed in 2013 our license was compliant with the act and has our mail forwarder addy on it. I can not believe any LEO is going to accept that license that way. How would they use that in court on a ticket. I think something isn't quite right about this. I am sure that if this was the case we would have heard about it on here by now.

Ron & Linda

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2005 Honda Element

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are" Theodore Roosevelt

"We can't control the wind, but we can adjust our sail"

"When man gave up his freedom to roam the earth, he gave up his soul for a conditioned ego that is bound by time and the fear of losing its attachments."

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Just checked the FL DMV web site. Seems that FL has been compliant with the RealID act for several years. I would think that someone would have made comment before now if they didn't have their mail forwarder addy on their license

Ron & Linda

Class of 2007
2000 Monaco Diplomat

2005 Honda Element

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are" Theodore Roosevelt

"We can't control the wind, but we can adjust our sail"

"When man gave up his freedom to roam the earth, he gave up his soul for a conditioned ego that is bound by time and the fear of losing its attachments."

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Since the Bushnell, FL address is a real physical address, and I believe not a registered remailer address, I wouldn't think it would cause any driver's license issues. Any mail sent to that address for individuals using the Escapees:Home domicile program is sent on to Livingston, TX for handling in the normal fashion by the remailing facility.

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The Real ID law requires states issuing compliant drivers licenses to verify both your identification AND your primary residence address. The issue is that the Federal rules left it up to each individual state to define the "exceptions" to the Primary Residence requirement. In other words, for those who have no primary residence (can't show property tax/utilities/rent receipts for their residence), each individual state defines how they will handle those exceptions.

 

In SD they wrote a specific exception for "fulltime travelers" requiring that they sign an Affidavit, show a receipt for one overnight stay in SD and show proof of their mail forwarding PMB address. In return they get to use their mail forwarding PMB address on their drivers license.

 

In Fl they decided that if you live in your RV, then your DL address will be your RV license plate number and your current Fl physical address. They may have copied that from the way they always handled live aboard boaters in Fl, whose DL showed their boat tag # followed by the marina street address.

I've run into a few Fl folks who showed me their DL with their address as: Tag ###, Fort Wilderness Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830 , since they told the DL folks they were currently staying at Ft Wilderness.

There seems to be some variation from office to office in how this is handled. Apparently they do allow for a separate mailing address in their system, but not on the DL. This has been going on for a few years now. I can see that it could lead to some confusion in certain situations.

But its only indirectly caused by Real ID, its really the state of Fl that dreamed up this wacky way of handling fulltimer DL addresses; or each Fl DMV office is making it up as they go.

Jim

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Thanks Jim for your rep!y. You managed to put it succinctly.

Ron & Linda

Class of 2007
2000 Monaco Diplomat

2005 Honda Element

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are" Theodore Roosevelt

"We can't control the wind, but we can adjust our sail"

"When man gave up his freedom to roam the earth, he gave up his soul for a conditioned ego that is bound by time and the fear of losing its attachments."

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  • 11 months later...

That's fine if you have a car license. However, if you have a CDL, then you MUST have a physical address. What I did 5 years ago was to change the address on one of my bank accounts to the address of the campground we would be staying at for 2 weeks (TT Orlando). I did it at least a month in advance. Then I printed out a bank statement with that new address off the internet, took the rental agreement from the campsite to DMV together with proof of ID (Passport), my CDL Medical Card and Llicense. $128 later (I have several CDL endorcements) I walked out with a Florida CDL with a physical address. Good for 8 years.

 

Planning is the key. Yes, the RV address works fine for non commercial drivers.

 

I am posting this everytime I post. Take action, it might just save your LIFE!! Check your Life Safety Systems TODAY!

 

No matter what used RV you are buying, whether or not you are using an inspector, make sure you do the following. It could just save your life!

 

1. Check the manufacture date of the Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detector (on the back). They are good for 5 years only. If in doubt replace. Some rigs don't have one. Be sure yours does. Use only those units approved by UL for RV Use.

2. Check the LP Detector. They are good for 5 years from manufacture date (on the back). Replace if in doubt. Find it close to the floor. Use only those units approved by UL for RV Use. Suggest a combined unit LP and CO

3. Smoke Detector. Good for 10 years. The new Smoke/Fire detectors, approved by UL for RV Use, at about $19.00 would be ideal.

4. Change the batteries on all battery operated detectors.

5. Open the emergency window(s). Make sure you CAN get out in an emergency.

 

These are all life safety issues we find when doing inspections. New LP and CO Detecotrs have End Of Life (EOL) alarms. You cannot turn off the alarm. UL Requirement. People are cutting the wires or removing the batteries to silence the alarm. Check your TODAY.

 

 

Please post when you find you have an issue to encourage others to check their rigs.

Geoff Baker

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  • 1 month later...

Recently my wife went to renew her drivers license and I was with her to register a small cargo trailer . I went first and registered the trailer >>> Her turn , she was one paper short of the required local address stuff . I handed in the tag registration that the same lady had just issued to me , lady said " this will work " .

If you are a terrorist just remember to register a small trailer first .

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RealID compliance by states for DL was to have been done in 2014. Some states got an extension. SD was way ahead and when we renewed in 2013 our license was compliant with the act and has our mail forwarder addy on it. I can not believe any LEO is going to accept that license that way. How would they use that in court on a ticket. I think something isn't quite right about this. I am sure that if this was the case we would have heard about it on here by now.

 

When we first got our SD licenses in 2011 they were Real ID-compliant but at that time they wouldn't issue my CDL to a PMB address. So for 5 years my license has had the address of the CG we had stayed at in Sioux Falls. But the DPS folks had no problem with using the PMB as the mailing address for the license.

 

By 2016 when we renewed our licenses, the CDL issue had been resolved and now both of us have licenses which clearly show that our address is our PMB in Madison SD.

Sandie & Joel

2000 40' Beaver Patriot Thunder Princeton--425 HP/1550 ft-lbs CAT C-12
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  • 1 year later...

Our PMB address in SD is the address the licensing people would use if they needed to send me something.  But pretty much everything I need from them is available online.

Sandie & Joel

2000 40' Beaver Patriot Thunder Princeton--425 HP/1550 ft-lbs CAT C-12
2014 Honda CR-V AWD EX-L with ReadyBrute tow bar/brake system
WiFiRanger Ambassador
Follow our adventures on Facebook at Weiss Travels

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  In Florida you can have a different mailing address than the d/l address, and in my case the registration address is the pmb address. I wonder how banks and credit-card issuers are going to handle the odd address since they usually insist on a "real" address on the acccount.


 

-C&J-

 

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  • 1 month later...

the "real id" is a forced thing coming from the people in the baby blue hats. has nothing to do with American values. it has to do with control of people aka just like the famos  line of

"show me your papers...please".

there is already construction on mandotory check points across this country. not just truckers, but everybody traving for what ever reason. and after that you WILL need papers from the homeland securety dept to go from one area to another.

call me tin hated if you like. but socialism is a creaping force, not a war take over. they have been getting such laws pased over the past 50 years. takes another 40-60 years, they do not worry as it will happen. just a little bit at a time so most everybody is used to the last cut of our freedoms.

like something in the news last week a war body remains came back to the USA draped under a united crap blue flag carried by US Marines. off a US air plane on a US milatary base. if i had a like i wold post it.

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  • 5 months later...

I just ran into this problem. I recently opened a brand new HSA account with Fidelity. I called them about transferring funds to it from my T-ira at another brokerage, but the rep told me the transfer kicked out because of my Florida address (MyRVMail). I need to provide them with a utility bill and a 'good address'. 

Any ideas? Thx

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21 minutes ago, Trix said:

I need to provide them with a utility bill and a 'good address'. 

Call them back and tell them that you're happy to provide a cell phone bill with the FL address and you are willing to provide a "good address" in compliance with the Patriot Act but those two things don't have to be the same.

Unfortunately, financial organizations can create their own internal procedures which may be more strict than those of the Act.  You can read about that here: http://www.treasuryalliance.com/assets/publications/cash/Treasury_Alliance_Customer_Information_Programs_And_Patriot_Act.pdf

If they won't budge, I'd ask to speak to a supervisor to try one more time.  The key thing is that they are going way beyond what is required.

Sandie & Joel

2000 40' Beaver Patriot Thunder Princeton--425 HP/1550 ft-lbs CAT C-12
2014 Honda CR-V AWD EX-L with ReadyBrute tow bar/brake system
WiFiRanger Ambassador
Follow our adventures on Facebook at Weiss Travels

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1 hour ago, Trix said:

I just ran into this problem.

Welcome to the Escapee forums! We are happy to have you with us and will do are best to help. I suggest that you start by contacting your mail service to see if they can help. While Joel is correct, I'd be very surprised if telling the employee you are dealing with the rules would have any impact at all. His employer is the one making the rules that he must deal with. Your mail service probably has dealt with this in the past, just as Escapee management has for their customers. 

Good travelin !...............Kirk

Full-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.
Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure

            images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQqFswi_bvvojaMvanTWAI

 

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  • 9 months later...

Florida tag agencies are run by the county tax collector. Every county has their own and it's his wishes that will govern how this process runs. Here in Alachua county they are on the friendly and helpful tack. I'm sure you can find some county in the state that will treat you like the Cali DMV if that's what you prefer. Tax Collectors are elected in Florida, and most seem to want to keep getting elected and making a lot of voters angry at the tag agencyis not the best way to achieve that.

I lost my DL last year and went down to replace it, I happened to have my Passport in the truck and took that in as ID. They took that by itself and I walked out with a real id DL. Whole process took less than 10 minutes. No proof of address asked for.

Edited by agesilaus
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8 hours ago, Kirk W said:

That has been true of every state that I have registered a motor vehicle in for a very long time. 

I used to live in California. The DMV is where you go to get a drivers license and pay your registration fees and get your tags. One stop shopping. 

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2 hours ago, Twotoes said:

The DMV is where you go to get a drivers license and pay your registration fees and get your tags. One stop shopping. 

It may still be that way, as it has been 57 years since I had a vehicle registered there and I frankly do not remember where I went to do it. That is the reason that I used the "very long time" in my post as there is another state that we once lived in which I don't remember about either. I believe that it is probably those states that allow the county to tax vehicles that register through the county, like TX, WY, and KS that I am sure about. I think it was that way in CO, SC, and ID but that is too far back in my memory to be sure. 

Good travelin !...............Kirk

Full-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.
Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure

            images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQqFswi_bvvojaMvanTWAI

 

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