Irish Drivers Licence in USA

karltimber

HI,

traveling to the USA shortly and have a new Irish card licence.
Will use this for driving - as only there for a week.

Question is - will it be accepted in bars or do I have to carry my passport too.

I could see why a lot of bars would not accept the old paper one, but the new card looks more official.
Anyone try the new licence in a bar in the US ?

It's not the end of the world - just hate carrying a passport on a night out.

Thx

K

coylemj

Bring the passport, they typically expect a US driving licence for locals or a passport for visitors and with the number of fake IDs doing the rounds there and here, I wouldn't expect them to accept an Irish driving licence. The bar staff may have no discretion depending on local (state) laws so it may be a case that they are not allowed to accept anything except a US licence or a foreign passport.

veetwin

I was proofed in Atlanta last week to my delight. I'm 41! Produced my new style Irish DL with no problem.

who_ru

veetwin wrote: »

I was proofed in Atlanta last week to my delight. I'm 41! Produced my new style Irish DL with no problem.

41 and asked for id! Bizarre.

BuffyBot

I've used mine card licence for ID before without issue.

That's no guarantee that every bar, everywhere will accept them of course.

coylemj

who_ru wrote: »

41 and asked for id! Bizarre.

If you go into a bar in a group and they don't know you, they will almost always ask the youngest looking person for ID if there's the remotest possibility that that person is under 21. Happened us everywhere we went on a sales convention in Orlando so we never left the hotel without checking that yer man had his passport with him, he was well into his 30s.

coylemj

sugarman wrote: »

Use your passport, a lot of places won't accept licences from other states as proof of Id never mind foreign licences.

A 'lot of places'? Can you quote an example? What is the individual expected to produce instead?

I was under the impression that a driving licence was the de facto form of ID in the US and that in the absence of a national ID card issued by the federal Government, there is no other option when it comes to what is considered an acceptable ID in bars and when pulled over by the cops.

Gatica

who_ru wrote: »

41 and asked for id! Bizarre.

Not in the US.. Had a friend tell me her dad couldn't get served because he didn't have ID. He was in his 70's. Some bar staff just get it into their head that it's the letter of the law... when really some common sense could be used with discretion.

coylemj wrote: »

A 'lot of places'? Can you quote an example? What is the individual expected to produce instead?

I was under the impression that a driving licence was the de facto form of ID in the US and that in the absence of a national ID card issued by the federal Government, there is no other option when it comes to what is considered an acceptable ID in bars and when pulled over by the cops.

Not from personal experience but reading a funny "customer services" anecdotes site, it doesn't seem that uncommon. A couple of stories mentioned off-licence/bar staff refusing to serve someone with an out of state licence, in one case even a foreign passport didn't work (that just came down to stupidity really) as the cashier said it's not a government issued ID (not US government I suppose). That's not to say that what they're doing is right, but I'm sure you're bound to get some eejits on a power trip.
I'm sure in most places with people with common sense your valid ID will be fine. I used my EU national ID card in the US (and that was the old one that looks a tiny bit like a fake) and had no issues.

ProudDUB

Gatica wrote: »

Not in the US.. Had a friend tell me her dad couldn't get served because he didn't have ID. He was in his 70's. Some bar staff just get it into their head that it's the letter of the law... when really some common sense could be used with discretion.



Not from personal experience but reading a funny "customer services" anecdotes site, it doesn't seem that uncommon. A couple of stories mentioned off-licence/bar staff refusing to serve someone with an out of state licence, in one case even a foreign passport didn't work (that just came down to stupidity really) as the cashier said it's not a government issued ID (not US government I suppose). That's not to say that what they're doing is right, but I'm sure you're bound to get some eejits on a power trip.
I'm sure in most places with people with common sense your valid ID will be fine. I used my EU national ID card in the US (and that was the old one that looks a tiny bit like a fake) and had no issues.

No it couldn't. The penalties for serving an underage person alcohol, are so severe, they can put a bar out of business very quickly. In the US city that I ran a restaurant in, all it took was for you to fail 3 inspections and you lost your liquor license. No liquor license = no booze sales. No booze sales = no customers. No customers = ......well....you get the picture.

Because of that, a lot of restaurants & bars have a policy that EVERYONE must be asked for ID, irrespective of how young or old they look. If you don't, you can be fired very, very easily. Waiters and waitresses have zero incentive to show any discretion, or even common sense on the matter. They ask everyone for ID, they get to keep their jobs. They don't ask everyone for ID, they get fired. It's a no brainer really.

The manufacture of fake ID's is a cottage industry in the US. Life for the fraudsters is made very easy by the fact that no two states have identical drivers licenses. They are all different. So a waiter in Georgia would have no idea what a drivers license from Vermont is supposed to look like, or what to look for that may indicate it is a fake, and vice versa. That is why a lot of restaurants and bars ask for a passport, if the customer can't produce a valid drivers license from that state. Passports are a lot harder to fake.

It's a ridiculously draconian system, but it's the one that they have for now. Tourists don't really have a choice, but to put up with it.

ollaetta

Slightly off topic but a few years ago I was stopped while driving a rental car in Utah. The cop couldn't believe that Irish driving licences carried so little personal info and had to make a phone call to verify that it was legit to use it there. Not even sure if he got a definitive answer!

sdowling04

Think I'm gonna bump into this problem someone along the line in my J1 in the coming weeks. There is a bunch of fifteen of us some with the old paper ones and one or two with the new cards (Including myself).

Gatica

ProudDUB wrote: »

No it couldn't. The penalties for serving an underage person alcohol, are so severe, they can put a bar out of business very quickly.

Yes, that's the point though, it's illegal to sell to someone who's under age. Someone sure wouldn't go to the trouble of buying amazing special effects make-up to look 70 to buy a drink... I have enough sense to know someone who looks 70 isn't a 20 year old in disguise without ID.
Although I can understand that if they've a thing about getting sued for discrimination (asking for ID from some and not others), then maybe they'd have to ask everyone.

huskerdu

Gatica wrote: »

Yes, that's the point though, it's illegal to sell to someone who's under age. Someone sure wouldn't go to the trouble of buying amazing special effects make-up to look 70 to buy a drink... I have enough sense to know someone who looks 70 isn't a 20 year old in disguise without ID.
Although I can understand that if they've a thing about getting sued for discrimination (asking for ID from some and not others), then maybe they'd have to ask everyone.

You make a valid point, but different states in the US have different laws and police services that have policies that have to obeyed by bars at the poster above says. You can argue whether it is a sensible or not for hours, but that is not practical advice.


The best advice for any tourist is to take their passport if you want to be guaranteed entry into a bar in the US.

Gatica

as advice goes, you're absolutely right. Bring ID.
I was just pointing out how strict they can be, irrespective of what one would consider "common sense" after someone mentioned being ID'd at 41.

bladebrew

I was in New York a few years ago and a barman told us it was against the law not to carry ID on us at all times!, I'm not sure is that a law but I was asked for ID everywhere, I brought my passport out with me,

coylemj

bladebrew wrote: »

I was in New York a few years ago and a barman told us it was against the law not to carry ID on us at all times!, I'm not sure is that a law but I was asked for ID everywhere, I brought my passport out with me,

You're 'not sure' yet you're still quoting legal advice you got from a barman a few years ago? You were asked for ID in order to buy alcohol and if you went to hire a car or if you were pulled over by the cops while driving you'd have been asked to produce a driver's licence. That is not the same as being required to carry ID with you at all times.

In a country which cherishes the right of deranged nutters to own machine guns and (in some states) carry concealed weapons, there is no such law. It would be unthinkable for any state legislature or the US Congress to enact such a law so it doesn't apply and never will.

keithclancy

coylemj wrote: »

You're 'not sure' yet you're still quoting legal advice you got from a barman a few years ago? You were asked for ID in order to buy alcohol and if you went to hire a car or if you were pulled over by the cops while driving you'd have been asked to produce a driver's licence. That is not the same as being required to carry ID with you at all times.

In a country which cherishes the right of deranged nutters to own machine guns and (in some states) carry concealed weapons, there is no such law. It would be unthinkable for any state legislature or the US Congress to enact such a law so it doesn't apply and never will.

It similar to the Continental European rules.

It's potentially a problem if you cannot prove who you are when you do something wrong (e.g. speeding ticket or something)

I however wouldn't carry my passport around with me, leave it in the Hotel safe as its a valuable document.

coylemj

keithclancy wrote: »

It similar to the Continental European rules.

It is not. Most countries in continental Europe issue national ID cards. Other than passports there is no national identity document in the US where driving licences are issued by the individual states and they are all different.

US citizens can travel to Canada, Mexico and most of the Caribbean with their US driver's licence so most of them do not possess a passport.

keithclancy wrote: »

I however wouldn't carry my passport around with me, leave it in the Hotel safe as its a valuable document.

Good luck then getting a drink in a bar or restaurant in the US if you're under 30 or the youngest looking member of your party.

ProudDUB

Gatica wrote: »

Yes, that's the point though, it's illegal to sell to someone who's under age. Someone sure wouldn't go to the trouble of buying amazing special effects make-up to look 70 to buy a drink... I have enough sense to know someone who looks 70 isn't a 20 year old in disguise without ID.
Although I can understand that if they've a thing about getting sued for discrimination (asking for ID from some and not others), then maybe they'd have to ask everyone.

You are missing the point. Most US restaurants/bars have a policy in place that every single customer MUST be asked for ID. How young or old they may look is irrelevant. How many grey hairs or wrinkles they may have is irrelevant. If they are live, breathing human being with pulse, they get asked for ID. End of story. It is standard policy. Everyone must abide by it. If they don't, they can and will be fired. There is zero wiggle room. It is very black and white. Age discrimination has nothing to do with it. The restaurant/bar not losing their license to sell alcohol has every thing to do with it.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

keithclancy

coylemj wrote: »

It is not. Most countries in continental Europe issue national ID cards. Other than passports there is no national identity document in the US where driving licences are issued by the individual states and they are all different.

US citizens can travel to Canada, Mexico and most of the Caribbean with their US driver's licence so most of them do not possess a passport.



Good luck then getting a drink in a bar or restaurant in the US if you're under 30 or the youngest looking member of your party.

Your talking about being served alcohol, I'm talking about in General as per the post above:

bladebrew wrote: »

I was in New York a few years ago and a barman told us it was against the law not to carry ID on us at all times!, I'm not sure is that a law but I was asked for ID everywhere, I brought my passport out with me,

If you get stopped by the NYPD as part of a stop and frisk search and have no way to prove your identity in the form of a passport you will be taken to a station until you can prove your identity. (Happened to a colleague of mine)

Similarly if you get stopped by the Gendarmarie, The Politie or the Polizei on the continent and have done something minor like Jaywalking the result can be the same.

For example in the Netherlands, the only valid form of Identification is a Passport/ EEA National ID Card or Dutch Drivers license. A non Dutch drivers license is not a valid form of identification, if your registered, providing your Burger Service Nummer is sufficient since they can instantly look up your details and picture on the system.

It's a pain in the arse for Irish people since we don't have a handy card we can carry around in our wallets. I guess its not such a problem if your only on holidays.

bladebrew

keithclancy wrote: »

Your talking about being served alcohol, I'm talking about in General as per the post above:



If you get stopped by the NYPD as part of a stop and frisk search and have no way to prove your identity in the form of a passport you will be taken to a station until you can prove your identity. (Happened to a colleague of mine).

Maybe that's what the bar man was talking about, but he seemed really amazed that I had no ID on me, I wasn't driving so my licence was at home and my passport was safely locked in the hotel,

ScottSF

bladebrew wrote: »

Maybe that's what the bar man was talking about, but he seemed really amazed that I had no ID on me, I wasn't driving so my licence was at home and my passport was safely locked in the hotel,

From my experience most people have a drivers license (or what is called a "Non-driver ID" which looks the same but not legal for driving) and they carry it with them at all times. Whether it is legal required or not it is a practical matter like if you get ID'd for alcohol.

Be aware that many shops will ask for photo ID when you use a credit card so that is one more reason to always carry your passport in the US.

Also from personal experience, in restaurants (especially non-chain) my wife and I have never been asked for ID in many many years (we are around 40 now) however I realize in bars and clubs the policies are quite different since you have a different crowd and more risk of abuse.