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Comment by yumraj | Hacker News Reader

DMV, and other gov services, in CA, as well as it seems other states, is now fully integrated with ID.me, which to me does not inspire trust. They even run a shop, https://shop.id.me/, with store discounts and so on. So, to give all the info to such an entity is risky as hell.

So, recently when I had to do something with DMV I just decided to go a little early and use the kiosks they have inside rather than use the online version which mandated that I link my DMV account and share all my personal info, the serious kind that DMV needs and not just name/email, with ID.me

Not sure how long this will be an option, but let's see.

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> is now fully integrated with ID.me

Getting a license or vehicle registration information is sold in certain states.

[0]: https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2020/02/20/texas-dmv-selling-driver...

In California there's just a simple form and a fee to retrieve information from the DMV. If anyone does this to lookup your information, you will be notified by the state.

I highly recommend getting a PO Box or a PMB and using that as your primary address on your drivers license, for this exact reason.

In this case, you are required to also give the address you physically live at, but this information is not eligible to be shared through the above process.

If you own property, does that really protect you? Land records are public, and you can just use a website like

http://searchpeoplefree.com/

Usually providing a fake primary address is a no-no anyway. I think it is a misdemeanor in my state.

You own the property via a pass through single owner LLC to retain the $250k cap gains exemption. Still is a massive annoyance and complication to do so although, and mortgages are harder.

Are those not searchable on https://www.bizapedia.com/?

All they show is the registered agent (when I checked California companies), which doesn't have to be yourself?

I think that obscuring that is way too complicated for most people.

> simple form

Just to add to above comment, if the record is not for self (i.e. self owned car or own driving license), then it can be fetched only for "permissible use". The bullet points are:

Motor vehicle or driver safety and theft

Legitimate business

Civil criminal administrative or arbitral processing

Insurance purposes

Employer of commercial drivers

All other uses permitted by CA law.

The pdf form at https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/file/request-for-record-inform... in section 4 has more details.

I don't know if this is still the case, but in California the DMV form has a box asking for "Apartment or box number". I had a PMB (private mail box, like a PO Box but at a third-party business) so used my PMB number & street address.

DMV mailed me a licence with street name and "Apartment <my-PMB-number>" even though it wasn't an apartment and I lived elsewhere. That address worked perfectly for years - banks, passport application, etc, everyone accepted it. Online ordering from sites that specifically said "we don't ship to PO Boxes" also worked no problem.

If I ever move back to California I'll definitely do that again. I was 100% truthful on the DMV license application, it's just that they chose to interpret my mailing address as a residential apartment.

They do this because most non-law enforcement data cannot be queried through inter-government links. There’s a consortium called AAMVA that coordinates regulations between states. States provide a feed of license and registration data to insurance companies and others, then they spend far more to buy that data back.

The issue is that many validations leave the state for things like commercial carrier endorsements, etc.

I predict in 2025 - California will be the first totalitarian state enabled by Big Tech fusing with the State of CA. Basically exactly like the CCP + Tencent. Total unaminity in the population, political dissent is instantly castrated by media or Big Tech's social apps and search engines, 90% people will be voting in unison for the same candidate. 10% left are constantly being squeezed out, until we have basically North Korea.

Tell me you haven't spent much time in California talking to Californians without telling me you haven't spent much time in California talking to Californians

North Korea, lol. Excuse me as I go get some $0.50 mouth orgasm street tacos.

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