a driver's license for 26 years without EVER getting a ticket.

Evidently, the new Patriot Act law takes away a woman's right to drive unless she signs everything she owns over to her husband's name. I renewed my license last month, and received a letter last week saying my license was being canceled. I went in today with all my papers to see why, and they said that my maiden name is on my social security card (Margaret Thomas), and last time I got my license they put my maiden and married name on my license (Margaret Thomas Funk), so my names don't match.

I can't get a driver's license in either name! I can't get it in my maiden name, because it doesn't match my old driver's license. I can't get it in my married name because it doesn't match my social security card. I said "Well, what can I do to get a license?" He said "You can get a divorce. Bring your divorce papers in and we'll change it." (Chief Cox of Norcross, GA. said this, in front of witnesses.) I told my husband he gets the kids.

I have 20 credit cards, 3 mortgages and several bank accounts in my maiden name, not to mention utilities and my magazine subscriptions. I'd have to change all of that, along with my social security card, over to my husband's name, or divorce him to get a driver's license.

What are they going to take away next, our right to vote without our husband's permission? I called Rep. John Linder, they said they had had quite a few calls from women about this, he said it's appearing to be a common problem but it's a federal law and they don't know what they can do about it, and as a matter of fact I heard another woman arguing about the same thing while I was at the DMV today for three hours with a baby in my arms and a toddler running loose, so it's not just me. It's affecting every woman who wanted to keep her own identity. I guess we'd better start shopping for burkas. The Taliban wouldn't let women drive, either.

The Atlanta Journal is possibly doing a story on this, the reporter was interested, and I've called and written my state representatives and the ACLU (maybe they'll do some good for a change!) If there areas many women affected by this as I suspect, maybe we can start a class action suit. I always understood that I had the right to use my maiden name OR my married name as I pleased. If anyone knows any laws relating to my right to keep my maiden name I'd appreciate hearing about it.

I called the DMV, they were quite snippy. They said it's a national, federal law, they're just enforcing it and that I have no right to use my maiden name since I'm married, so I'd better change my social security card if I want to drive a car. I said that this was discriminatory against women, and she said "Oh no, men have this problem too." I said "How many men change their name when they get married?" That's when she got mad.

Thought you'd like to know about this. Kinda scary, isn't it?

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