Sorry for the boring thread, but for some reason this board came to mind when trying to think of places I may get a useful answer.

I'm living in New Orleans at the moment, and I've had more than one problem getting into bars here; I have an out-of-state driver's license, and the picture looks nothing like current-me -- I never bothered updating my picture from when I was 16 and had hair down past my shoulder, which worked fine when I was using it in-state, but I guess due to the tourists and abundance of underage drinkers here, some people aren't believing it's actually me. I don't want to order an updated VA license online because I'll just get the same picture. I also, however, don't want to do a full car registration in Louisiana because it's expensive and I don't know how long I'll be here (yeah, yeah, 30 days...). If for some reason I were to get pulled over at some point, would it be a problem that I had a Louisiana driver's license and Virginia tags? I'm thinking yes, but I guess I don't know for sure...

Can't you just keep the VA license and get a LA license, and just use the LA license for the bars and the VA for driving?

I did similar when moved to FL from CA. Never turned in my CA license so effectively had both. It's possible Homeland Security might have resolved this ability.

Also, getting a new license once it has expired is a pain in the ass. I am currently doing this and there's some ridiculous proofing involved.

you can't hold onto 2 driver's licenses anymore. when i last moved between states, they took my license and punched a hole in it and kept it in a pile with licenses from every other driver who was transferring. that was too bad because it really wasn't a big picture of me.

If you volunteer the information that you've been there for more than 30 days and are a permanent resident in LA, then yes, they will ticket you. If you don't, then there's no law against driving through other states. If push comes to shove, you're doing contract work between VA and LA, paying VA taxes on your paychecks and maintaining your primary residence in VA. As long as your license and tags all match, and are current, then that setup is legal.

I know you can't have two driver's licenses, but can't you get a vaild photo ID at the DMV / Sec. of State / whoever issues the licenses and keep your VA license?

just claim you lost the old one and keep it

i'm with you, but have yet to go down to DMV.

what kind of shit have they put you through?

Yeah, I'd say just look into getting a non-driver photo ID.

As for your question as to whether or not you'll get ticketed if your DL is from one state and your tags are from another, I believe you would. If you have a LA license then that means you're a LA resident. If you're a LA resident then your vehicle needs LA registration. So you don't want mismatched license and registration.

They sell photo ID's for people who can't get/ want driver's licenses.

What did you think to that John Paul Keith?

Thanks everyone -- photo ID seems the way to go, although FT's suggestion seems like it could work, too.

At first, I had no idea what you were talking about and I thought it was weird someone brought him up right after I was listening to them album. Then I realized it was re: last.fm. It's a pretty good album; some tracks are great, a couple are mediocre. Maybe a slightly too polished sound, but it works on certain songs. "Anyone Can Do It" sounds exactly like "Clampdown" by the Clash.

one could do that, but...

if you have an existing license from another state, all you need to do is fill out some paperwork and get a new picture. if you don't have a license from another state, you need to go through the whole rigamarole of a driving test. the picture wasn't that good on the old license.

Cheers. I just noticed you were listening to it and was curious.

Photo ID might work. FT's probably wouldn't. I'd assume by now that the states communicate with each other and that when you get a new driver's license the old one would be voided. It would work fine if you wanted to use the old one at bars and the new one if you were pulled over but I wouldn't try the opposite. Even the Photo ID might trigger a formal legal change of residence which could drive the requirement to get a license, pay taxes, etc. Why not just get a US Passport?

As far as your original question goes about getting pulled over with a LA license and VA tags, I'd assume you could bs your way through it the first time it happened by saying that you just brought the car in a few days ago. The clock on the 30 day requirement (assuming its 30 days or whatever it is) would start when you brought the car in the state and not when you claim residence. I don't think they'd bother to try to prove you were lying and would probably just tell that you need to register it within X days. Then if you got pulled over X+1 days, you'd be screwed so it's not really a good option.

There's a list the DMV sent out, but something like, Birth Cert, Social Sec Card, Marriage Cert, 2 docs showing address

That's what I said when they asked.

Photo ID works in Louisiana.

Where are you trying to go in New Orleans that you can't get in? I think I was drinking w/o an id when I was like 15.

I'm pretty sure it is illegal for you to hold multiple licenses, or the old one automatically becomes expired when you get a new one, or you might need to take the drivers test again and all that jazz if you don't turn in the old one.

This thread is an eye opener to me because I didn't realize Louisiana had any laws much less official documents.

If you change your registration, you'll also have to change your insurance. Mine went up from Maryland to Louisiana back in the mid 1990s. Of course, they were implementing mandatory auto insurance when I got there.

States can be weird. Per billyg's question, I was once refused in Ohio despite being 28 years old and providing a U.S. passport. They needed a valid OH state license. I asked to speak to management and eventually got served, but I certainly found it odd.

There's several things here no one has asked that all effect what you can/should do.

Are you currently enrolled in school, or interning somewhere as a requirement for a course of study?

Is the car in your name or your parent(s')?

If so, to either I wouldn't change any documentation about yourself or the car.

I'll give you an out that I am sure you won't use, but here goes: do your parents, or any of your parents friends or any of your friends' parents know a good lawyer back in RVA?

Get them to call him and say "Danny is in NO, failing at life/in school/interning and he really needs a new driver's license but because he won't be there long due to his itinerancy/internship ends in 4 months/graduating next year he doesn't want to go through the hassle of getting an LA license because of their fucked up Napoleanic "laws" and he hates his parents/can't afford a trip home/is too dumb to have just considered this at Christmas he needs a new VA license. If he sends you a photo copy and a new picture can you call the ladies you know at the DMV/the Probate Judge who feeds you cases/the guy you were in law school with who works for the AG and figure this out for him?"

In all likelihood there's and easy enough fix, and if he's not some dipstick or complete asshole, he'll remember how much your dad/dad's friends/friend's dad paid him when they got a divorce/got a DUI/got arrested on 43 predicates in a RICO investigation but the guy got him 3 years suspended for cooperating with the government and won't charge you or will just roll it into the massive retainer the guy charges them for regular representation.

get a passport

melissa leo's daughter on treme gets into any bar she wants, and she can't be a day over 14