After reading the editorial concerning the Legislature's problem with Real ID, it reminded me of an ID experience I had traveling as a military auditor/property inventory officer out of Camp Ripley. I performed my duties at 72 National Guard armories and the two air bases in Minnesota. With all this traveling (in uniform), I lived in motels an average of three nights a week.
I didn't have a credit card and traveled with cash only. I stayed in less expensive motels to keep per diem costs low. In the Minneapolis area, I stayed at a low-cost suburban motel. The closest place to eat was a "major" higher-price motel. I walked to that motel to eat, not wanting to drive my government car. I mentioned this to my boss once and he informed me I should stay at motels that have a restaurant if I didn't want to drive the government car to eat. The next time I was working the Minneapolis armory, I stopped at the major motel to get a room. The clerk assigned me a room. I pulled out my cash to pay and the clerk said we don't accept cash from military personnel. Wow! What a statement. I told her I didn't have a credit card, so she consulted her manager. When she came back, she said they would take cash if I had an ID. So I pulled out my driver's license and showed it to her and she said that isn't what she wanted to see. So I pulled out my Military ID Card and the clerk again said that isn't what she wanted. So I asked, "What do you need to see?" And, believe it or not, her answer was: "I need to see a credit card." Guess where I stayed that night.
Dave Klang (Retired CWO)
Baxter, MN
