Green Card is not valid ID in the State of Texas

[Karee 4,190]

Twice now within in the last week (last time tonight) at two different stores they refused to sell my wife beer using her green card as ID. They said it has to be a state ID. Not just Texas, but any other state will suffice, but not a green card. Looking at the green card, it seems much more secure than any state ID I have ever seen.

She had a Texas ID, (not a drivers license) which worked fine for everything.

Then she failed her driving test. They took her state ID for some strange reason. She's 37 years old BTW, but still looks young and doesn't speak much English.

This seems bizarre to me. Anyone else experience something like this?

I wonder if a Mexican national ID is valid?

Edited April 7, 2011 by Karee

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Twice now within in the last week (last time tonight) at two different stores they refused to sell my wife beer using her green card as ID. They said it has to be a state ID. Not just Texas, but any other state will suffice, but not a green card. Looking at the green card, it seems much more secure than any state ID I have ever seen.

She had a Texas ID, (not a drivers license) which worked fine for everything.

Then she failed her driving test. They took her state ID for some strange reason. She's 37 years old BTW, but still looks young and doesn't speak much English.

This seems bizarre to me. Anyone else experience something like this?

I wonder if a Mexican national ID is valid?

As far as selling alcohol, or cigarettes, or adult oriented material, the proprietor can choose what ID he wants to accept. He is confident accepting state ID's, but evidently, is not comfortable with the new green card. It doesn't look like a typical state ID, doesn't have much information on it, and that may be the problem.

Edited April 7, 2011 by Some Old Guy

[Karee 4,190]

I sent them this. Probably will get me deported to Oklahoma.

My wife has twice been denied use of her green card to purchase beer at local stores. Once on April 3rd at 7-11 in Carrollton on Sunday night at:

2145 N Josey Ln

Carrollton TX

And again tonight at:

Racetrac

15196 Marsh Lane

Addison, TX 75001

She is a Thai national and holds a 10 year green card from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. About 3 weeks ago she attempted to take her written test for a DPS learners permit. She failed the test and they took her Texas state ID xxxxxxxx for some reason. On both occasions I went into the store to buy it since she was denied. On both occasions they refused to sell it to me as well. I guess they figured it was some type of "straw" purchaser of a 6 pack of beer. Both merchants stated they would not accept a green card from the US government, but they would accept an ID from any other state.

Once again she holds a valid I-551 issued from the US government with her birthday clearly stated on the card.

What's the issue here. Is Texas still part of the U.S.? If there is a TABC regulation concerning not accepting a "green card" as a valid ID, can you please point me to the regulation?

[The Dude 206]

Texas state law states:

The proof of identification may include a driver's license issued by any state, a U.S. passport, a military identification card or any other ID issued by a state or the federal government.

For that reason, since store clerks, wait staff, and bartenders can be held criminally liable for selling alcohol to a minor, they often require a photo ID issued by a governmental agency, to prove that the person really is 21.

A store, bar or restaurant might or might not sell alcohol to a person with an expired driver's license, a foreign passport or other ID. What's acceptable in any establishment is a matter of that establishment's private business policies.

If the patron is obviously over 21, the establishment may not require any ID at all.

Source

Seems quite confusing. First they say that any federal or state ID can be used. But then, it says that store policy regarding ID is the ultimate determining factor.

[Karee 4,190]

There are some other retailers in Texas that will only accept a Texas Driver's License or Texas Identification Card as “valid identification” to purchase alcoholic beverages.

On both occasions they said they would take another states ID card, but not the green card. I ran in to the different state thing when I was younger and had a Colorado ID. I'm 42 and dont really get carded any longer.

[SMOKE 1,426]

I sent them this. Probably will get me deported to Oklahoma.

what makes you think we'd accept a texan?

[Little_My 464]

Oh Texas. Yes, this is true. And legal. And absurd, but not that much you can do about it. My mother-in-law lives in San Antonio, and me and my husband visit her there. Last time we visited, I went to buy cigarettes from a gas station. I'm 26, I guess you could say I look young-ish.. They asked for an ID, I gave my Finnish passport. No good, won't do, I was told. Only state ID. "You got to be kidding, right?" was my response - I mean, this is a PASSPORT. Nope. I had my Finnish driver's license and my US credit card that has my photo on it - Nope. Had to send my husband to buy me cigarettes. And the funniest part is that his drivers license had expired a few months earlier, and he had just taken the driving test in Texas. He passed, and they gave him a "temporary license" to use until the real one came in the mail. The "temporary license" was a print-out, with his picture that could have just as well been a picture of Obama, that's how unclear it was. So he went, with his wrinkled black-and-white print-out joke-of-a-drivers-license, and had no problems buying cigarettes. My passport wouldn't do. And, just to make it even better - when I tried to convince the clerk to accept my passport, he took it and looked at it, gave it back and said "Well, Ma'am - I ain't even heard of Finland before".

Texas. I just love it.

Edited April 7, 2011 by Mrs.Finland-USA

[Karee 4,190]

what makes you think we'd accept a texan?

Deep down inside you all want to move here.

ETA I would move there but cant handle the 3.2 thing.

Edited April 7, 2011 by Karee

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

what makes you think we'd accept a texan?

[Karee 4,190]

Oh Texas. Yes, this is true. And legal. And absurd, but not that much you can do about it. My mother-in-law lives in San Antonio, and me and my husband visit her there. Last time we visited, I went to buy cigarettes from a gas station. I'm 26, I guess you could say I look young-ish.. They asked for an ID, I gave my Finnish passport. No good, won't do, I was told. Only state ID. "You got to be kidding, right?" was my response - I mean, this is a PASSPORT. Nope. I had my Finnish driver's license and my US credit card that has my photo on it - Nope. Had to send my husband to buy me cigarettes. And the funniest part is that his drivers license had expired a few months earlier, and he had just taken the driving test in Texas. He passed, and they gave him a "temporary license" to use until the real one came in the mail. The "temporary license" was a print-out, with his picture that could have just as well been a picture of Obama, that's how unclear it was. So he went, with his wrinkled black-and-white print-out joke-of-a-drivers-license, and had no problems buying cigarettes. My passport wouldn't do. And, just to make it even better - when I tried to convince the clerk to accept my passport, he took it and looked at it, gave it back and said "Well, Ma'am - I ain't even heard of Finland before".

Texas. I just love it.

They funny thing is these guys denying her are all South Asians. Indians, Pakistanis etc. Maybe Thailand pi$$ed them off in another life, but I doubt it. It says Thailand on the card.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Deep down inside you all want to move here.

ETA I would move there but cant handle the 3.2 thing.

Try the watermelon wine, and learn to do the watermelon roll.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Oh Texas. Yes, this is true. And legal. And absurd, but not that much you can do about it. My mother-in-law lives in San Antonio, and me and my husband visit her there. Last time we visited, I went to buy cigarettes from a gas station. I'm 26, I guess you could say I look young-ish.. They asked for an ID, I gave my Finnish passport. No good, won't do, I was told. Only state ID. "You got to be kidding, right?" was my response - I mean, this is a PASSPORT. Nope. I had my Finnish driver's license and my US credit card that has my photo on it - Nope. Had to send my husband to buy me cigarettes. And the funniest part is that his drivers license had expired a few months earlier, and he had just taken the driving test in Texas. He passed, and they gave him a "temporary license" to use until the real one came in the mail. The "temporary license" was a print-out, with his picture that could have just as well been a picture of Obama, that's how unclear it was. So he went, with his wrinkled black-and-white print-out joke-of-a-drivers-license, and had no problems buying cigarettes. My passport wouldn't do. And, just to make it even better - when I tried to convince the clerk to accept my passport, he took it and looked at it, gave it back and said "Well, Ma'am - I ain't even heard of Finland before".

Texas. I just love it.

Texan's have never been known for their intelligence.

[SMOKE 1,426]

Deep down inside you all want to move here.

ETA I would move there but cant handle the 3.2 thing.

i am coming down for the race this weekend & i am bringing a bang load of beer back home. come to think of it, i'm in the dfw metroplex regularly. you might be on to something hidden within us.

back to topic. that is pretty nutty they won't accept a federal id. good luck

[The Dude 206]

Deep down inside you all want to move here.

ETA I would move there but cant handle the 3.2 thing.

You mean people actually live in texas on purpose?

[Karee 4,190]

You mean people actually live in texas on purpose?

I grew up in Detroit, so it's pretty nice. That said, all the other places I have lived, Montreal, Denver, Bangkok are much better. The money is good here. Not much of a housing crisis, and no state income tax. Besides weird a$$ laws concerning proof of ID, it's no so bad.