Drivers' Licenses

Just because you don't have your drivers' license with you does not mean you are not qualified to drive.  I hate that we drivers can get in a huge amount of trouble for driving without that silly little plastic card.  My driving skills do not depend on whether or not my license is with me--they relate to how observant, cautious, and judicious I am on the road.  So, since none of those qualities relate to my carrying a physical manifestation of a license, I think it is silly we always have to be armed in that sense.  

In a world where phones are routinely equipped with internet and computer monitors are touch sensitive, it is more than sensible to expect the Department of Motor Vehicles can put drivers' licenses in an electronic database that is accessed via fingerprint.  

In my mind, the process is as simple as this:

Karen is driving fifty in a thirty five mile per hour zone.  Just as she puts more pressure on the accelerator, she notices a strobe of blue and red lights in her rearview mirror.  She slows the car and stops on the side of the road.  The police car slows behind her.  The officer approaches her car with a small device, about five inches in length and width.  He notifies her of the offense and asks her to press her finger on the screen.  Almost instantly, the computer pulls up Karen's information:  her full name, date of birth, address, eye color, hair color, height, and underestimated weight.  Not only does the officer have all of this information at his fingertips, he can be certain it is not expired or fabricated (except for the weight--as a woman, I beg y'all to just let us lie on that one).

Converting this kind of information to electronic databases will please multiple groups...

Adults will be happy because bars and liquor stores will have additional measures to prevent the sale of alcohol to minors because they will have to use their fingerprints before purchase.  The issue of a fake i.d. would become a moot point because you can't fake your fingerprint.

Once said minors get over the fact that they can't buy liquor anymore, they, too will become happier.  They will have more money to spend on technology and clothes once they stop buying all that liquor.  Also, they won't have to worry about wasting fifty bucks on a fake i.d. ...  It will take a while for them to warm up to this idea, but I am confident they will... eventually.

Environmentalists will rejoice when they find out no more plastic will go to waste as a means to manufacture licenses.

And I will rejoice because the whole country will realize that I came up with this amazing idea and everyone will acknowledge that I am extremely clever.

You're welcome, America.