It’s surprising to see how many organizations outsource their identification needs. Is it simply because of the expense incurred when an organization decides to implement some type level of required identification cards? Sometimes the identification requirements are dictated by law and other times it’s simply to give an organization a higher level of credibility. Regardless, many companies are finding solutions other than purchasing expensive software and plastic card printers.

Personally, since I’ve been in the identification and tracking industry for over 10 years, I have worked with many different types of organizations in helping them develop solutions for their registration or simply photo identification needs. One thing that has become clear is the providers of these services have either chosen the high road or the low road. Many of these service providers have become self governing to ensure only individuals that should carry identification proving the person is really a police officer, EMT, or whatever the case may be. While others have chosen a more profitable route of selling ID cards to anyone who is willing to pay the price. You can search the internet for “Fake ID Cards” and you will find a plethora of companies that will provide you a card that will cost as much as $30. When searching for a legitimate solution the range is commonly in the $4 to $8 range. Because of the high level of profit, it’s easy to understand why some would choose that more lucrative path.

Simply saying the organizations that are selling ID cards without principles are breaking the law simply isn’t the case in most instances. If you check out their disclaimers, or the “I Agree” clauses on their sites, you will see that they actually only sell “Novelty” ID cards to anyone that is willing to pay their price. Again, checking into the details you may find that other companies providing these services are located overseas and therefore not held to the laws of our country. So accusing these providers of breaking the law or engaging in illegal activity isn’t the case because of the fine lines drawn.

So I have to question myself as to whether or not, ID cards mean anything anymore since it’s so easy to purchase false identification. Although if we look around we find that many individuals and companies are required to have IDs even for the simplest of services. Financial institutions commonly require two photo ID cards to cash a check or start a new account. TSA at the airport demands a form of photo ID card as do many other security personal to enter a protected area. Everywhere we look someone is requiring some form of photo identification from us.

Recently there was even a law passed that allows retired police officers to carry a firearm anywhere in the country if that officer also carries an identification card stating the officers retired status. Even bounty hunters and private detectives are now required by many states to carry ID cards that indicate their status and organizational affiliations. And guess what; there is not a government agency to supply any of these required cards so these people have to seek out a provider.

Even if we go beyond the requirements of law, I have to admit that when a police officer or fireman comes to my door it give me a feeling of comfort seeing them display some form of identification. So I guess even when the cards are not mandated by law, they are needed in many other areas of our daily lives.

So as long as we are in a society that does not trust everyone just because what they tell us, I’m sure that we will be in a society that requires some form of identification. The future technologies may change some of the forms of identification, but in my perception will always be a need for some type of identification card; even it if’s only for the latest club you joined.
Author Bio: Allen Richardson is the founder of Virtual Tournament Director, a company handling registration and ID cards for amateur sports participants around the nation, and http://www.fullidentity.com a company that provides similar services to the business community. He also serves as consultant to Southwest Airlines, Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railway as well as several other companies in the United States. Additionally, he is the author of Personal Discipline: Tools for Consistent Success.

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