At the very bottom of my card it states clearly: Not to be used for identification; this statement no longer appears on the new cards and was a great source of consternation for these fine folk at the Department of Moron Vesicles; after quite a bit of haggling and a near-fatal episode of apoplexy on my part I was able to convince the so-called supervisor that I was indeed who I said I was since I still had the same D.L. # that was issued to me by the state of California in 1964.
I have since left and haven't had to renew my license there, but I can't help but think that privacy was the least of the worries of the martinets who installed this law.
"In California now you have to show your SSN card to get a driver's license"
In Arizona, they ask for it, and most people -- being complete morons -- hand it right on over. They even make the SSN the same number as the DL#, meaning your SSN is all over creation in short order.
I went in to renew my DL. My picture had faded beyond use, and I wanted it clear so I didn't give any justification to haul me to the gulag. First line on the form asks for SSN. I didn't fill it out. During the 45 minute wait, I watch a hundred or so people come into the building, get the form and dutifully put their SSN right there on the top line.
My turn in line, nice man at the desk says I inadvertently left the SSN off. I explained that it was intentional and that I would not be providing it, now or ever. I told him federal law at the passage of the SSN said it was illegal to require the SSN for ID. Guy objects, I told him I'd walk out without renewing before he'd get my SSN. He left, talked to manager, manager tried to tell me I was breaking the law. I laughed in her face and dared her to call the cops. I offered her my cell phone to make the call, smiling. Long story short, they gave me my DL, renewed, with new picture, without providing SSN.
But fools are so afraid of civil authority they surrender their rights every day, all across America -- and consider it patriotic to do so.