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'Post-traumatic stress' driver's license?
ATLANTA, (UPI) -- Georgia has passed legislation to offer military personnel and veterans driver's licenses saying they have post-traumatic stress disorder, officials say.
Under the law, they can voluntarily request a PTSD designation on their licenses, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Sunday.
The legislation, awaiting the governor's signature, would make Georgia the first state with a driver's license indicating a specific health problem other than poor eyesight, the newspaper said.
Some veterans say they can't see many people wanting to put such information on their licenses.
"Why would I want to put out there on my license -- hey, I'm a nut job," said Marvin Myers, president of the Georgia Vietnam Veterans Alliance Inc.
Sen. Ron Ramsey, D-Decatur, the bill's sponsor, said there are potential benefits.
Ramsey says he was approached by a veteran with PTSD worried he might have a bad encounter with law enforcement.
"He said, 'God forbid anybody put handcuffs on me. I'd go berserk,'" the senator said.
The former serviceman said a PTSD indication on driver's licenses might help, Ramsey said.
"This is how it is supposed to work -- an ordinary citizen came up and said, 'This is what I need,'" he said.
ATLANTA, (UPI) -- Georgia has passed legislation to offer military personnel and veterans driver's licenses saying they have post-traumatic stress disorder, officials say.
Under the law, they can voluntarily request a PTSD designation on their licenses, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Sunday.
The legislation, awaiting the governor's signature, would make Georgia the first state with a driver's license indicating a specific health problem other than poor eyesight, the newspaper said.
Some veterans say they can't see many people wanting to put such information on their licenses.
"Why would I want to put out there on my license -- hey, I'm a nut job," said Marvin Myers, president of the Georgia Vietnam Veterans Alliance Inc.
Sen. Ron Ramsey, D-Decatur, the bill's sponsor, said there are potential benefits.
Ramsey says he was approached by a veteran with PTSD worried he might have a bad encounter with law enforcement.
"He said, 'God forbid anybody put handcuffs on me. I'd go berserk,'" the senator said.
The former serviceman said a PTSD indication on driver's licenses might help, Ramsey said.
"This is how it is supposed to work -- an ordinary citizen came up and said, 'This is what I need,'" he said.
