Dangers of driving

North Carolina is a highly regulated state when it comes to driving. Actually, it's a highly regulated state for most things, as we are discovering.

• To get a driver's license, you must have proof of car insurance. It does not matter if you have a car, however. If you don't have proof of insurance, you can't get a license. Period. We had to call Robin's car insurance, add me to it and have them fax proof that I am on the policy.
• Unlike the state of Florida (who will let anyone drive), NC makes you take a written test to obtain your driver's license. The motorcycle test is way more difficult than the car test. Instead of 3 multiple choice answers for each question, you have to choose from 4.
• We just purchased a second car (this area has no public transportation whatsoever). The problem is we can't drive it. The motor vehicle license and registration office says you can't drive your car without plates. If you purchase it from the owner directly (which we did) and not a dealership, the state says you can't drive it home until you get new plates. (We broke the law to get it home.) They have no contingency for a temporary tag from a private owner. Plus, you can't get a NC license plate until you have your NC driver's license. We are waiting for our licenses to arrive from the ever-so-safe-and-secure U.S. Postal Service. Brilliant!
• On a side note, to obtain a library card, as always, is the most difficult. You can't get one of those until you have a state ID. Sheesh! They were nice enough to give me a "guest" card.