License Plates in Ohio

I laughed so hard I could hardly sign my name. I still haven't figured this one out.

I went to the govt building to change the title on my car from WA to OH so I could get OH license plates for it. No problem, said the license plates man. Just go down the hall to get an OH title and come back.

Did that. Clerk asked my "Social" and I rattled off the digits. $3.50 please.

Went back to Plates with the new title. Plate man asked for something with my Social Security number on it. I told him the number. Not good enough. He had to see paper.

Searched my wallet. Nothing in there had the number. My pilot license has it, but it's in my flight bag, not in my wallet. Haven't seen my SS card in years, though I think I have it somewhere.

But there was an out! All I had to do is get someone to accept power of attorney from me, and I could get the plates and registration. Anyone at all would do, and the person doing that didn't even have to show a Social Security number!

Any photo ID would do.

I could have grabbed anyone in sight to do the deed, but my fiancee was there with me, and she signed the form and showed her driver's license to the Plates man, and he wrote the registration and gave me my license plates.

Wait a minute, I said. I can't get plates without showing you something with my SS # on it, but I can grab any bum off the street with a photo ID to sign this pink piece of paper, and not show an SS #, and then you can give me my plates?

Yep.

Welcome to Ohio.