Veterans Blast Georgia Bill to Put PTSD Diagnosis on Driver's Licenses

Like I said, if they really wanted to alert as well as honor, they should just offer them them the choice of putting Combat Veteran instead of doing this. The idea that they get pulled over by police is really out there. They don't get pulled over more than civilians. It is good for police to know they are facing an uncommon person when they are standing in front of a veteran and this way they get taken to the hospital if needed or to a veteran's court if necessary but what about when they have to use their license for identification using charge cards or cashing checks? Not a good move at all.

Veterans Blast Georgia Bill to Put PTSD Diagnosis on Driver's Licenses
By Joshua Rhett Miller
- FOXNews.com

Veterans groups are blasting Georgia lawmakers for passing legislation that would allow a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder to appear on driver's licenses.

Veterans groups are blasting Georgia lawmakers for passing legislation that would allow a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder to appear on driver's licenses.

The legislation, which awaits Gov. Sonny Purdue's signature, would permit servicemembers and veterans to request a PTSD denotation, which would appear on their driver's licenses as a specific health problem, much like poor eyesight.

PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can occur after a traumatic event, including sexual assault, physical assault and military combat. Symptoms include vivid flashbacks to the traumatic event, depression and substance abuse, among others. Up to 20 percent of veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars suffer from PTSD, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The bill would require a sworn statement from a physician verifying a diagnosis of PTSD and a waiver of liability for the release of the driver's medical information.

State Sen. Ron Ramsey, who co-sponsored the bill, says he sees no downside to the measure. In a statement to FoxNews.com, Ramsey, a Democrat, said the "completely voluntary" legislation may protect law enforcement officers and veterans from potentially dangerous situations.

"For example if a veteran suffering from PTSD was pulled over for a simple traffic violation, a designation on the license explaining the circumstances could inform an officer that the situation should be handled cautiously," the statement read. "If a veteran does not feel it is necessary to designate this on their license, then they do not have to. Again, it is entirely voluntary."
go here for more of this
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/05/12/law-label-veterans-damaged-license/

Read more about this here

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Georgia about to make PTSD even worse
“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.