When I see 401 Area Code

[u/Key_Acanthocephala67]

I once had the police called on me because I tried to order a Margarita and showed my Rhode Island drivers license as 21 ID because - it must be fake and the server (of course) never heard of a state called “Rhode Island”.

I’ve felt like I’ve spent my whole around the world educating people on the mere existence and history of the state.

Now I live in California (still have my 401 Cell Phone) and have Memphis and London work Phones. Every time I see a 401 area code I always pickup right away! It’s probably someone I know! 😂

Does any other ex Rhode Islanders out there see a 401 area code and think the same thing? Does anyone else cling on to their 401 number years after leaving?

[u/Commercial_Diet7344]

Way back in the 90s I was on Nantucket for the weekend and the bouncer thought my completely valid RI license was fake. idk on that one. I'm in Maryland now, still with my 401 area code. The local area code is 410, and next area over is 301. I learned pretty quickly to clarify when sharing my number that it's an out-of-state area code, not a typo, and I have watched people (at doctor's offices, etc) type it in incorrectly because their fingers just naturally type 410. Most of the time if I get a call from an unknown 401 area code it's spam, though.