Posted on 06/14/2005 5:28:47 PM PDT by Founding Father
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - If it's about time to renew your driver's license, be warned: everyone in Missouri will need to show proof he or she is legally in the country to get a license.
Under a state law passed last year, everyone obtaining or renewing a driver's license, nondriver's license or permit starting July 1 must provide proof of their "lawful presence" in the United States.
For U.S. citizens, the Department of Revenue will require a birth certificate or valid passport, or a certificate of citizenship or naturalization.
However, if a person got married, for example, and has a different last name, a copy of other paperwork explaining the change, such as a marriage license, must accompany the birth certificate.
Non-U.S. citizens must provide documents to prove they belong in the country. Details on which documents will be required, such as a valid foreign passport or visa paperwork, are still being hammered out, but will be determined by July 1, the agency said.
Another part of the law stipulates that licenses for non-citizens must expire when their legal presence in the country ends.
"There's stories throughout the Web of cases where these terrorists have legal identification from somewhere," Sen. Jon Dolan, R-Lake St. Louis, who handled the legislation last year, said Tuesday.
But Dolan expressed concern that U.S. citizens can't satisfy the requirement with something simpler, such as a Social Security card.
"They better implement this effectively and conveniently," he said. The intent is "not to bother Granny who's an 84-year-old citizen. It is to bother a basic illegal immigrant and possible terrorist in some cases."
Agency spokeswoman Maura Browning said U.S. citizens only must provide that extra paperwork once, and after that the state's system will note they showed proof they are legally in the country, making future renewals simpler - a point that somewhat eased Dolan's concerns.
A new federal law also steps up requirements nationwide for obtaining and renewing driver's licenses.
The law is aimed at stopping illegal immigrants from getting driver's licenses to prevent them from boarding planes or entering protected federal buildings. States have three years to meet the new standards that include verifying applicants are American citizens or legal residents.
Immigrants' rights groups have criticized the federal law, saying it will do nothing to make the country safer but shows increasing hostility toward people from other countries.
Agency spokeswoman Maura Browning said that with the state law's effective date looming, the agency hasn't thoroughly reviewed the federal law to see if changes should be made in Missouri.
My home state. Nice to see there remains a bit of that farm boy common sense back home.
How ridiculous. Obey the law. I have to.
ping
I like it. Think my retired Military ID will work?
If it was issued by the Mexican military, you could get a license in CA!
Now let's raise the right to vote to the same level as Drivers Licenses.
Dang,...... it says U.S. Army.
Thank FF for posting this. I get a little satisfaction today and have something to show my 81 year old activist mother!
They'll only enforce it on law abiding citizens. It's just like all the tough talk they dished out in the mid-80's amnesty.
All of a sudden us average Americans had to "prove" we were who we were getting new jobs under the laws and the I-9 form. One of the most useless, abused and non-enforced forms in the entire federal government.
Regular non-Hispanic and legal and Hispanic citizens have to now "prove" they are "legal" (were are your papers comrade?) to put their kids into school, get driver's licenses, etc. All while illegal aliens are shuffled through the system and I have no confidence in this new Missouri law.
I hope this catches on in the other 49 states. And I hope they tighten ID requirements at the voting places too.
No, it shows increasing hostility to those from other countries WHO BREAK THE LAW!!!
I just moved to AZ from Vegas. I had to get a BC. I took the one my mom gave me at 18. They said it was no good. So I had to fedex a copy from KY in order to get a license. I was pissed at first but if they make the illegals do it it was worth it. For some reason though I dont trust our sorry gov.org to do the right thing. I suspect a illegal can get a DL anyway.
I should have added that AZ will accept your old DL from some states that require strict standerds to get a DL but Nevada was not one of them.
I also wonder if none of the illegals are able to get a DL in AZ what happens when a cop pulls them over for a ticket? The illegal pulls a name out of arse and the cop writes him a ticket for no DL? And the illegal throws it away and pulls another name out his arse next time?
LOL!
I wish they would do the same thing here in Nevada.
"Your papers, please, Senior"....
with a very smug smile on the face.
LVM
When did hostility towards people who violate our laws become a bad thing?
I agree with you. Who's hostile "toward people from other countries"? Come to America, but do so LEGALLY!!!
(All while illegal aliens are shuffled through the system and I have no confidence in this new Missouri law.)
I HATE THESE NEW LAWS. Only US citizens are hurt. I just can't believe that the so called Republicans are doing this. Makes me think they are all stupid and I wish there was something we could do. Writing and calling does not work. IT IS DEPRESSING.
That is a tough requirement. If they did like Alaska and the PFD, it will be required to send the birth certificate to the agency, and that should make people nervous.
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