Red tape binds state's driver's license rules
10/18/08 | 23 comments

Red tape binds state's driver's license rules


All applicants must prove U.S. citizenship or legality
By Walter Griffin
BDN Staff
BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY GABOR DEGRE
People wait at the Department of Motor Vehicles office in Bangor on Friday afternoon. To renew or obtain a Maine driver?s license will require proof of U.S. citizenship or papers proving that the person is in the country legally. State officials anticipate longer waiting times at motor vehicle offices because of the new requirements.

AUGUSTA, Maine — Obtaining or renewing a Maine driver’s license is going to take a lot longer beginning next month when new rules go into effect requiring applicants to prove they are U.S. citizens or are in the country legally.

Deputy Secretary of State Cathie Curtis of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles said new rules definitely would prolong visits to branch offices. She predicted that the changes would stress not only the department’s employees, but also those who come in to get their license.

Everyone seeking a passenger-vehicle or commercial license will have to visit a BMV branch office at least once under the new rules and show the required identification. Once entered into the system, an individual subsequently can renew their license online, Curtis said.

Besides longer lines, the new rules also will result in people being turned away after long waits in line in cases where they do not have the proper identification.

“It could take several trips to Motor Vehicles,” Curtis told the Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Transportation on Wednesday. “I doubt that it’s reasonable to believe that everybody has these documents at home ... We’re expecting this to have an impact.”

Curtis said the changes go into effect Nov. 15. She said they were instituted in response to legislation passed earlier this year aimed at avoiding a standoff between the state and the federal Department of Homeland Security. The “Act to Enhance the Security of State Credentials” requires that Maine driver’s license applicants must prove they either are citizens of the United States or are in the country legally.

Curtis said that the easiest way to get a new license or a renewal would be to show up with a U.S. passport or passport card.

Without either of those, however, applicants will need to provide a certified copy of a birth certificate. If married and using the name of one’s husband, the applicant also would have to provide a certified copy of a marriage license. If married multiple times, certified marriage licenses and divorce records for each marriage must be submitted.

Curtis said many people probably would have to go out of state to obtain some of their identification records. The changes also will place an added burden on town and court clerks.

Curtis said that recent time studies have found that on average the process takes 8.5 minutes from the time one is waited on until walking out with a license. The changes will add an additional 8.5 to 11.5 minutes to the process, she said.

“We’ve all heard of road rage,” said Rep. Edward J. Mazurek, D-Rockland. “I envision motor vehicle office rage.”

Curtis noted that every document provided by applicants would need to be copied and that bureau offices have only one copy machine. Although it will require added work, no additional staff will be hired. Homeland Security will not provide money for positions, she said.

“Motor Vehicles is judged by the length of lines in our offices,” she said. “This could double our line and yet we’re not getting any help for staff.”

Curtis said employees already were undergoing training in anticipation of the new rules and also were being counseled on how to deal with added stress.

Sen. Bill Diamond, D-Windham, questioned whether the department had made it more difficult than necessary in response to the law. He said he would prefer that “a little more common sense” had been used in making the rules.

“These rules and regulations seem to have gone almost to a ridiculous level,” Diamond said. “I think in this case you’re almost creating unnecessary turmoil.”

Curtis replied that the rules met the letter of the law that stipulates that the secretary of state may not issue a license to an applicant unless the applicant presents valid documentary evidence of legal presence in the United States. She said the rules are similar to what is required to obtain a passport.

“It just seems like we’ve got so much red tape here that it’s doomed to failure,” Rep. William P. Browne, R-Vassalboro, told Curtis. “I sympathize with your plight, but I don’t know what the solution is.”

One thing that won’t change is the cost of obtaining licenses. The cost is $30 for drivers of passenger vehicles under age 65, $21 if 65 or older. The cost is $34 for commercial licenses, $28 if 65 or older.

ID REQUIREMENTS AT A GLANCE

Here are the ID requirements for new or renewed Maine driver’s license, effective Nov. 15:

If you are a U.S. citizen:

United States passport or pass-port card, or certified birth certificate from state office of vital statistics, or at least one of the following: baptismal certificate, religious record or tribal record showing name, date of birth and where the birth occurred, or hospital birth certificate showing name, date of birth and where the birth occurred, or doctor’s record of birth showing name, date of birth and where birth occurred, or newspaper or insurance file showing name, date of birth and where birth occurred.

If you were born outside the U.S. with U.S. citizen parent:

U.S. passport, or birth certificate, or proof of U.S. citizenship of parent, or evidence of the applicant’s legal relationship to parent.

If you are not a U.S. citizen:

Permanent Resident card or Resident Alien card, memorandum of creation of record of Law-ful Permanent Residence, Arrival Departure Form I-94, Temporary Resident card, Re-entry Permit, Employment Authorization card, Travel Document or Refugee Travel Document, Arrival-Departure card Form I-94 stamped or endorsed.

Maine licenses for passenger vehicles (Class C) must be renewed every six years if you are under age 65 at a cost of $30, and every four years if you are 65 or older for $21.

Commercial licenses in Maine must be renewed every five years if under 65 at a cost of $34 and every four years thereafter for $28.

For more information go to www.Maine.gov./sos/bmv/licenses

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Comments
23 comments on this item
On 10/18/08 at 4:25 AM, bassman4447 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

good ole state of maine. why dont you add finger printing, And FBI backgroud checks also. lets make it take a week in line to get drivers licence. make it cheaper to drive without a licence and pay the fine, then miss a week of work......

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On 10/18/08 at 6:24 AM, mrclam wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Yeah, many of us are terrorists and this law will keep us off the road. Lot of good that would do anyway. You can make a license off the internet for a few bucks if you know where to go, and furthermore, what good terrorist ever needed a license to transport and plant a bomb. This is all Bush Witchery claiming to find the dusky Muslim and hold him at bay. What a bunch of BS. I think we can look forward to these idiotically ineffective laws to be tossed when Obama beats the parachutist on November 4.

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On 10/18/08 at 8:03 AM, Todd007 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

So apparently a Social Security card or military ID are no longer valid forms of identification? The data will, no doubt, eventually be scanned into digital format and saved on computer servers to be shared with States, U.S. Government and our current allies (next decades adversaries). Hope at least they update citizen's (there's a word you don't hear much anymore) photographs as the ones out here right now probably scare a lot of Troopers and Police when they are examined! Might as well provide the serial numbers and inventory of your weapons under this program.

Here's a solution, don't issue drivers licenses, instead issue passports with the last page of "your papers please" listing what is now drivers data. Place a secure programable chip on it too so the IRS can ensure, via GPS, you are actually at work making money for them! I sure hope this program protects us and makes us safer from terrorists when they drive through our state again (as several of the 9-11 ones did).

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On 10/18/08 at 8:12 AM, allin46 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

THe heads of state are doing a great job.Just put a gun to my head and get it over with.What are these morons thinking>?What a idiotic state we live in . Our country is about as realistic. These idiots need to find something else to worry about.Get a life you morons

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On 10/18/08 at 11:29 AM, treeking55 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

speaking of MVO rage, If the older people who remember the overweight, Black Haired woman with the really outstanding " personality " who worked for the DMV many years ago in Bangor didn"t revolt in the street, I don't imagine the young people of today will either.

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On 10/18/08 at 2:54 PM, Bangorean wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Welcome to the New World Order. You must obey ze Homeland Security Forces. Seig Heil! What a blatant waste of taxpayer money. Think about what its going to be like 10, 20 years from now. Maybe its time to bust off on that 5 year sailing cruise.

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On 10/18/08 at 3:48 PM, ArtHenry wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Where did they get the 8.5 min average?, I have never taken less than 1 and a half hours to get out of a DMV office.!

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On 10/18/08 at 5:42 PM, leemacs wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I feel sorry for the service reps at the Motor vehicle offices. Maine probably has the least amount of offices of any state. I now live in Florida and we have to provide these same documents now to get or renew a license. However, we can make an appointment with DMV office and not need to wait in long lines.

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On 10/18/08 at 7:07 PM, wspahn wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Well, I'm not getting too excited. This crap will have blown over by the time my license next expires.

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On 10/18/08 at 7:36 PM, Lizabeth wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Sounds to me like it is sour grapes because the State of Maine had to do this and now they are interpretating the law to make it as difficult as possible for the tax paying citizens of our state. How ridiculous to say each office only has only one photo copying machine. If they can't get more photo copiers in there if the load is increased that is just another excuse to give poor service to the people of Maine. I haven't heard of these problems in other states that have passed this.

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On 10/18/08 at 9:33 PM, suese62 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

alot of BS for sure... i want our state and country to be safe.. but come on -- in order to use your husbands last name if you're married, such as i have for 25+ years on my MAINE drivers license ; i now have to prove my last name by a marriage certificate. that's BS!!.. i sure pity all the dmv workers[ so be easy on them] ---, its not their fault- its our great government :( What will they think of next !!??!!

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On 10/18/08 at 11:58 PM, gonesouth wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Hey Maine, welcome to the real world! If you think that is bad, try obtaining a license in Virginia! As long as you have your 5 lbs. of paperwork & umbilical cord blood with you when you walk in the door, your good to go. Not only do you have to prove identity, US residency and name changes, you also are required to prove S.S. info. and proof of Virginia residency via billing/banking info. Giving up my Maine license was a sad day for me and it made me appreciate the "good old DMV" back home. This is a minor change and should only have to be done once, as hard as it is to deal with change sometimes...sometimes change is good. I agree with suese, be easy on the DMV employees and tell everyone you know about the requirements. If everyone goes in prepared, the transition won't be that bad.

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On 10/19/08 at 8:53 AM, bassman4447 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

How the hell is this going to stop terrorist. If there in maine trying to get a maine drivers lincence. Its all ready to late to stop them.. i dint see alot of terrorist in line at the DMV last time i was there?????????????????????????

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On 10/19/08 at 10:03 AM, CaptPell wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Are you kidding Me??? What a bunch of lame excuses! “There’s only one photocopier”. Yep; the whole state of Maine and it’s split between all the DMV’s. Give me a break. The State of Maine should of done this a LONG TIME AGO! Do you want someone who IS NOT FROM THIS COUNTRY to be driving on your roads? I’m surprised the yuppies haven’t called for something like this before anyways? I’m sure there just going to do what the State of Maine government does best anyways---Let’s raise there taxes some more! HEY--another way to help fund the Dirgo health plan. The good people that work in the Bangor DMV do a great job. I just renewed my license and it only took me 30min.

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On 10/19/08 at 10:23 AM, HarryHSnyderIII wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

It may not be evident to our employees in Augusta (the ones we elect) but there is a simple way to avoid this "red tape" foolishness.

Federal law allows States to issue a "driving permit only" document which would not be valid for boarding planes, crossing borders, or enterence to Federal buildings. I would guess that a majority of Mainers would elect the "simple license" rather that put up with the "red tape." How about giving the citizens a choice... is this a "free Country" or what?

Harry H. Snyder III

Tamarac Farm

Whiting, Maine 04691

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On 10/19/08 at 10:45 AM, jaguarsky wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Point missed CaptPell. Illegals drive all the time in this country, just as thousands of unlicensed Americans drive, and all of this paperwork will do nothing to change those numbers. It will however make life more difficult for "law abiding" citizens trying to navigate through the ever widening reach of "Big Brother".

I was born here (US), worked here all my life, but I have been married and divorced, took back my maiden name and then remarried. Thankfully at that juncture I kept my own name. I have also moved about the country regularly and would have no idea where to start looking for my "papers", they have been stored in attics all across the nation with various relatives. So I guess, when I return to Maine in the next few years, I will be unable to get a new license. Too bad, I really try to do things by the rules.

The point is, that this law really does nothing to make the US more secure. Recent history shows us that. As was stated here before, several of the 9/11 bombers passed into this country, and through Maine, with perfectly legal paperwork. At it's best, these new laws will only flag really stupid terrorists, and only those that want a driver's license. It is a fine example of knee-jerk legislation. The scary part is that the government, the one that is supposed to be "of, by and for" is using it to create a national tracking system for its citizens, and they are expecting us to do all of the paperwork.

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On 10/19/08 at 11:52 AM, southtexaskate wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

we lived in texas for a while, it was stupid easy to get a licence. i dont know how many times i saw a mexican national with a texas licence. good job maine! i'll be there next month with my Birth certificate, marrage licence, and several other items to prove where i live and i'm a us citizen. it's not an inconvience, everyone should have these items on hand for emergancy purposes.

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On 10/19/08 at 12:05 PM, southtexaskate wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Oh, and the hard and more throughly you have to prove citizenship means that your Maine state drivers license could be used at the border!!

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On 10/19/08 at 4:34 PM, MoeBolduc wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

In this day and age a passport from the country of which you are a citizen is just common sense. Everyone should be required to have one. Producing that document to obain a drivers license is simply providing proof of who you say you are. Making it a big deal is ludicrous.

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On 10/20/08 at 5:30 AM, friendly wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Hey, you know what? Terrorist live, work, go to school and have green cards already in Maine. They come in legally, marry an American, get their documentation, and live on Food Stamps, LIHEAP, other "free" programs, and TANF. They have only to provide that same green card to obtain legal documentation to drive--one time-- and they are fthen ree to criticize, manipulate, otherwise undermine the system and abuse and/or abandon real born here citizens whom they initially married to get that precious green card. I do think security is an issue, however. On a side note, BMV workers don't need ANY excuse to be rude. Don't dismiss thier attitude as being justifiable because of government regulations. Some--not all--of them just really get off on the position of power they hold, real or imagined, and do arbitrarily cause additional stress and humiliation to customers--er, victims, who have to deal with them in the ritual process of licensing themselves and their vehicles to operate on the questionable road system we enjoy.

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On 10/20/08 at 5:54 AM, sabre1973 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

How refreshing to read that a Democrat & Republican agree on an issue. Oh, I know why because it doesn't pertain to their reelection. I am happy to know that they do "sympathize with our plight", but as usual don't know what the solution is, I thought that was why they were elected to figure out a solution. The red tape "seems?" to have gone to a ridiculous level, GEE YA THINK!

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On 10/20/08 at 6:46 AM, anne_of_mdi wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Hey friendly, you sure are bigoted! You just wrote that all immigrants are on welfare and that they are all terrorists. That must mean that you're a descendant of a terrorist, because unless you're a Native American we're all descendants of immigrants! Please also illuminate us on how an immigrant is the same thing as a terrorist. I'm not seeing the connection. By the way, you wrote "they come in legally." Is that what you meant to write?

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On 10/20/08 at 8:27 AM, Cherry wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

A driver's license won't matter much when we have no more fuel for our cars.....I think we will all have to start taking public transportation, using our own two feet or maybe horses again.

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