License renewal proofs increased

Beginning July 1, those who renew their Missouri driver's licenses will be required to show proof of citizenship or lawful residence before they can do so.

Kandi Sailer, manager of the Jackson license bureau, said everyone that wants to apply, or reapply, for a driver's license must recertify that they are in the country legally. All natural-born citizens will have to bring in their birth certificates to get their license renewed. Naturalized citizens can bring in naturalization papers or other valid U.S. Immigration and Citizenship Services documents, and noncitizens can show their foreign passport or other proof of lawful residence, Sailer said.

Also, Sailer said under the new provisions, Missouri license bureaus cannot issue driver's licenses to noncitizens for longer than the term they were legally set to spend in the United States.

"If your immigration documents expire in six months, so will the license you leave with," Sailer said.

License bureaus will keep records in a statewide computer database of everyone who proves lawful residence, so those who show the required identification once will not have to do so again every time their licenses have to be renewed.

Sailer said it is important to remember ahead of time to bring identification, especially if you have lost your birth certificate or were never issued one.

"I can't tell you how many elderly people don't have birth certificates, maybe because they were born at home with a midwife," Sailer said. "Back then, you marked it in the family Bible and that was it."

For Cape Girardeau County residents, new birth certificates can be obtained from the county health department. The license bureau will only accept government-issued copies of any form of identification.

Maura Browning, public information officer with the Missouri Department of Revenue, said the new policy is the result of a state law passed in 2004 by the Missouri Legislature.

"Obviously there are reasons to be concerned about identity theft and fraud, and this will make sure every form of identification that the state of Missouri puts out is valid," Browning said.

Most states have similar laws, Browning said.

According to Missouri statues, new provisions in effect July 1 also will forbid illegal immigrants from receiving commercial driver's licenses. If an immigrant is in the country lawfully, but only temporarily, he or she also cannot receive a commercial license. Anyone applying for a driver's permit or nondriver's license for indentification purposes only also must prove lawful residence.

As of July 1, license bureaus can deny licenses to anyone who "commits fraud or deception during the examination process," or falsifies information on license applications, according to the statutes.