Number of Enhanced Driver Licenses Top 100,000 in New York State

Record Number of Sales as New Travel Rules Go Into Effect

ALBANY, NY (06/03/2009)(readMedia)-- More than 100,000 New Yorkers have now obtained Enhanced Driver Licenses (EDLs) that meet the new federal travel requirements that went into effect on June 1. The new rules require citizens returning to the United States by land or sea from Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean to have a federally approved document such as an EDL as proof of identity and citizenship.

"We are very pleased that so many New Yorkers were aware that the EDLs were available to them and obtained them prior to the June 1 deadline," said Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner David J. Swarts. "As we have been saying from the beginning, an EDL is the smart way to travel."

The Department of Motor Vehicles began issuing EDLs and Enhanced Non-Driver IDs (Enhanced Non-Driver IDs are issued to citizens who do not drive but wish to travel), in September 2008. The new enhanced documents were made available in response to new travel rules resulting from the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. One of the changes included in the Act, known as the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, requires an EDL, passport, or other federally approved identification document for all land or sea travel into the United States from Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean.

New York is one of only four states offering an Enhanced Driver License. Other states include Washington, Vermont and Michigan. New York has processed more EDL applications than any other state. Most customers receive their EDLs within two weeks.

EDLs cost $30 more than a regular driver license and are valid for eight years. In order to obtain an EDL, U.S. citizens who are New York residents must go to a DMV office with original proof of citizenship as well as proof of identity and a verifiable social security number. They also need two proofs of New York State residence. A complete list of acceptable documents of proof and additional information about EDLs is available on the DMV website at www.nysdmv.com or by calling the EDL Helpline at 518-474-9981 Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Although the new rules went into effect on June 1, EDLs can be obtained after that date. If a license is not due to be renewed, citizens who apply for an EDL can have their license fees prorated or their expiration dates extended.

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