ATLANTA – State Representative Penny Houston (R-Nashville) announced today that the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) will begin requiring new documentation for obtaining and renewing driver’s licenses on July1, 2012. Under new federally mandated SAFFE DL (Secure Automated Fast Friendly Easier Driver’s License) Program, Georgians wishing to renew their driver’s license must provide documentation proving their identity, full legal name, current residential address, and social security number.
“Georgians have grown accustomed to a quick and easy renewal process for their driver’s licenses, which can usually be done online or by mail, but beginning in July, a new federal law will require us to actually go in and apply in person with all the requisite documents when our driver’s license expires,” said Rep. Houston. “Congress has implemented a big change in policy that the states are being forced to follow. I want people to know ahead of time about these changes so that they can plan accordingly and are not caught off guard.”
The SAFFE DL program is mandated by the Federal Real ID Act of 2005. Under this federal law, Georgia driver’s licenses and identifications must meet upcoming federal requirements for air travel security screenings and entry into federal buildings. Congress passed the Federal Real ID Act in response to the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations. The federal act prohibits the federal government from accepting driver’s licenses/IDs issued by non-compliant states to board commercial flights or enter federal buildings.
“If DDS did not implement these changes, federal law would make it impossible for Georgians to use their driver’s licenses or state issued identification to go through airport security, board airplanes, and enter federal buildings,” added Rep. Houston.
In compliance with the Federal Real ID Act, beginning July 1, 2012, anyone needing to apply for their first driver’s license or renew an expiring existing driver’s license must visit a DDS Customer Service Center in person. As a part of the new protocol, customers will also need to prove of their identity and full legal name, Social Security Number (SSN), and residential address.
Customers will be able to prove their identity and full legal name by providing either an original or certified copy of their U.S. birth certificate, a valid U.S. passport, or Certificate of Citizenship or other immigration form.
To prove their full SSN, customers must bring either their Social Security card, W-2 form with their full SSN, paycheck showing their name and full SSN, or documentation from the Social Security Administration displaying their name and full SSN.
Customers may prove their residential address by providing any two of the following: mortgage payment, deed or property tax, health insurance statement, Medicare or Medicaid statement, Paycheck/paystub, letter from employer, W2 from current or previous year, school record for the current and previous school year, income tax return for current or previous year, most recent utility bill, current rental contract/receipts for rent payment, or a recent bank statement.
For customers who are unable to obtain the mandatory documentation before their driver’s licenses or IDs are due to expire, DDS will issue an interim driver’s license/ID for 120 days to allow time to gather the necessary information.
All fees for obtaining and renewing driver’s licenses/IDs will remain the same.
Existing driver’s licenses and IDs will remain valid until their expiration date. Georgians may continue to use their current Georgia driver’s licenses and IDs as an acceptable form of identification, for boarding a commercial flight, and for entering federal buildings until the driver’s license or ID expires.
The new SAFFE DL program will benefit customers by providing additional security, insuring the integrity of their identification, and helping protection against identity theft.
For more information on Georgia’s changes relating to the Department of Driver Services, please visit www.dds.ga.gov/SecureID. You can also contact the DDS Customer contact center at (678) 413-8400, or (866) 754-3687.
Representative Penny Houston represents the citizens of District 170, which includes portions of Berrien, Colquitt, and Cook counties. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 1997, and is currently a Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee. She also serves on the Banks & Banking, Budget and Fiscal Oversight, Economic Development & Tourism, and Ways & Means committees.
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