| DMV to streamline 'full legal name' requirement |
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| Sept 10, 2008 |
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08-193
Oregonians struggling to prove their "full legal name" to DMV will have more options starting Sept. 15 under a rule change approved Wednesday by the Oregon Transportation Commission.
The revisions are intended to help applicants for driver licenses, instruction permits and identification cards meet issuance requirements that took effect July 1. DMV is making the change after hearing feedback from customers who had multiple name changes during their lifetimes.
"The most common scenario we've seen involves applicants who provide a birth certificate as proof of their legal presence status in the U.S., but their current name is different than what's on the birth certificate," DMV Administrator Tom McClellan said. "Prior to these changes, many customers had to obtain additional government-issued documents to prove the link between their birth name and their current name. We will soon accept additional identity documents, including a current driver license, to link the person to the legal presence document."
Although marriage and divorce are common reasons for name changes, DMV has encountered many other situations in the two months since the law took effect. People change names for a variety of reasons, such as adoption, blended families, and cultural practices.
"As various name-change situations arose, we looked for a way to ease the burden yet still comply with the law," McClellan said. "We realized that expanding the list of acceptable identity documents would create more ways to connect a person's current name to the name on their legal presence document. We are giving people more options to meet our requirements."
Under the new rules, which take effect Sept. 15, DMV has expanded the list of acceptable documents to prove current full legal name. The list will include:
- Oregon and out-of-state driver license, driver permit or ID cards
- Canadian birth certificates
- Military documents, including:
- U.S. Active Duty / Retiree / Reservist / Civilian / Military ID Card
- Common Access Card
- U.S. Uniform Services ID and Privileges Card (DD1173 and DD1173-1)
- Oregon Concealed Weapons Permit
- Tribal ID cards
- Proof of Age and Identity Letters issued by:
- U.S. Pretrial Services
- U.S. District Court Probation Office
- Oregon County Community Corrections
- Oregon Youth Authority
- Oregon Department of Corrections Release ID card
Wednesday's rule change does not affect other requirements under Senate Bill 1080, passed by the Legislature in February 2008. The new law requires applicants for first-time, renewal or replacement driver licenses, instruction permits or ID cards to present DMV with government-issued documents that provide:
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal presence status in the country – such as a government-issued birth certificate or U.S. passport, or foreign passport with U.S. immigration documents.
- Proof of Social Security number – such as a Social Security card, employment document or tax document.
- Proof that the person is not entitled to a Social Security number, if the applicant is not eligible for an SSN – such as immigration documents that do not include permission to work in the United States.
- Proof of full legal name – the subject of today's rule change.
These are in addition to previous requirements, such as proof of Oregon residence address, passage of tests and payment of fees. It is also important to know that DMV only accepts government-issued documents, such as birth and marriage certificates. Hospital-issued birth certificates and souvenir marriage certificates, for example, cannot be accepted.
"The steps required to obtain or renew a driver license or ID card are more difficult today because of increased emphasis on identity determination and legal status," McClellan said. "Our employees are doing an outstanding job through this transition, and we believe these recent changes are a positive result of customer feedback and creative problem-solving. We continue to strive for excellent customer service as we implement these changes and help the citizens of Oregon."
For up-to-date information, visit DMV's ID news page here: www.oregon.gov/ODOT/DMV/news/id_news.shtml
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| More Information |
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For more information, contact:
DMV Public Affairs
(503) 945-5270
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