2008 Woodie Awards
License change to ease travels
By: Angie Favot
Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: News
Michigan residents can soon register for an enhanced driver's license that would act as a passport at U.S. borders if traveling in a vehicle.
The Secretary of State is creating the new license, which complies with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative for $50.
"There will be an option in the future, probably late next year, for residents of Michigan to purchase an optional enhanced driver's license," said Kelly Chesney, Secretary of State spokeswoman. "It will serve at the border crossing for those individuals that want to go to Canada, Mexico or any country in the western hemisphere."
The new license got its final approval last month from Gov. Jennifer Granholm.
The WHTI states U.S. citizens currently need to present either a passport, passport card, WHTI-complaint document or a government issued photo ID, like a driver's license, along with proof of citizenship for all land and sea travel.
Under WHTI, which the U.S. government will implement as early as June 1, 2009, most citizens entering the U.S. by sea or land must have a passport, passport card or WHTI-compliant document.
With the enhanced driver's licenses, Michigan residents can cross U.S. borders and show their driver's license as a suitable secure document in lieu of a passport, according to Chesney.
She said Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land wants to implement this program to make traveling more convenient for residents.
"It's not only more convenient for residents to carry in their wallet, but they don't have to worry about having a passport if traveling by vehicle," she said. "This is a way to expedite business across borders without sacrificing homeland security."
Chesney said Michigan does more business with Canada than any other state, so creating a more convenient way to cross borders is important given Michigan's current economic climate.
The enhanced driver's licenses initiative is a federal program, Chesney said.
"We are trying to enter an agreement with the federal government, we would have to have all the details ironed out with the federal government before we could move forward," she said. "We are currently in negotiation and we have already had lots of dialogue."
The Secretary of State is creating the new license, which complies with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative for $50.
"There will be an option in the future, probably late next year, for residents of Michigan to purchase an optional enhanced driver's license," said Kelly Chesney, Secretary of State spokeswoman. "It will serve at the border crossing for those individuals that want to go to Canada, Mexico or any country in the western hemisphere."
The new license got its final approval last month from Gov. Jennifer Granholm.
The WHTI states U.S. citizens currently need to present either a passport, passport card, WHTI-complaint document or a government issued photo ID, like a driver's license, along with proof of citizenship for all land and sea travel.
Under WHTI, which the U.S. government will implement as early as June 1, 2009, most citizens entering the U.S. by sea or land must have a passport, passport card or WHTI-compliant document.
With the enhanced driver's licenses, Michigan residents can cross U.S. borders and show their driver's license as a suitable secure document in lieu of a passport, according to Chesney.
She said Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land wants to implement this program to make traveling more convenient for residents.
"It's not only more convenient for residents to carry in their wallet, but they don't have to worry about having a passport if traveling by vehicle," she said. "This is a way to expedite business across borders without sacrificing homeland security."
Chesney said Michigan does more business with Canada than any other state, so creating a more convenient way to cross borders is important given Michigan's current economic climate.
The enhanced driver's licenses initiative is a federal program, Chesney said.
"We are trying to enter an agreement with the federal government, we would have to have all the details ironed out with the federal government before we could move forward," she said. "We are currently in negotiation and we have already had lots of dialogue."
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