New York City lawmakers are introducing a bill that would provide city residents living in all five boroughs with municipal identification cards.
They say that under the new law, City agencies would be required to accept the card, making it easier for New Yorkers to access City services where identification is required. Applicants would have to provide proof of residency and identity to obtain the card.
The proposed legislation would also require that the card be designed to deter fraud, much like a driver’s license or passport
Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, along with Council Members Carlos Menchaca and Daniel Dromm, announced the proposed legislation on Tuesday.
Mark-Viverito says the identity cards will provide broader access to City services, foster better community relations, and help bring stability to all residents.
(AP)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
2 Responses
In most states, the state government issues identity cards for those people lacking drivers licenses, and these cards are accepted nationally (for such purposes as boarding an airplane). Establishing a separate city-card would encourage non-residents, whose official state ID (usually a drivers license) gives a non-city address, to get a city ID (using a friend’s address). Since this is a city program, it won’t be able to build off the state’s program, which in itself will faciliate fraud. It will also be expensive.
This is redundant. New York State issues non-driver ID through the DMV.