DMV set to tighten rules for licenses

Virginia, tightening security after it was revealed that some of the September 11 terrorists obtained driver’s licenses in the state, will require proof of legal residence before issuing a license beginning Jan. 1.

Anne Atkins, director of public relations for the Department of Motor Vehicles, said a final list of approved documents establishing such proof would be announced by Dec. 1.

She added that the list would not include Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers or the Mexican Matricula Consular cards.

“When making the list to determine which documents we would accept, we wanted to make sure the documents used established legal presence,” Ms. Atkins said.

Neither the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) nor Matricula Consular card is proof of legal residence in the United States.

The ITIN is distributed by the Internal Revenue Service solely for tax-collection purposes, and the Mexican government distributes the Matricula Consular card.

The Washington Times reported yesterday that the IRS is overhauling the way the taxpayer numbers are distributed because illegal immigrants could be using them for fraudulent purposes, including obtaining driver’s licenses.

The IRS began distributing the ITIN in 1996 so foreign nationals could pay taxes on income from U.S. business interests.

They are similar to Social Security numbers, except they begin with the number 9. The only people eligible for ITINs are those who are ineligible for a Social Security number. More than 6 million ITINs have been assigned, but only 2 million have been used for the purpose of paying taxes, saidthe Center for Immigration Services.

“The IRS, unfortunately, hands [them] out like candy,” said Rep. Tom Tancredo, Colorado Republican and leading advocate for stricter immigration laws.

“There are not 6 million foreign businesses here. So what’s the purpose of these numbers? They are being used for a lot of reasons, often for the purpose of obtaining benefits. … And they make life easier for those people looking for ways around the system.”

Six states now accept ITINs as valid ID for getting a driver’s license: Kansas, Kentucky, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Utah.

The IRS recently sent letters to the governors of all 50 states asking them to refuse such IDs because of concerns they were being used fraudulently.

Still, California lawmakers passed legislation Wednesday mandating their acceptance, and embattled Gov. Gray Davis, a Democrat, has pledged to sign it.

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