Documentation: Coming up with six points of identification to renew a New Jersey driver's license is proving a major hurdle for a small segment of people for who are citizens, but weren't born in the U.S.

Many of those affected had their birth certificates or naturalization papers lost in the shuffle of their family's immigration. Others were born in the U.S., but at times or places where record-keeping was spotty.

"It's been an absolute disaster zone," said Mirella Cresitello, a 74-year-old Cranford resident and longtime driver who was born in Italy. "It's ridiculous."

Motor Vehicle Commission officials acknowledge the rules have created huge hurdles for people who are otherwise legally eligible to drive. They advise people who were been born overseas to begin getting their paperwork together well in advance of their license expiration date.

"It seems to be a problem for a small minority of folks, but it seems to be a consistent problem for those folks," said Cathleen Lewis, an MVC spokeswoman. For more information about license renewal, see the MVC Web site.
-- Brian Donohue

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