Enhanced license gets push
Texas attorney general backs document with feds' approval
By Brandi Grissom / Austin Bureau
Article Launched: 01/23/2008 12:00:00 AM MST




Newscast: Enhanced licenses
Texas can create enhanced driver's licenses for use at the border with Mexico as long as the documents conform to federal standards, state Attorney General Greg Abbott said in a ruling issued Tuesday.

But that doesn't mean El Paso border crossers will get back into the U.S. with a simple swipe of their license soon.

Gov. Rick Perry's spokeswoman said the opinion answered just one of many questions he has about the program.

"We need to be responsible for the program that we implement to ensure we're not, down the line, wasting taxpayers' money," spokes woman Krista Piferrer said.

Legislators last year approved a pilot program to create drivers' licenses that would store citizenship information so that citizens could quickly cross back into the United States from Mexico.

The license would cost about $40 and could be used only at land and sea ports in place of a passport.

The legislation was meant to help border crossers meet more stringent federal identification requirements while not slowing traffic and trade.

Perry, however, delayed implementation of the program, saying he wanted Abbott to rule on whe ther the licenses would meet stricter identification requirements for land border crossings.
In the ruling, Abbott said the licensing program would be consistent with federal law as long as U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff says the documents are sufficient as proof of identity and citizenship and as long as the technology meets federal guidelines.

Piferrer said Perry still was working on an agreement with the Department of Homeland security that would guarantee the licenses would not be invalidated later and was awaiting a cost estimate on the program from the Texas Department of Public Safety.

"Enough delay," said state Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, D-El Paso, who wrote the bill to create the enhanced license program. "We need to get on with the program. Our border needs to move people and product safer, faster and smarter."

Shapleigh said the Texas program is modeled after the Washington State enhanced driver's license program, which launched Monday.

The DHS has approved Washington's program, and agency officials have been pushing Texas to launch a similar initiative.

In a September letter, a DHS lawyer told Abbott the Texas enhanced driver's license program was fully authorized under current law.

Federal officials have been frustrated by Perry's stalling and have been trying for months to reach an agreement with Texas.

Mayor John Cook said the sooner Texas starts a program to speed border crossings, the better.

He and other members of the Texas Border Coalition, a group of border political and business leaders, have also been advocating the enhanced licenses.

Starting Jan. 31, border crossers will have to show either a passport or a driver's license, along with proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate.

The coalition is worried new requirements will lengthen already sometimes hours-long lines at bridges.

"To me," he said, "that's the way to move."


Brandi Grissom may be reached at bgrissom@elpasotimes.com; 512-479-6606.


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