DETROIT – Michigan residents may begin applying for the state’s new enhanced driver’s license Tuesday so they can legally return to the United States from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the rest of the Caribbean starting June 1.
Enhanced driver’s licenses are equipped with the latest technology to speed up border crossings and deter fraud. When travelers approach an American border station in a vehicle, they simply hold up their EDL. Technology in the card allows it to be scanned from a distance. By the time travelers reach the station, security personnel will usually only need to make a quick visual check. No personal information is transmitted during this process.
The enhanced driver’s licenses cost $45 and enhanced state identification cards are $30. Applicants will receive them in two to three weeks. US Passports cost $100, and often take six to eight weeks to arrive.
The Real ID driver’s license, developed in cooperation with the federal government, eliminates the need to carry multiple ID documents when returning to the U.S. by land or sea from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or the Caribbean, Land said. It is ideal for those who may be heading to Canada, such as sportsmen, day travelers and vacationers.
The dual-purpose EDL, which serves as a driver’s license and border-crossing card, will benefit Michigan�??s economy as well as its security, said Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land.
“The enhanced driver�??s license promotes the smooth flow of trade and tourism between our state and Canada and aids law enforcement in its efforts to make our borders more secure,” Land said. “This is the common-sense solution we have been working for years to achieve for the people of Michigan.”
Land was an early advocate of creating a higher security driver’s license as an innovative way for border states to meet requirements of the federal Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, while protecting their economic interests.
The new security enhanced license will help make sure the lucrative cross border trade between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, continues to thrive, said Richard Blouse Jr., president and CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber. The two-way trade relationship between Michigan and Canada averages more than $1 billion dollars a week.
“This is a very positive development for Michigan. The chamber has been advocating for enhanced driver’s licenses since 2005,” Blouse said. “Convenient border travel strengthens our economic partnership with Canada and is a benefit that should be extended to all border states throughout the nation.”
The enhanced driver’s license also will continue to make it easier for sportsmen to travel to and from Canada, said Dennis Muchmore, executive director of the Michigan United Conservation Clubs.
“Thousands of our members travel across the border throughout the seasons to use the great wilderness that our Maple Leaf cousins enjoy so much. This step will make it easier and certainly more efficient for Michiganders to travel to boats, cottages and cabins dotting Ontario and other provinces,” Muchmore said. “We congratulate Secretary Land and legislative supporters for providing this innovative solution.”
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security embraced the dual-purpose ID concept and has granted approval for enhanced licenses in Michigan, Washington, Vermont and New York. State legislation authorizing Land’s EDL plan was passed in February 2008. The state received federal approval to proceed in October 2008.
Enhanced licenses are available to Michigan residents who also are U.S. citizens. To apply, residents may visit any Secretary of State SUPER!Center or other select branch offices. The application process is relatively easy for those who already have a current driver’s license. They only need to present proof of a valid Social Security number and U.S. citizenship in addition to their driver�??s license.
EDLs are offered for voluntary purchase and are not required. Residents may continue to receive standard driver�??s licenses and state identification cards if they choose.
For more information on how to obtain an enhanced driver’s license, click on Michigan.Gov/SOS
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