Gardiner claims partial success in simplifying proof of identity in Driver License Applications
Samuel Gardiner MLA, Ulster Unionist Spokesman on the Environment, Local Government and Planning today claimed a partial success in his representations to Environment Minister Lord Rooker to have personal identification documents other than passports accepted at Local Driver and Vehicle Licensing Offices.
“I had written to Lord Rooker, asking him to broaden the rules on identification documentation accepted as proof of identity at Local vehicle Licensing Offices. I has asked him that not only passports, which not everyone possesses, would be accepted but other forms of identification such as Voter ID and Translink Smartlink Cards. At present if you do not have a passport you have to make a postal application through the DVLNI in Coleraine,” explained Mr Gardiner.
“Lord Rooker in his reply has told me that he is undertaking a review in which it is proposed that applicants at the Belfast Local Vehicle Licensing Office will be permitted to produce personal identity documents other than passports. This, at least, will simplify the process for people living within easy reach of Belfast – which is about one third of the Northern Ireland population.”
“I would, of course, like to see this extended to the other Local Driver and Vehicle Licencing offices in Armagh, Ballymena, Coleraine, Downpatrick, Londonderry, Enniskillen and Omagh. Now that the principle has been breached that documents other than passports will be accepted in Belfast I can see no good reason why this should not be automatically extended elsewhere and I will be in touch with Lord Rooker to tell him that,” said Mr Gardiner.