Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) is promoting a new program allowing qualified veterans to list their service status on their driver license, permit or non-driver ID. The indication will not only recognize their sacrifice, but make it easier for them to access benefits and opportunities rightly afforded to them in honor of their service.

“The veteran designation is a way to display the pride one feels for their service and sacrifice, and also a great way to facilitate access to the benefits and resources our veterans deserve,” said Hawley. “Many businesses and organizations offer discounts and perks to our courageous veterans, and this new feature on IDs will make accessing those benefits easier. This is a great program that I hope all of our heroic servicemen and women take advantage of.”

The program is available to all honorably-discharged veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. In order to obtain this status from the DMV, applicants must mark the appropriate box on the application form (MV-44 or MV-2) and show their original Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD-214), which states either “Honorable” or “Under Honorable Conditions” in the “Character of Service” section. Eligible veterans who request to have this status from the DMV will have the word “Veteran” printed on the upper left corner of their newly-issued driver license, permit or non-driver ID. There are no additional fees for qualified veterans to receive the status on their driver license or non-driver ID. However, the regular fees for an original license or non-driver ID, a license or non-driver ID renewal or a duplicate driver license or non-driver ID still apply. Applicants may apply either through the mail at renewal time (a photocopy of the DD-214 form is acceptable) or by visiting their local DMV office for a renewal or replacement document. The licenses cannot be ordered by phone or online.