Last year Washington lawmakers passed a measure creating a two-tiered licensing system. Jay Inslee – Washington State’s governor – thereafter signed the law into effect. As a result, starting September 4, 2018, all issued driver’s licenses and ID cards will have a new driver’s license number. All new cards will have WDL as the first 3 letters. These three capital letters will be followed by 9 randomly chosen characters and numbers. Citizens who already have a driver’s license or ID card will get the new WDL number when they renew or replace their ID (after September 4, 2018, of course).
Also, starting July 1, 2018, all driver’s licenses and ID cards will be marked with “Federal Limits Apply” This means that the card isn’t valid for federal identification purposes. However, folks can continue to use their current license for boarding airplanes and entering secure federal facilities until October 1, 2020. After this date, however, folks will need to use federally accepted forms of identification, like passports and military cards.
The changes are required because our federal laws now require state driver’s licenses and ID cards to: (1) have security enhancements, and (2) be issued to people who can actually affirmatively prove they are legally in the United States. Obviously, this is a very ‘hot topic’ at this moment in time.
The Seattle Criminal Defense Attorneys that make up the criminal defense team of SQ Attorneys are highly qualified and reputable Seattle Criminal Defense Lawyers that are dedicated to providing top notch, aggressive representation for those arrested or charged for crime all across Western Washington and the Greater Puget Sound region. The team creates success by working with law enforcement and the prosecuting attorney’s office to ensure that all facts and circumstances related to the allegations are considered in creating the fairest, most equitable and just resolution possible in light of all the surrounding circumstances of the given case. So, whether you are cited with an infraction or arrested and/or charged with misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor or a felony, protect yourself … call SQ Attorneys at (206) 441-0900.
