The Associated Press
OLYMPIA — New border crossing rules requiring special forms of identification that prove citizenship have led to long lines at some Department of Licensing offices around Washington state.
The surge involves people applying for Washington’s enhanced driver’s license, which meets new requirements set by the federal government in June to cross the border by land. The demand has prompted the licensing agency to begin screening people as they wait in line and urging people to renew their regular licenses online.
According to the department, more than 73,400 enhanced licenses have been issued since January 2008. But the pace of applications has increased. In May, 10,000 applications were processed.
DOL spokeswoman Selena Davis says the department expected demand to decrease after the June deadline, but it seems people didn’t rush to meet the requirements.
Davis says there’s about a two-week wait time to obtain the license. People must also be interviewed and need to have proof of citizenship.
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For information on applying for an enhanced driver’s license in Port Angeles (only place on North Olympic Peninsula), click here: http://tinyurl.com/n8hr3j
