March 2, 2011

Many people find themselves in a similar situation. They have allowed their driver's license to expire, only to have trouble getting it renewed. For this week's Sargent Solutions, a Louisa woman discusses the trouble her husband found himself in when he learned that his old birth certificate was not an acceptable form of identification.

"His license expired on his birthday and he didn't know it and he of course got pulled over so we ended up going to the DMV," said Francine Isenhour.

Isenhour and her husband are among those who do not have internet access, so they were not able to visit the DMV's website. When they arrived at the nearest DMV branch, the clerk would not accept her husband's second form of I.D.

"She said she couldn't renew his driver's license because his birth certificate was too old and he didn't question it, came back out to the car, saying it was too old and I said 'what' it's supposed to be, you're 40 years old," said Isenhour.

Isenhour's husband, who is unemployed and attending college decided to try to use the same birth certificate at another DMV in Richmond, but the same thing happened.

"So this time, he asked the lady 'why,' and she said that it was too old and they passed a law in September of last year that everyone had to have a new style birth certificate," said Isenhour.

After hearing Isenhour's story, Sargent Solutions made a call to Melanie Stokes, a DMV Spokesperson, to set the record straight.

"They should have been advised of what documents they could present and why it wasn't accepted," said Stokes.

Stokes says there are printed pamphlets available at every DMV and document guides to follow online.

"The requirements were made for the safety and security of all Virginians so you know the person sitting next to you on the airplane is who they claim to be," said Stokes.

Isenhour's husband's birth certificate was not accepted because it was not issued in a U.S. state, territory or jurisdiction.

Isenhour said not knowing that cost them time and money. Because Isenhour's husband was born out of state, and they do not have internet access, they had to rely on the mail system to get his birth certificate, which cost them another five days for it to arrive.

Stokes said she was sorry that this happened to the Isenhours and as a result the DMV will make sure all DMV branches in Virginia are offering the most efficient and thorough information to all customers.