It was not one of those stories that has everyone talking in Albany, or that results in giant headlines in newspapers across the state, but the announcement Tuesday that the state and federal government have reached an agreement on an enhanced driver's license for New York state could be a significant boost for upstate communities.
The EDL will essentially serve the same function as a passport for people traveling to and from Canada. Part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, these licenses also will be good for New Yorkers who need to get back into the United States from Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda.
Whether traveling on business or for pleasure, plenty of New York residents rely on a relatively smooth crossing at the Canadian border, and they've long done so without having to spend the extra money required for a passport.
But an effort to better control the borders - one that makes sense given the security needs of today - will require extra documentation starting in June 2009. That means travelers will need either a passport, passport card (a new form of ID that just covers Western Hemisphere travel) or an enhanced state ID.
New York has moved aggressively to get an enhanced driver's license ready. It expects to be the second state in the nation to establish this EDL, which should be available by the end of this summer.
At $30 above the regular cost of a license, the best feature of the EDL may be that it can be secured for less money than both the standard passport or the new passport card. For people whose international travel is limited to the hemisphere (for example, the many New Yorkers who frequently cross over to Canada), it's an ideal solution.
It's also important to note that the New York EDL is strictly voluntary. If you don't need one, you don't have to pay to get one.
Finally, the effort is an example of how government officials do have the ability to work together across multiple levels (federal and state) and parties, as some key New York Republicans and Democrats forces joined to make this happen.
Whether traveling on business or for pleasure, plenty of New York residents rely on a relatively smooth crossing at the Canadian border, and they've long done so without having to spend the extra money required for a passport.
But an effort to better control the borders - one that makes sense given the security needs of today - will require extra documentation starting in June 2009. That means travelers will need either a passport, passport card (a new form of ID that just covers Western Hemisphere travel) or an enhanced state ID.
New York has moved aggressively to get an enhanced driver's license ready. It expects to be the second state in the nation to establish this EDL, which should be available by the end of this summer.
At $30 above the regular cost of a license, the best feature of the EDL may be that it can be secured for less money than both the standard passport or the new passport card. For people whose international travel is limited to the hemisphere (for example, the many New Yorkers who frequently cross over to Canada), it's an ideal solution.
It's also important to note that the New York EDL is strictly voluntary. If you don't need one, you don't have to pay to get one.
Finally, the effort is an example of how government officials do have the ability to work together across multiple levels (federal and state) and parties, as some key New York Republicans and Democrats forces joined to make this happen.
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