Texas extends driver’s license expiration dates over coronavirus
The Texas Department of Public Safety is temporarily waiving expiration dates for Texas driver’s licenses due to the new coronavirus.
On Friday, Gov. Greg Abbott declared a state of disaster for Texas, authorizing a wide breadth of responses and allowing for certain laws and regulations that hinder agencies’ abilities to respond to the pandemic to be waived.
As a result, for 60 days after the end of the state of disaster, Texas driver’s licenses, commercial driver’s licenses, identification cards and election identification certificates will still be considered valid if the expiration date is on or after March 13, 2020, according to a letter sent by Sheri Gipson, the chief of DPS’ Driver License division, that was tweeted by House Speaker Dennis Bonnen Sunday.
The letter notes that the extension applies to expiration dates only. If a driver has a suspended license or other enforcement action, the license can be used for identification purposes only, Gipson wrote.
A DPS spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.
Abbott announced the directive to DPS Wednesday, and said in a statement that the move “will help limit non-essential trips into public settings and slow the spread of this virus.”
On Monday, Abbott also announced he was temporarily suspending various rules related to vehicle registration, titling and disabled parking placards.
DPS announced last week that it increased sanitation practices at its driver’s license offices across the state, including having custodial staff clean office equipment with alcohol-based products after customer transactions.
In addition to more frequent cleaning and signage encouraging best practices to prevent the virus’ spread, DPS stressed that Texans may not need to visit driver license offices in-person to renew their licenses or identification cards.
Eligible Texans can renew their licenses online or by phone if they meet certain requirements, including if you are 78 years old or younger, your last renewal was completed in-person, your social security number is on file wtih DPS, you have no outstanding traffic tickets or warrants, your license is not suspended or revoked, and more.
In addition, address changes can also be completed online or by mail. A full list of eligibility requirements can be found online at Texas.gov.
This story was originally published March 16, 2020 at 11:42 AM with the headline "Texas extends driver’s license expiration dates over coronavirus."
