Free State ID Proposed for Elderly and Disabled Who Don't Drive

PORTSMOUTH, RI—Rhode Islanders use the driver's license as their official state identification card. Up to now, people who cannot drive, due to age or disability, still had to pay for a license basically, if they wanted to vote or use other programs. Now, those people may be catching a break.

State Rep. Dennis M. Canario (D-Dist. 71, Portsmouth, Little Compton, Tiverton) has introduced legislation (2017-H 6050) to make the cards free for the elderly and disabled who don't drive, according to the Legislative Press Bureau.

“This legislation is needed because for many in our elderly and disabled communities, if they are not active drivers then they do not possess an official ID card," Canario said. "And for many of these people, they are already living on fixed-incomes and the price of a new ID card is too much for some, yet, so many programs in our society require an official ID, such as voting, so these people are left in a quite a predicament. Waiving the fees for these people is a small price to pay to ensure that our elderly and disabled friends and neighbors can continue to interact in our society.”

The legislation, which has been referred to the House Committee on Finance, would cover people unable to drive and over the age of 59 or unable to drive and disabled.

Reps. John G. Edwards (D-Dist. 70, Tiverton, Portsmouth), Charlene M. Lima (D-Dist. 14, Cranston, Providence), Robert A. Nardolillo III (R-Dist. 28, Coventry), and Patricia A. Serpa (D-Dist. 27, West Warwick, Coventry, Warwick) are co-sponsors.