New year, new license rules

TAMPA - It's just a trickle for now, but by the last day of the year, they're bracing for a rush on new driver licenses and renewals before the rules radically change on January 1st.

Hillsborough Tax Collector Doug Belden says thanks to terrorism, the old way of renewing a Florida driver license, "just basically a proof of ID, like library card, a voter id card, some kind of photo ID card is about it", is about to change, big time.

Under the new rules, you'll need three things to get a driver license :

• First, an ID. It must be a certified birth certificate, not a photocopy, or a valid United States passport.
• Next, you'll need an original Social Security card, a W-2 or a recent paycheck stub with your Social Security number on it.
• Finally, you'll need proof of residence, using a deed, a mortgage, voter or vehicle registrations, or even insurance policies -- and again, all must be originals, no copies allowed.

It won't be long, just a couple of years, before simple things like getting into the Federal courthouse, or getting on an airplane, will require new licenses generated by the new ID procedures.

It's something Paul Rosenak, waiting at the Falkenberg Tax Collector's office to renew his plates, thinks is a good idea.

"I think it's a thing to do, and it should have been done all along, to verify who the individual really is, it just makes common sense," he said.

But not everybody is happy about the new screening.

"Just seems like more paperwork, more of a hassle, longer lines longer wait times, I don't like it," said Emily Seekbill.

If your license expires in the next 18 months, you can renew before Friday the old way. After that, get your paperwork ready if you want to keep driving.