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Bill calls for extending license, state ID renewal another 4 years

KEITH ARNOLD
Special to the Legal News

Published: November 12, 2019

Tacking on another four years to the typical Ohio driver's license and state ID cards before needing to renew not only would save Ohioans an unnecessary trip to the BMV, but presumably would ease some of the congestion that often occurs at these offices.
That's the premise of a bill Transportation and Public Safety Committee members in the Ohio House of Representatives have considered in recent weeks.
House Bill 372 creates the option of an eight-year license renewal cycle for any person under 65 to request for an Ohio commercial driver's license, motor vehicle and motorcycle driver's license, a motorcycle operator's endorsement, or a motorized bicycle license.
Additionally, the bill would authorize any Ohioan, regardless of age, to request and renew an Ohio identification card on an eight-year renewal cycle.
"Renewing a driver's license can be time-consuming," said bill sponsor Rep. Derek Merrin R-Monclova Township. "Giving Ohioans the option to renew their driver's license every eight years will make the process more convenient."
Long lines at the BMV is a common complaint of millions of Ohioans, the lawmaker said. The lost time lends itself to frustration.
"One primary reason for long lines is the short license-renewal term of four years, which forces almost 8 million drivers to squeeze into a four-year window for renewal, Merrin added. "Only nine states, including Ohio, have a driver license that lasts only four years.
"Twenty-four states, including the District of Columbia, offer driver's licenses that extend for eight years.
HB 372 sets the cost of an eight-year license, endorsement, or card twice the cost of a four- year license, endorsement, or card, minus a dollar.
From a fiscal standpoint, the bill's objective is to hold steady the revenue generated by the license fees, the lawmaker said.
"The deputy registrars will see no fiscal impact, as their fees are doubled," he continued. "My goal has been to take the fiscal impact issues off the table, but still encourage drivers to choose the eight-year license.
"The other states that provide a four- or eight-year option have license fees structured similarly - double the cost, but minus $1."
Merrin said the eight-year option is a simple solution, saving Ohioans time and money.
"By providing an eight-year license option, there would be millions of fewer, unnecessary trips to the BMV," he said.
The bill's overall effect would depend upon how many Ohioans choose an eight-year license over the standard four-year license.
The bureau recorded 7,944,315 licensed drivers and 861,043 total identification card holders in 2018. Issue numbers regularly increase each year.
"By shifting even a small percentage of drivers to eight-year licenses, congestion at the BMV would be reduced," Merrin added.
The bill is an opportunity to increase productivity and reduce stress at the BMV, he concluded.
Of the states that already have implemented a similar change, none have reported any adverse impact.
The bill had not been scheduled a second hearing at time of publication.
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