The man in Bay Area inspires laws for senior ID cards – the Mercury News

The idea of ​​a person of San Anselmo, the state to increase his driver's licenses to check the legislative to examine the motive force licenses.

Gary Newman's idea belonged to greater than 300 entries to the meeting member Damon Connolly's latest “There should be a law”. If the law is passed, the state would mechanically issue the identification cards to seniors which have given up its licenses and don’t require you to go to the department for motorized vehicles to receive the cards.

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Newman got here up with the thought after he and his wife Anne had challenges to get a photograph ID for her older mother who gave up her driver's license.

“As soon as our California seniors decide that driving and trips abroad are no longer part of their lives, an expired Californian driver's license or passport should not restrict use for daily needs,” he said.

Connolly, a democrat who represents Marin and a part of Sonoma County, said the thought emphasized an issue for seniors. He noticed the necessity for photo identification cards for on a regular basis life.

“We think that, if you lose your leaders' leaders, seniors should not be punished for not having your ID card in your possession,” said Connolly.

The Newmans said they were in search of a fundamental California identification card for Evelyn Greenwood, 97, within the office for motorized vehicles in Corta Madera. She is a former teacher, whose husband Bob Greenwood, a music teacher of the Tamalpais High School, died in 2016.

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Gary Newman said his mother -in -law decided to “retire her driving career in the 90s” and gave up her license for medical reasons. However, problems arise when Greenwood needed a current identification card to choose up certain medication in a pharmacy.

“Suddenly Evelyn had an expired driver's license and an expired passport,” said Gary Newman.

Anne Newman found that many drug transactions, food chains and department shops use third -party services to offer orders. A delivery driver told her that he could possibly be released if he accepted Greenwood's expired ID card.

She and her mother underwent an extended process to get a photograph identification card on the DMV. Anne Newman remembered that a lot of older customers were sitting within the waiting room and obtained about seniors who had a difficult time to “navigate through the system” or lack web access.

“Let's be honest, we get older in Marin,” she said, adding that automatic identification cards for seniors could be less trouble for you and your families.

In 2023, 25% of Marin County's population were 65 and older, in line with the census data.

Leaders of two non -profit organizations in Marin, who support seniors, said they support the laws.

“Some seniors hesitate to give up their driving license for many years,” said Skip Schwartz, Managing Director of West Marin Senior Services. “But this law could help convince you that it is still respected and recognized as a person who is important.”

Joe O'Hehir, Interim CEO of Vivalon in San Rafael, said that the fastest growing segment of Marin's high -ranking population was over 85 years.

“It is absolutely necessary to adapt our systems to support their independence and well -being,” he said. “This legislation honors and facilitates the autonomy of our older parishioners and ensures that they keep access to essential services without unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles.”

The legislators of the state will check laws with the title Assembly Bill 1151 this spring.

Originally published:

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