By BRUCE GOLDING
June 1, 2008
New Yorkers who are US citizens will soon be able to get a special driver's license that will let them enter the country without a passport.
The "enhanced" driver's license was the least controversial part of former Gov. Eliot Spitzer's plan to give driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. Spitzer abandoned that idea in the face of widespread opposition late last year before quitting this year amid a prostitution scandal.
Under the new program, the Department of Motor Vehicles will offer a special license emblazoned with an American flag and embedded with a high-tech ID chip.
A deal with the Department of Homeland Security finalized last week will let holders use the special license when returning from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean under the new stricter border-crossing rules that go into effect next year.
Officials say the new license will help ease long lines at the US-Canadian border and boost the upstate economy by allowing commerce to move more freely.
The new license, which will cost $30 more than a regular license, is expected to be available after Labor Day.
Non-citizens won't be eligible.
