Pennsylvania is home to more than 2.5 million people age 65 or older. Many older Pennsylvanians face health conditions that make it unsafe to continue driving. As a result, they responsibly choose to surrender their driver’s license and can receive a free state photo identification card. However, under current law, older adults that voluntarily surrender their driver’s license for medical reasons and receive an initial free state photo identification card are subject to a fee for its renewal every four years.
 
Rather than imposing upon older Pennsylvanians additional fees after giving up their driver’s license due to medical circumstances, we should continue to make the process of keeping a state photo identification card for this population cost-free. For this purpose, we will soon be introducing legislation that would exempt Pennsylvanians age 65 or older that have surrendered their driver’s license for medical reasons from fees associated with the renewal of a state photo identification card.
 
By eliminating this renewal fee, we can reduce an unnecessary financial burden on older Pennsylvanians who have responsibly chosen to stop driving while ensuring they retain access to an essential form of identification.
 
Please join us in co-sponsoring this legislation to support older Pennsylvanians in a challenging circumstance and ensure their continued access to identification without additional financial hardship.