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PA Waiver of PennDOT ID Expiration Dates

Executive Order

State: Pennsylvania
Signed: May 26, 2020

Effective: May 26, 2020

Summary

The Governor of Pennsylvania has granted a waiver of the requirement that Pennsylvania driver’s license and non-driver' ID that expires between March 16 and June 30, 2020, be current and unexpired.

Affects

All Pennsylvania Notaries Public.

Changes
  1. Waives the requirement that a Pennsylvania driver’s license and ID be current and unexpired if the expiration date of the license or ID falls between March 16-June 30, 2020, and extends the expiration of these IDs through June 30, 2020.
  2. In addition to noting the original issuance and expiration date of the actual ID in the journal of notarial acts as required under current law, requires the Notary to notate the journal entry for the notarization with the statement, “pursuant to COVID waiver approved 5/26/20.”
Analysis

As the COVID-19 pandemic wears on and government services continue to be limited or shuttered entirely, the issue of expired driver’s licenses and non-driver IDs has become a pressing issue not just for the legal and safe operation of a motor vehicle, but for presenting these cards as identification for a range of services, including notarizations. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation recently announced an extension of learner’s permits, camera cards, photo ID cards and driver’s licenses that expire between March 16-June 30, 2020 until June 30. And today, the Pennsylvania Department of State issued a notification that the Governor of Pennsylvania waived the requirement of the Pennsylvania Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts that these IDs be current or unexpired. Thus, Pennsylvania Notaries may accept a driver's license and non-driver's identification card extended  through June 30. They must note the original issuance and expiration date of the ID in their journal entry for a notarization along with the added statement, “pursuant to COVID waiver approved 5/26/20.” While these IDs are current and unexpired through June 30, 2020, PennDOT could take action to extend them further. If it does so, we will update this guidance with the new information.

To read the Department of State notice, click Download PDF below.

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