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Commissioner Grinder and I are pleased to say that Tennessee veterans may now receive
a special "veteran designated" driver license or photo ID card from any of the 49 driver
services centers in the state. To the veterans across our state, we know
you have waited a long time for this special recognition. It is the least we can do to
honor your your service to our state and country. As most of you know, legislation to authorize
this special designation for veterans was passed in 2011.
The legislation stated that the designation would be added with the next update of the
state driver license. The Department of Safety and Homeland Security
has spent the last nine months installing new equipment at our driver services centers
we're rolling out a new process of issuing a new, updated version of the Tennessee driver
license from a central location. Now that this process is up and running at
all 49 driver services centers and with our county clerk partners, we can issue the veteran
licenses. Again, I thank the Veterans across our state
for your service to our country, and I thank my fellow Commissioner, Many-Bears Grinder,
for her service and sacrifice. And with that let me introduce Commissioner
Grinder... You know this is an exciting day that has
been a long time coming. Tennessee is home to over 525,000 Veterans
who have served our country in uniform. As a Veteran, I can tell you that we are a
very proud group. We are proud of our branch of service, our
units, we're pour duty stations and most importantly our country.
We are proud to say that we have served and why we served.
Furthermore, we are proud to be part of the history that makes the Volunteer State one
to be so proud. The recognition from the State of Tennessee
is important to Veterans of all eras and all genders.
When many people look at me, they don't see a Veteran because I may not fit what some
may envision when they think of someone who served in uniform.
I served for over 35 years in the Army National Guard and I am one of 51 thousand Women Veterans
living here in Tennessee. When I first learned that the designated driver
licenses were being issued at pilot locations until the process was perfected, I drove to
Springfield to test drive the process. I presented the certified copy of my DD-214
and the staff knew exactly how to help me efficiently and effectively. In fact I contacted
Commissioner Gibbons afterward and told him just how easily the process went. I now have
my very own Veteran designated driver license even though I hold a retiree ID as well.
I never told the folks at the drivers testing station that I was the Commissioner of Veterans
Affairs because I wanted to go through the process just like my fellow Tennessee Veterans.
I was so impressed! I'm very proud of this new state benefit and
I know my fellow Veterans are also excited to see this day finally come.
Veterans don't typically carry their discharge papers around with them and now they don't
have to. These new licenses and ID's will allow Veterans
to be seen and to be recognized within their communities.
It will also give Tennesseans a chance to be aware that Veterans are all different ages,
different ethnicities and races as well as different genders.
When you see one of these ID's please don't forget to thank our Tennessee Veterans for
their service. For some, strangely enough it may be the very
first time that they hear that and it will truly make their day.
Commissioner Gibbons, I want to thank you for your continued leadership to bring the
new driver license designation from concept to reality.
I know you and your employees have worked hard to serve those who served with excellence
and we are extremely grateful! I want to add a special note to our Tennessee
Veterans. This is a state ID card and it does not replace
the Veterans Identifications Card which is issued by the United States Department of
Veterans Affairs to receive federal health benefits from VA Medical Centers, which are
federal facilities. Let me quickly go through what a Veteran needs
to do in order to get designated license or photo ID.
First of all a Veteran must visit a driver services center or one of our county clerk
partners in person. For this transaction, you cannot renew online
and you cannot use a self-service kiosk. You must bring an original or certified copy
of a DD-214 honorable discharge paper with you to a driver service center or county clerk
partner. Veterans do not have to wait until it is time
to renew. A Veteran may get a duplicate license or ID right now.
The standard state fees for renewing or requesting a duplicate apply.
To renew an operator driver license it costs $19.50. To renew a photo ID it costs $9.50.
A duplicate license is $8, a second or subsequent duplicate license is $12.