For Immediate Release
October 25, 2001
Contact: Terry Sebastian (502) 564-2611

Patton strengthens procedures for issuing non-resident and commercial driver’s licenses

Frankfort, Ky. -- Governor Paul Patton has asked two state agencies to strengthen procedures for non-US citizens applying for a driver’s license and to increase the level of training for those enrolling in commercial driving classes in Kentucky.

“We’ve identified two areas where we should increase security measures as part of our ongoing public safety efforts in light of recent national events,” Patton said. “Kentucky highways are used daily by thousands of drivers, and we want to ensure that our roads are safe and that these drivers are appropriately licensed and trained.” 

The Transportation Cabinet will now require all non-US citizens to submit his or her Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) documents for verification before applying for a driver’s license at the office of a circuit court clerk.

“As part of this process, we will be providing additional training to our hearing officers on INS document authentication,” Transportation Cabinet Sec. James Codell said. 

The cabinet will also be asking all circuit court clerks to heighten their review of all domestic and foreign applicants for a driver’s license and to remind international tourists that according to international law they can use their domestic driver’s license while traveling in the United States.

The Kentucky State Police will increase the training provided to all applicants applying for a commercial driver’s license in the state to a minimum four-week program. State Police also will increase security measures by including national criminal history background checks for commercial driver’s license applicants.

“The Kentucky State Police understands the need for measures to enhance the curriculum provided by companies and vocational schools that are providing commercial driver’s license training,” Commissioner Ishmon F. Burks said. “Our main objective is to issue licenses to safe and qualified drivers. The changes we intend to make should help us achieve that objective while being fair to both training schools and students.”

Additionally, Transportation has filed a motion in Franklin Circuit Court seeking to dissolve a restraining order that has prevented them from using stricter residency requirements on Kentucky commercial driver’s license applicants. Should the court dissolve this order, it would allow the cabinet to once again enforce a statutory definition that includes additional criteria in establishing proof of residency for license applicants. 

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