Section 40-5-100. Department authorized to issue cards; contents; possession of more than one card prohibited; application for identification card renewal

   (a) The department shall issue personal identification cards to all residents as defined in Code Section 40-5-1 who make application to the department in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed by the commissioner. Cards issued to applicants under 21 years of age shall contain the distinctive characteristics of drivers' licenses issued pursuant to Code Section 40-5-26. The identification card shall be similar in form but distinguishable in color from motor vehicle drivers' licenses and may contain a recent color photograph of the applicant and include the following information:

   (1) Full legal name;

   (2) Address of residence;

   (3) Birth date;

   (4) Date identification card was issued;

   (5) Sex;

   (6) Height;

   (7) Weight;

   (8) Eye color;

   (9) Location where the identification card was issued;

   (10) Signature of person identified or facsimile thereof; and

   (11) Such other information or identification as required by the department; provided, however, that the department shall not require an applicant to submit or otherwise obtain from an applicant any fingerprints or any other biological characteristic or information which uniquely identifies an individual, including without limitation deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and retinal scan identification characteristics but not including a photograph, by any means upon application.

(b) The identification card shall be valid for a period of five or eight years, at the option of the applicant, and shall bear the signatures of the commissioner and the Governor and shall bear an identification card number which shall not be the same as the social security number.

(c) (1) No person may possess more than one identification card issued pursuant to this Code section; provided, however, that this subsection shall not be construed to prevent a resident of this state who possesses a driver's license from also possessing an identification card issued under this article.

   (2) Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, each applicant for an identification card shall surrender any identification card or driver's license previously issued by any other state and any identification card previously issued by this state.

   (3) (A) Any noncitizen who is eligible for issuance of an identification card pursuant to the requirements of this chapter may be issued an identification card without surrendering any driver's license or identification card previously issued to him or her by any foreign jurisdiction. This exemption shall not apply to a person who is required to terminate any previously issued identification card pursuant to federal law.

      (B) The department shall make a notation on the driving record of any person who retains a foreign identification card or driver's license, and this information shall be made available to law enforcement officers and agencies on such person's driving record through the Georgia Crime Information Center.

   (4) Willful failure to surrender any such previous driver's license or personal identification card upon application for a new personal identification card will be considered an act of fraud and upon conviction be punished as provided for in Code Section 40-5-125.

(d) An application for identification card renewal may be submitted by:

   (1) Personal appearance before the department; or

   (2) Subject to rules or regulations of the department which shall be consistent with considerations of public safety and efficiency of service to customers, means other than such personal appearance which may include without limitation by mail or electronically. The department may by such rules or regulations exempt persons renewing identification cards under this paragraph from the surrender requirement in this Code section.

Ga. L. 1973, p. 807, § 1; Ga. L. 1976, p. 1421, § 2; Ga. L. 1984, p. 1674, § 1; Ga. L. 1986, p. 395, § 1; Ga. L. 1988, p. 897, § 4; Ga. L. 1990, p. 1913, § 2; Ga. L. 1990, p. 2048, § 4; Ga. L. 1992, p. 2785, § 20; Ga. L. 1995, p. 920, § 4; Ga. L. 1996, p. 1250, § 7; Ga. L. 1997, p. 1443, § 2; Ga. L. 2000, p. 951, §§ 5-45, 5-46; Ga. L. 2004, p. 631, § 40; Ga. L. 2005, p. 334, § 17-23/HB 501; Ga. L. 2005, p. 1122, § 4/HB 577; Ga. L. 2008, p. 1154, § 5/SB 488; Ga. L. 2010, p. 932, § 18/HB 396.