City of Poughkeepsie to issue ID cards

City of Poughkeepsie residents looking to expand their access to local services can apply for a municipal identification card.

The new program was unanimously approved Monday night by the Common Council. Officials say it could potentially help vulnerable residents open a bank account, secure a library card and pay for a parking meter and public transportation.

The new initiative is geared toward those who may encounter difficulty securing government-issued identification. These people include immigrants; the homeless; children and teens; and senior citizens who no longer possess a driver’s license because they have stopped driving. 

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Officials also are hoping the new cards improve safety in the city.

According to the agenda for Monday night’s Common Council meeting, the city ID cards could encourage the reporting of crime because those without identification are often reluctant to contact the police. And this new program could help reunite lost children, who may not carry any contact information, with their families.

The identification cards will be accepted by city offices, including the police department, as proof of identity.

“…Municipal IDs are one of the most effective measures cities can implement to protect and empower undocumented people,” Jonathan Bix, executive director of the organization Nobody Leaves Mid-Hudson, said in a prepared statement. Nobody Leaves Mid-Hudson operates an office in Poughkeepsie. 

John W. Barry: jobarry@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4822, Twitter: @JohnBarryPoJo