{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-50-1401.05","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 50-1401.05","heading":"Limited purpose driver’s license, permit, or identification card.","body":"(a)\nThe Mayor, consistent with subsections (b) and (c) of this section, shall issue a limited purpose driver’s license, permit, or identification card to an applicant who:\n(1)\nHas resided in the District for longer than 6 months;\n(2)\n(A)\nHas not been assigned a social security number;\n(B)\nHas been assigned a social security number but cannot establish legal presence in the United States at the time of application; or\n(C)\nIs ineligible to obtain a social security number; and\n(3)\nMeets the requirements of this section.\n\n(b)\n(1)\nTo obtain a limited purpose driver’s license or permit in accordance with subsection (a) of this section, an applicant shall:\n(A)\nProvide, under penalty of perjury, proof of identity, date of birth, and residency to the Department of Motor Vehicles (“Department”) as defined by the Department by rule; and\n(B)\nSatisfy the applicable requirements of § 50-1401.01 and sections 100 through 111 of Title 18 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (18 DCMR §§ 100-111); provided, that the Mayor shall not require an applicant for a limited purpose driver’s license or permit under this section to provide a social security number or any document to prove the absence of a social security number.\n(2)\nAn applicant shall include a certified translation of a document provided that is not in English.\n\n(c)\nTo obtain a limited purpose identification card in accordance with subsection (a) of this section, an applicant shall:\n(1)\nMeet the requirements of subsection (b)(1)(A) of this section; and\n(2)\nMeet the applicable requirements of section 112 of Title 18 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (18 DCMR § 112); provided, that the Mayor shall not require an applicant for a limited purpose identification card under this section to provide a social security number or any document to prove the absence of a social security number.\n\n(d)\nA limited purpose driver’s license or identification card issued under subsection (a) of this section shall be valid for 8 years. A limited purpose learner’s or provisional permit shall be valid for the time period as set forth in §§ 50-1401.01(a)(2) and 50-1401.01(a)(2A).\n\n(e)\nAn individual who is issued a limited purpose driver’s license or permit under this section shall have the equivalent authorization to operate a motor vehicle as provided in § 50-1401.01 and shall be subject to all statutory and regulatory provisions pertaining to driver licensing and operation of a motor vehicle.\n\n(f)\n(1)\nA limited purpose driver’s license, permit, or identification card issued under subsection (a) of this section shall state the following on the face of the card and in its machine-readable zone in a font size no larger than the smallest font size otherwise appearing on the card: “Not valid for official federal purposes.”\n(2)\nThe Mayor may incorporate different features but only if doing so would result in a card that appears more similar to a license issued under § 50-1401.01, or if required by the Department of Homeland Security; provided, that the Mayor does so to the minimum extent necessary to comply.\n\n(g)\nA limited purpose driver’s license, permit, or identification card issued under subsection (a) of this section shall not be used to consider an individual’s citizenship or immigration status, or as a basis for a criminal investigation, arrest, or detention.\n\n(h)\nThe Mayor, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2 [§ 2-501 et seq.], may issue rules to implement the provisions of this section. The proposed rules shall be submitted to the Council for a 45-day period of review, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, legal holidays, and days of Council recess. If the Council does not approve or disapprove the proposed rules, in whole or in part, by resolution within this 45-day period, the proposed rules shall be deemed approved.\n\n(i)\nRepealed.\n\n(j)\nUnless otherwise provided in this section, the procedures for obtaining a limited purpose driver's license, permit, or identification card under this section, including policies pertaining to walk-in applicants, shall be substantially similar to the procedures for obtaining a non-limited purpose driver's license, permit, or identification card, respectively, under § 50-1401.01 or § 50-1401.03.","path":["Title 50. Motor and Non-Motor Vehicles and Traffic.","Chapter 14. Operators’ Permits and Identification Cards.","Subchapter I. General."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/50-1401.05","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"ca6931bede0f7fc9735647fb1591abfae31cac0de587be382b8fcf424450784c","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-50-1401.04","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-50-1403.01"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}