Governor signs law on alien license rules

AUGUSTA – Gov. John Baldacci has signed into law a bill to tighten state requirements for issuing drivers’ licenses and state identification cards to Maine residents who are not United States citizens.

The law will bar the state from accepting expired visas granted by the United States, expired documents issued by foreign countries and foreign passports showing elapsed departure dates as identification to get drivers’ licenses or state IDs.

The legislation is not as stringent as federal requirements, but it is more restrictive than Maine’s existing rules.

Baldacci signed the bill last Friday.