How can my son renew his driver's license while at USNA before it expires

In Maryland, once your son is on active duty as a mid, he can go to the local MVA and obtain a Maryland driver's license. He should do this before his license expires in November. The one in Annapolis is open on Saturdays (no liberty during the week for Plebes), but only from 7 to 1. So, he may have to get a chit to go before noon meal formation to get there in time, but that's a ways down the road. If he's been driving for less than 18 months, then he'll be issued a Maryland Provisional License. He'll also be required to submit documentation to prove his identity and current duty station (check the Maryland MVA website for required docs) and take a vision test.

Or just extend the license under Wisconsin law covering active duty military - http://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/dmv/license-drvs/miltry-svc/active-duty.aspx
 
Remember though, getting a driver's license in a state could be interpreted as one step to show your intention to become a residence of that state. WI and MD both have state income tax, and WI requires its residents to file/pay state income tax even on active duty in another states (National Guard is different; I just looked this up). The prevailing recommendation is to change your state of residence at the personnel office/personnel support detachment (PSD) once you execute orders to a state like WA, TX, FL where there is no state income tax by filing a one page form.

I suggest reading the link provided by swrakow to renew it when he gets home during the winter break. The Common Assess Card (CAC) that he will receive during Plebe Summer is all he needs for travel within US (includes AK and HI), and he can show his CAC and an expired driver's license and shouldn't get in trouble for it. The fact is, Plebes are not allow to drive - it would be prefect for him to grow some hair back and renew his license next Christmas, or during Thanksgiving if you are having him back for three days.

Definitely get him to apply for a passport though. Depends on his standings and his summer training location, he may need to use it as early as summer 2018!
 
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swrakow said:
In Maryland, once your son is on active duty as a mid, he can go to the local MVA and obtain a Maryland driver's license. He should do this before his license expires in November. The one in Annapolis is open on Saturdays (no liberty during the week for Plebes), but only from 7 to 1. So, he may have to get a chit to go before noon meal formation to get there in time, but that's a ways down the road. If he's been driving for less than 18 months, then he'll be issued a Maryland Provisional License. He'll also be required to submit documentation to prove his identity and current duty station (check the Maryland MVA website for required docs) and take a vision test.

Or just extend the license under Wisconsin law covering active duty military - http://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/dmv/license-drvs/miltry-svc/active-duty.aspx
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Thanks for your response and help. I feel compelled to rant a little as my reason for posting this in the first place is the information my DH received from our local DVM. He went into DMV with our DS to ask how we renew or extend our DS drivers license (prior to departure) the woman at counter (who was not very pleasant) said they do not recognize attendance at USNA as being on active duty, so he just had to renew license at a later time after his license expired. To renew, he would have to pay a penalty since it will expire (not that we can't afford it) but why should someone in military or at SA be penalized. Not to mention that we want to be pro-active and NOT do things such as sitting at DMV while DS is home for short, precious time on leave.
I was not convinced that we received correct info from the woman who clearly was not interested in actually trying to be helpful. I am very happy to have received help from my friend here on this forum because after reading replies it prompted me to dig further. I did find the above link you referred to and we plan to print it and bring it right back to hopefully the same woman at the DMV. It is disappointing that we look to the source itself (DMV) for help and was better served by our 'peers' here.

As we continue our countdown to Plebe Summer we will this resource as our guide!

THANKS ALL!
 
Sorry I didn't see this thread earlier. We are from Wisconsin and had a similar situation. Son's DL expired soon after leaving for USAFA. The first night that he was home for Christmas he got pulled over for a headlight out (it was at 0200 so the cop was looking for an impaired driver). Son's DL was expired but he knew the law and told the cop that he was exempt. Cop didn't budge and made him park the car and walk home, and wrote son a citation for driving after expiration. Son's court date was after he was to head back to the Academy so he wrote a letter to the judge explaining the situation and quoting the statutes. The judge wrote back thanking him for his time, dismissed the charges, and also sent a letter to the cop (with a CC to son) telling him that he better know the laws.

Bottom line is that, yes, in Wisconsin anyone on AD is extended on their DL expiring until 90 days after they return to the state permanently.

Good luck at USNA and maybe we'll see you at the all-academies ball next December.

Stealth_81
 
On a similar note, at least in Kansas, when your license is set to expire on your 21st birthday, you can't renew it before you actually turn 21. Was going to have DS renew his DL while home in December (Feb birthday), but found out he'll have to wait until March/Spring break. Kansas gives an automatic 45-day extension.
 
Stealth_81 said:
Bottom line is that, yes, in Wisconsin anyone on AD is extended on their DL expiring until 90 days after they return to the state permanently.
Stealth_81
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I believe Illinois has a similar extension for AD. My concern is what if DS is stopped in CT (USCGA) with expired IL license?
 
Stealth_81 said:
Sorry I didn't see this thread earlier. We are from Wisconsin and had a similar situation. Son's DL expired soon after leaving for USAFA. The first night that he was home for Christmas he got pulled over for a headlight out (it was at 0200 so the cop was looking for an impaired driver). Son's DL was expired but he knew the law and told the cop that he was exempt. Cop didn't budge and made him park the car and walk home, and wrote son a citation for driving after expiration. Son's court date was after he was to head back to the Academy so he wrote a letter to the judge explaining the situation and quoting the statutes. The judge wrote back thanking him for his time, dismissed the charges, and also sent a letter to the cop (with a CC to son) telling him that he better know the laws.

Bottom line is that, yes, in Wisconsin anyone on AD is extended on their DL expiring until 90 days after they return to the state permanently.

Good luck at USNA and maybe we'll see you at the all-academies ball next December.

Stealth_81
Click to expand...
 
rjb said:
I believe Illinois has a similar extension for AD. My concern is what if DS is stopped in CT (USCGA) with expired IL license?
Click to expand...

Carry a copy of the IL guidance in the car paperwork. Always offer military CAC card as well. Hope for the best.
CT has a lot of military - Navy sub bases, CG, etc., been there for decades. Local law enforcement should be generally familiar with "mismatches" between drivers' licenses, vehicle plates, etc., and military non-residents.

Good language to use is "active duty stationed at the Coast Guard Academy in the officer training program."
 
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