K. Miller-January 30, 2025-Acceptable Forms of Identification for Vehicle Registration

550 HIGH STREET • SUITE 1200 • JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI 39201 POST OFFICE BOX 220 • JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI 39205 TELEPHONE (601) 359-3680 January 30, 2025 Mr. Kevin Miller Jackson County Tax Collector Post Office Box 998 Pascagoula, Mississippi 39568 Re: Acceptable Forms of Identification for Vehicle Registration Dear Mr. Miller: The Office of the Attorney General has received your request for an official opinion. Question Presented Is a consulate ID and/or foreign passport a sufficient form of identification for the registration of a vehicle pursuant to Mississippi Code Annotated Section 27-19-57? Brief Response While Section 27-19-57 does not require “a Mississippi driver’s license as a condition for the registration of a vehicle . . . ,” it does acknowledge that proof of ID may be required, and in those situations, neither a consulate ID nor a foreign passport is sufficient. Applicable Law and Discussion Section 27-19-57(5) provides: No tax collector shall require a person to provide a Mississippi driver’s license as a condition for the registration of a vehicle, provided that such person, if required, must show proof of identification in the form of a driver’s license or other government identification issued from any U.S. state or territory, including the District of Columbia. (emphasis added). Mr. Kevin Miller January 30, 2025 Page 2 550 HIGH STREET • SUITE 1200 • JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI 39201 POST OFFICE BOX 220 • JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI 39205 TELEPHONE (601) 359-3680 A consulate ID, also known as a consular identification card or CID, is a photo identification card that some governments issue to their citizens living in a foreign country.1 A consulate ID is not government identification issued from a U.S. state or territory. Likewise, a foreign passport is not government identification issued from a U.S. state or territory. Accordingly, while Section 27-19-57 does not require “a Mississippi driver’s license as a condition for the registration of a vehicle . . . ,” because the statute acknowledges that proof of ID may be required, in those situations, neither a consulate ID nor a foreign passport is sufficient. If this office may be of any further assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact us. Sincerely, LYNN FITCH, ATTORNEY GENERAL By: /s/ Maggie Kate Bobo Maggie Kate Bobo Special Assistant Attorney General 1 See Buquer v. City of Indianapolis, 797 F. Supp. 2d 905, 912 (S.D. Ind. 2011) (“Consular identification documents (‘CIDs’) are photo identification cards issued by many embassies and consulates, including the United States, to encourage their citizens abroad to register with the consulates so that they can receive standard consular services, be notified if necessary, and be located upon inquiry by relatives and authorities.”) (internal quotations and citation omitted).