Jun. 19, 2017
BEDFORD – Rep. Jesse Topper (R-Bedford/Franklin/Fulton) is reminding area residents of changes to the state’s commercial driver’s license (CDL) requirements, especially with regard to birth certificates as proof of citizenship.
“As part of Act 49 of 2015, which was passed to comply with federal regulations, an official state birth certificate must be produced when applying for a new CDL license, or renewing a license,” Topper said. “Due to the overwhelming amount of applications, most birth certificates, which must contain both parents’ names, are taking up to eight weeks to process. My offices can assist CDL applicants and license holders with obtaining the necessary birth certificates or other information they may need.”
Under Act 49 of 2015, all new CDL applicants and current CDL holders required to renew or make any changes or upgrades to their license will need to do so in person and are required to prove citizenship or legal presence in the form of a state-certified birth certificate, passport, naturalization documents or current immigration documents in person.
Topper noted most birth certificates issued prior to Sept. 11, 2001, are not sufficient. A state-certified birth certificate may be obtained online, by mail or in person from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The nearest office that has same-day service is located at
101 S. Mercer St. in New Castle. Residents who wish to receive a new birth certificate the same day an application is submitted must be at the office no later than 11:30 a.m.
Also, under the law, residency documents will be required initially, at renewal and any time an address change occurs. Proof of residency can be accomplished by providing tax records, lease agreements, mortgage documents, a W-2 form, current weapons permit, current utility bills (water, gas, electric, cable, etc.), a letter from PennDOT or current Pennsylvania license.
More information about the changes are available online at
RepTopper.com. Click on “CDL Changes” in the left navigation bar. Or call Topper’s Bedford office at 814-623-9097, or the McConnellsburg office at 717-485-4430.
Representative Jesse Topper
78th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Greg Gross
717.260.6374
ggross@pahousegop.com
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