Town of Woodstock, NY Chapter 100 Identification Card Program

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Woodstock 12-13-2019 by L.L. No. 4-2019. Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 100-1 Findings, intent, and purpose.

A. At the present time, there are many Woodstock residents who are unable to obtain traditional forms of photographic identification cards. This barrier leaves many individuals, including immigrants, homeless people, transgender people, senior citizens, young people, and those who have been formerly incarcerated, without access to critical services and benefits. Additionally, these people are listed as "Jane or John Doe" if they end up in an emergency room.

B. It is the intent of this legislation to affirm the Town of Woodstock's standing as a welcoming and inclusive center for all residents, without regard to a person's race, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, immigration, housing, or financial status. Further, it is the intent of the Town Board that the municipal identification card should affirm the resident status of all Town of Woodstock residents.

§ 100-2 Identification card program established.

A. The Town of Woodstock hereby establishes a Woodstock municipal identification card program (muni card) which shall be issued to individuals who can prove their identity and residency in accordance with the terms of § 100-5 of this chapter. The office of the Town Clerk shall be designated as the department to administer the Town of Woodstock Identification Card Program.

B. The Town Clerk shall develop procedures necessary to effectuate the purposes of this Law, including, but not necessarily limited to, an application form and procedure. The Town Clerk shall make the applications available online.

§ 100-3 Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

RESIDENT

A person who can establish that he or she is a current resident of the Town of Woodstock.

TOWN

Unless otherwise identified, shall solely mean the Town of Woodstock.

TOWN OF WOODSTOCK MUNICIPAL IDENTIFICATION CARD, TWMIC, WOODSTOCK MUNI CARD or MUNI CARD

An identification card issued by the Town of Woodstock.

§ 100-4 Issuance of Town identification cards; display; term; fee.

A. The Muni Card shall be available to any resident of the Town, provided that such resident is able to provide the requirements for establishing his or her identity and residency as set forth in § 100-5 and of any applicable policies and procedures established by the Town Board.

B. The Muni Card will display, at a minimum, the card holder's photograph, name, date of birth, address, signature, expiration date, and card number.

C. The Muni Card will be designed in a manner to deter fraud, which may include bar codes, serial numbers, watermarks, the Town seal, and/or other security measures to deter fraud.

D. The Muni Card will be valid for two years from the date of issuance. Residents age 14 or over may apply for a card. Relocation out of the Town invalidates the Woodstock Muni Card which should then be returned to the Town Clerk's office for destruction.

E. The fee for the issuance of the Woodstock identification card will be $10 for adults and $5 for children under the age of 18, veterans, the disabled and senior citizens (over age 62). The fees for renewal of the card shall be the same. The fee for any change of information shall be $5. The Town Board may waive such fees at their discretion based upon the information presented with any application.

§ 100-5 Proof of identity and residency.

A. Point system.

(1) In order to obtain a Woodstock Muni Card, an applicant must establish his or her identity and residency within the Town of Woodstock. The Town of Woodstock Municipal Identification Card Program shall use the following point system to determine if applicants are able to prove identity and residency in the Town of Woodstock. Six points of proof are required in total, four points used for identification plus two points to validate residency. Applicants must have a total of six points of proof: four points for identification plus two points for residency.

(2) Proof of identity four-point documents. Any one of the documents below will satisfy the proof of identity requirement:

(a) Any federal, state, county, or Town ID card with photo, date of birth, expiration date, and name will be sufficient to prove identity, including:

Employment authorization document (USCIS)

National identification or electoral card with photo, name, date of birth, and expiration date

U.S. or foreign passport

U.S. or foreign military ID

U.S. or foreign birth certificate

U.S. or foreign driver's license or learner's permit (photo ID required)

Prison or jail discharge papers with photo

Unemployment photo ID card

U.S. federal government or tribal-issued photo ID

(3) Proof of residency. In addition to the proof of identification requirements, an individual must prove their residency in the Town of Woodstock. A total of two points must be provided to meet this requirement; two of the below items will satisfy this requirement.

(a) One-point documents.

Utility bill with name and address

A current residential property lease

Automobile insurance card

Local property tax statement

Federal or state income tax or refund statement

Mortgage payment receipt

Social security card

Library card

High school or college diploma

Voter registration card

Medicare card

EBT card

Written verification issued by a social service agency or a religious institution

Attestation by a notary of the carrier's identity, including a photo

Proof of a minor enrolled in a public or private school based upon a Town address

Insurance bill other than automobile

Bank statement

Employment pay stub

B. The Town Clerk is authorized to accept any other reasonable documentation and assign such documentation a single point. If the individual is a minor, proof must be furnished on behalf of said minor by the individual's parents or legal guardian or by a court of competent jurisdiction. Residency may be established, in the reasoned discretion of the Town Clerk, in the absence of a fixed address.

C. Appeals process. Any refusal to issue or renew a Woodstock Muni Card made hereunder shall be by written notice by the Town Clerk, or her/his designee, to the applicant. Said notice shall include a statement that the applicant is entitled to request review by the Supervisor of Woodstock, provided that such demand is made in writing to the Town Clerk, and such review shall be conducted within 30 days after the applicant or licensee's request is received by the Town Clerk or her/his designee.

§ 100-6 Confidentiality of municipal ID card application information and data.

A. The Town of Woodstock shall not collect or retain originals or copies of records and documents provided by an applicant to prove identity or residency for a Woodstock Muni card.

B. The Town will only retain the name, date of birth, card number and expiration date for all IDs.

§ 100-7 Access to services; use of card.

A. All Town departments and offices, and all Town employees, including law enforcement officers, will accept the Town of Woodstock Muni Card as proof of identity and residency and for access to Town services and benefits, unless such acceptance is prohibited by or in conflict with state or federal law. The Town of Woodstock will take reasonable efforts to publicize the benefits associated with the Town of Woodstock identification cards.

B. The Town of Woodstock departments and offices will not require the possession of a Woodstock Muni Card where identification is not required to obtain Town's services.

C. No Town of Woodstock departments or offices will discriminate against or draw any inference about any aspects or characteristics of an individual based upon the fact that the individual holds or presents a Town of Woodstock Muni Card issued under this chapter.

§ 100-8 Counterfeit and fraudulent cards.

It is a violation of the Town of Woodstock ID code under this section for any person or entity to undertake any of the following acts. A fine of no more than $100 may be imposed for each violation.

A. To knowingly present false information in the course of applying for a Woodstock Muni card.

B. To alter, copy, or replicate a Woodstock Muni card without the authority of the Town of Woodstock.

C. To use a Woodstock Muni Card issued to another person, with the intent to cause a third person or entity to believe the holder of the card is the person to whom the card was issued.

§ 100-9 When effective.

This chapter shall be effective upon the Board's adoption and filing with New York State of this law. Implementation shall begin within 45 days of acceptance by the Town Board.

§ 100-10 Severability.

The invalidity or unenforceability of any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause, provision, or phrase of the aforementioned sections, as declared by the valid judgment of any court of competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional, shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause, provision, or phrase, which shall remain in full force and effect.

§ 100-11 Disclaimer.

The Town of Woodstock is providing the Woodstock municipal ID card for identification and access to services provided by the Town of Woodstock, its institutions and businesses. The Town does not act as guarantor or warrantor either of the information provided by the applicant for the Woodstock Municipal Identification Card or against any acts, criminal or otherwise, committed by the individual(s) while possessing or using the Woodstock Muni Card. The Town does not waive any of its protections afforded under federal, state or local statutory law or under federal or state case law by processing or issuing the Town of Woodstock municipal identification card.