12

I'm currently homeless and need a license for work. I do not want to go to a shelter or request help from friends or family. Yet, the local DMV will not let me apply for a driver's license without an address. Is there any way around this?

Zizouz212
  • 2,528
  • 19
  • 33
Justice Plant
  • 141
  • 1
  • 1
  • 6
  • Is this in a US state or territory? If so, which one? It appears not to be New York, as it appears to be unnecessary to prove your address in New York. Where are you sleeping? Where do you receive mail? – phoog Jan 27 '16 at 18:35
  • 1
    Colorado. https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dmv/proof-address. Sleeping in a snow fort in the woods. I use a p.o. box to receive mail. – Justice Plant Jan 27 '16 at 19:26
  • 2
    I presume that a USPS p.o. box doesn't qualify as "physical address," although I don't see that mentioned on the linked page. You might be able to rent a post office box at a private mail facility, and use that address with "Suite 1532" or whatever instead of "Box 1532." Otherwise, I suppose your only option is to do what you say you don't want to do: get someone to accept your mail, or follow the instructions for homeless applicants on the linked page. I suppose this is just another example of the idiocy of the Real ID act. – phoog Jan 27 '16 at 19:43
  • 1
    A postmaster might be able to provide the letter from the government entity. I would print the requirement and try talking to the local postmaster. Sometimes the USPS is really helpful and sometimes they are really cranky. You then might be able to talk the DMV into accepting it. – Tom Jan 27 '16 at 22:28
  • 2
    You don't want friends, family, or a shelter to help you. You sound like the type of person Colorado doesn't want getting a drivers license in their state. If you think I'm harsh, reality is harsh, yes it is. – jqning Jan 28 '16 at 01:55
  • @TomW thanks. that's a good suggestion to work around what might be a discriminatory licensing policy. – Justice Plant Jan 28 '16 at 05:33
  • @phoog also good suggestions to work-around the situation. It's not difficult for a person to stamp an address on a piece of mail or otherwise attain an address, however that would be a subset of total homeless people who might not qualify in these states. – Justice Plant Jan 28 '16 at 05:36
  • 1
    Documents presented to the DMV must include the applicant’s name, full residential address and be dated within one year.

    A private mail facility is not a residential address.

     – jqning Jan 28 '16 at 16:16
  • 1
    Colorade hmm. California I believe allows PO Boxes or alternatively you can use this https://www.earthclassmail.com – William Jan 28 '16 at 18:21
  • @jqning do you have a source for that? I looked but did not see any such condition. – phoog Jan 28 '16 at 18:37
  • @phoog source: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dmv/proof-address – Justice Plant Jan 28 '16 at 18:41
  • There's a link from that link included in the comment above. It says can be found here. – jqning Jan 28 '16 at 18:41
  • @William that's a great resource. Thanks for sharing. – Justice Plant Jan 28 '16 at 18:42
  • For $20 a month this one supports Colorado https://travelingmailbox.com/addresses 13918 E Mississippi Ave #61234 Aurora, CO 80012 Unless it is blacklisted as an address in Colorado it should work. If this fits your needs I'll post as an answer. I would probably put apt. 61234 instead of #61234 on license. I know someone who actually did this in California although I'm not sure how legal it is. I doubt they would sue. – William Jan 29 '16 at 01:45
  • thetravelingmailbox is basically a person who rents a box at a UPS store. – jqning Jan 29 '16 at 20:42
  • 1
    It seems that Colorado does not allow homeless people with no fixed place of residence to acquire a drivers license. I suggest asking a friend or going to a shelter for the application period, you can always leave after that. – Viktor Feb 01 '16 at 21:35
  • The linked document says: " Documents that only display a PO box number will not be accepted. " – David Siegel Feb 25 '19 at 01:37

2 Answers2

9

While Colorado does issue driver's licenses to homeless individuals, as you identified in your question, you need the help of a homeless shelter. I can see from your questions that you're reluctant to seek help from family, friends, or a shelter; however, I do not see a lawful way around Colorado's residency requirement without their assistance.

Under C.R.S. § 42-2-107(1)(a)(II), the DMV cannot issue a driver's license

"until [it] verifies all facts relative to such applicant's right to receive an instruction permit or minor driver's or driver's license including the age, identity, and residency of the applicant."

Here is a link to Colorado's statutes. Unfortunately, I can't link to the specific provision cited above.

The administrative rules further explain what is required for the department to verify residency. The regulations also talk about the exception for homeless people and specifically state that

"Proof of residency documents are waived, if an applicant provides a letter on letterhead, signed by the director of a homeless shelter, certifying that the individual is homeless and stays at the shelter." 1 Colo. Code Regs. § 204- 30:16-2.12.

Under the law and applicable registration, you cannot give a PO Box as your residence. You must give an actual address that you are supposed to be residing at. I don't know your individual circumstances; however, you might find it easier to stay at a friends house long enough to get your driver's license.

Hope this is helpful to you.

Mr_V
  • 1,731
  • 9
  • 19
-1

Check out this video by Will Prowse: https://youtu.be/GFIwYY3QD3s

In short, getting a private mailbox is the solution for you. He explains that there are certain things, such as W-2 (wage and tax statement) forms, that you cannot get shipped to a PO box but CAN receive through a private mailbox.

The UPS website (https://www.theupsstore.com/mailboxes) says that with one of their "personal mailboxes" you get "a street address, not a P.O. Box number".

chungachanga
  • 11
  • 2
    There is a requirements for a full residential address. Mailing addresses are not the same at all. –  May 23 '17 at 07:46