Across Virginia

According to the latest numbers released this morning by the Virginia Department of Health there are 152 new probable or confirmed coronavirus cases, 4 new hospitalizations, and 7 new deaths being reported in the Roanoke Valley. 73 new cases ,4 new hospitalizations and 4 new deaths in Roanoke County, and 61 new cases and 3 new deaths in Roanoke City, and 18 new cases in Botetourt County. No new cases are being reported in Salem.

Virginia’s DMV is preparing to accept and process drivers license applications from residents who don’t live here legally. A new law permits it as of January, and DMV is working to reach Hispanics in advance. It’s estimated that 300,000 undocumented immigrants in Virginia will qualify for what are called driver privilege cards. More from WFIR’s Evan Jones.

NEWS RELEASE: RICHMOND – Beginning January 2, 2021, Virginians may apply for a driver privilege card at the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Applications will be accepted by appointment only; appointments can be made at dmvNOW.com/appt.

This change in Virginia law, authorized by the Virginia General Assembly, creates a driving credential for individuals who are non-U.S. citizens and cannot meet Virginia’s legal presence requirements, making them ineligible to receive a standard or REAL ID-compliant driver’s license in Virginia.

Customers may be eligible to obtain a driver privilege card if they meet the following criteria:

  • are a non-U.S. citizen who is a resident of Virginia
  • have reported income from Virginia sources or are claimed as a dependent on a tax return filed in Virginia in the past 12 months
  • do not have a driving privilege that is currently suspended or revoked in Virginia or any other state, to include insurance-related infractions

“We are pleased to offer this new credential to give thousands of tax-paying Virginians the opportunity to drive legally on our roadways, something they previously have not been able to do,” said DMV Commissioner Richard D. Holcomb. “Like applicants for any driving credential, driver privilege card applicants must prepare for their visit by gathering necessary documents and studying for all required testing. A good place to start is the DMV webpage dedicated to this new credential, dmvNOW.com/dpc.”

In order to obtain a driver privilege card in Virginia, the following documents must be provided:

  • Two proofs of identity (e.g., foreign passport and Consular identification document issued by country of citizenship)
  • Two proofs of Virginia residency (e.g., monthly mortgage statement and utility bill)
  • Proof of Social Security number (if one has been issued) or the individual’s taxpayer identification number (e.g., W-2 form or ITIN letter)
  • Tax return documentation (e.g. Virginia Resident Form, Virginia Part-Year Resident Income Tax Return Form or Virginia Nonresident Income Tax Return Form, filed in the past 12 months)

All documents must be originals and are subject to verification, however; printouts of approved online residency documents may be accepted.

The steps to obtain a driver privilege card vary based on a customer’s licensed driving history. Applicants will be required to pass a vision screening. DMV encourages those eligible to make an appointment for the new year, study and prepare for applicable tests atdmvNOW.com, and organize the documents necessary to obtain a driver privilege card. An interactive document guide, available on DMV’s website, helps to prepare customers for their visit.

 

 

According to the latest numbers released this morning by the Virginia Department of Health there are 197 new probable or confirmed coronavirus cases, 2 new hospitalizations,and 2 new deaths being reported in the Roanoke Valley. 113 new cases 2 new hospitalizations and in Roanoke County, and 34 new cases in Roanoke City, 5 new cases and 2 new deaths in Salem, and 45 new cases in Botetourt County.

Mark Herring

Virginia Democratic Attorney General Mark Herring today formally announced he is running for re-election. In a video posted online, Herring spoke about his record defending health care and Virginia’s coronavirus safety measures in court.


Herring will face off with Norfolk Delegate Jay Jones in the Democratic primary. Virginia Beach Delegate Jason Miyares has announced he’s running on the Republican side.

NEWS RELEASE: RICHMOND – Beginning January 2, 2021, Virginians may apply for a driver privilege card at the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Applications will be accepted by appointment only; appointments can be made at dmvNOW.com/appt.

This change in Virginia law, authorized by the Virginia General Assembly, creates a driving credential for individuals who are non-U.S. citizens and cannot meet Virginia’s legal presence requirements, making them ineligible to receive a standard or REAL ID-compliant driver’s license in Virginia.

Customers may be eligible to obtain a driver privilege card if they meet the following criteria:

  • are a non-U.S. citizen who is a resident of Virginia
  • have reported income from Virginia sources or are claimed as a dependent on a tax return filed in Virginia in the past 12 months
  • do not have a driving privilege that is currently suspended or revoked in Virginia or any other state, to include insurance-related infractions

“We are pleased to offer this new credential to give thousands of tax-paying Virginians the opportunity to drive legally on our roadways, something they previously have not been able to do,” said DMV Commissioner Richard D. Holcomb. “Like applicants for any driving credential, driver privilege card applicants must prepare for their visit by gathering necessary documents and studying for all required testing. A good place to start is the DMV webpage dedicated to this new credential, dmvNOW.com/dpc.”

In order to obtain a driver privilege card in Virginia, the following documents must be provided:

  • Two proofs of identity (e.g., foreign passport and Consular identification document issued by country of citizenship)
  • Two proofs of Virginia residency (e.g., monthly mortgage statement and utility bill)
  • Proof of Social Security number (if one has been issued) or the individual’s taxpayer identification number (e.g., W-2 form or ITIN letter)
  • Tax return documentation (e.g. Virginia Resident Form, Virginia Part-Year Resident Income Tax Return Form or Virginia Nonresident Income Tax Return Form, filed in the past 12 months)

All documents must be originals and are subject to verification, however; printouts of approved online residency documents may be accepted.

The steps to obtain a driver privilege card vary based on a customer’s licensed driving history. Applicants will be required to pass a vision screening. DMV encourages those eligible to make an appointment for the new year, study and prepare for applicable tests atdmvNOW.com, and organize the documents necessary to obtain a driver privilege card. An interactive document guide, available on DMV’s website, helps to prepare customers for their visit.

According to the latest numbers released this morning by the Virginia Department of Health there are 28 new probable or confirmed coronavirus cases, 4 new hospitalizations and 4 new deaths being reported in the Roanoke Valley. 27 new cases, 3 new hospitalizations and 4 new deaths in Roanoke County, and 1 new case and 1 new hospitalization in Roanoke City. State health officials are reporting three less cases and one less hospitalization in Salem and one less case in Botetourt County.

State Police photo

NEWS RELEASE: Two Virginia State Police troopers are recovering from minor injuries after their patrol vehicle was struck on Interstate 81 in Wythe County Monday morning (Dec. 14). Motorists are reminded no matter where they’re traveling in Virginia today, to please be mindful of and drive for the wet, slick conditions. Drivers are also reminded of Virginia’s Move Over law, which requires all vehicles to move over a lane or pass cautiously any vehicle equipped with flashing red, blue or amber lights and is stopped on the side of a road.

At 7:40 a.m. Monday (Dec. 14), Virginia State Police Trooper J.G. Carico and Trooper K.D. Nelson responded to a single-vehicle crash (no injury reported) that had occurred when a vehicle traveling north on I-81 ran off the right side of the interstate at the 68 mile marker. Both troopers were seated in their marked Virginia State Police Ford Taurus finishing up on the crash investigation when a 2005 Toyota Camry traveling north on I-81 ran off the road and struck the rear of their vehicle. The state police vehicle was parked on the right shoulder and had its emergency lights activated at the time of the crash.
The two troopers were transported to Wythe County Community Hospital to be checked out for minor injuries.
The driver of the Camry, William A. Porter, 25, of Rural Retreat, Va., was charged with reckless driving for failure to maintain control of his vehicle and was cited for a defective equipment violation. Porter was not injured in the crash.

According to the latest numbers released this morning by the Virginia Department of Health there are 33 new probable or confirmed coronavirus cases being reported in the Roanoke Valley. State health officials report 18 new cases in Roanoke County, 1 new case in Roanoke City, and 14 new cases in Salem. There are no new cases reported in Botetourt County.