Identification Document Categories (§1185(b)(3) and (b)(4))

Civil Code §1185 divides acceptable identification documents into two groups, each with different requirements.

§1185(b)(3) — Tier One: California DMV driver's license or ID card; U.S. passport book or U.S. passport card; CDCR inmate ID (if the inmate is in state custody); local detention facility inmate ID. These must be current or issued within five years. No requirement exists for a physical description field.

§1185(b)(4) — Tier Two: Foreign (non-U.S.) passport; out-of-state driver's license; Canadian or Mexican driver's license; another state's ID card; U.S. military ID; California government agency employee ID; federally recognized tribal ID. These must also be current or issued within five years, but the document must additionally contain all four of the following: a photograph, a physical description of the person, the person's signature, and a serial or identifying number.

If any of the four Tier Two elements is missing, the document is not acceptable — regardless of how official it appears.

Exam Tip: A CDCR inmate ID is Tier One and does not need a physical description field. A U.S. military ID is Tier Two — and the handbook specifically warns that current military IDs may not contain all required information. Verify all four elements before accepting any Tier Two document.