Arizona limits use of consular ID cards

PHOENIX, May 31 (UPI) -- Arizona has banned state and local government agencies from accepting identity cards issued by foreign consulates as identification.

The law takes effect July 20, The Arizona Republic reported Tuesday.

Private companies can still accept the cards as identification, allowing foreign citizens living in Arizona to use them to open bank accounts or get utilities hooked up. But they cannot use them as ID if they are stopped by police or even to get a public library card.

In Arizona, most of those affected are Mexican nationals. Supporters of the law say consulates are often careless about verifying the identities of applicants for the cards.