PG&E bill no longer valid for proof of residency?

[SFShep]

I just went to a local independent FFL dealer to start the transfer on a new handgun purchase.

I've used PG&E bills in the past as proof of residency.

But he said he couldn't accept a PG&E bill because it must be a "government-issued" utility bill (such as city water bill, East Bay MUD, etc.) and PG&E doesn't count because it's a private company.

Is this a new change to the proof of residency requirement from the DOJ? Or is it just his interpretation of the requirement?

[ke6guj]

does your ID/DL have you current address on it? If so, then PG&E works just fine for CA PoR.

however, if your ID/DL doesn't have your current address on it, the feds require a .gov-issued document (doesn't have to be a utility bill) that does have your name and current address. this is for federal Proof of Identity.

both CA and federal laws intermix in this area and you have to comply with both.

[SFShep]

does your ID/DL have you current address on it? If so, then PG&E works just fine for CA PoR.

however, if your ID/DL doesn't have your current address on it, the feds require a .gov-issued document (doesn't have to be a utility bill) that does have your name and current address. this is for federal Proof of Identity.

both CA and federal laws intermix in this area and you have to comply with both.

Yeah the addresses match. I made sure to get a new CDL when I moved to my new house so that the PG&E bill and CDL info would match for firearm purchases.

Just figured it was either DOJ tightening its restrictions, or the FFL is being overly-cautious with the paperwork.

[ke6guj]

the posted regulations have not changed and are marked as current as of March 18 2016

The following definitions and requirements apply to documents intended to serve as evidence of residency for the acquisition of a handgun pursuant to Penal Code section 26845:
a.1. “Utility bill” means a statement of charges for providing direct service to the individual's residence by either a physical connection (i.e., hard wired telephone or cable connection, or a water or gas pipeline connection), or a telemetric connection (i.e., satellite television or radio broadcast service) to a non-mobile, fixed antenna reception device.
2. The utility bill statement date must be within three months of the current date.
3. The utility bill must bear on its face the individual's name and either of the following:
A. The individual's current residential address as declared on the Dealer's Record of Sale (DROS) form.
B. The individual's residential address as it appears on his or her California Driver License or California Identification Card, or change of address attachment thereto.

d. “Other evidence of residency as permitted by the Department of Justice” means either of the following:
1. A current, government-issued (city, county, special district, state, or federal) license, permit, or registration, other than a California Driver License or California Identification Card, that has a specified expiration date or period of validity. The license, permit, or registration must bear the individual's name and either of the following:

note they state gov-issued with it is a license, permit, or registration, but do not state .gov-issuance when dealing iwth utility bills.

[kemasa]

I suspect that the FFL is getting confused with the Federal requirements vs. CA requirements. It would work for the state requirements. Federal requirements mean it would have to government document, but since you said that your CA ID/DL has your current residence address on it, so you don't need anything addition for the Feds.

[bruce381]

my FFl wants your car registration

[SFShep]

my FFl wants your car registration

Yeah that's what I used instead.

[kemasa]

Vehicle registration is nice because it is from the government and is good for a year.

One possible issue is that they issue it prior to when it is stated on it that it is valid, so the new registration might not work as it is not yet valid and it is unknown what the CA DOJ view of that would be.

[XxWoodsHunterxX]

I usually ask for car reg. If DL doesn't match. If it does any utility will work is what I tell my customers as long as it has their physical.