Illinois Form DSD A 281: Peace Officer Address Change

Illinois Form DSD A 281: Peace Officer Address Change – Illinois Secretary of State Form DSD A 281 is the official Request to Change Residence Address of a Peace Officer. This form allows eligible peace officers in Illinois to request that the Secretary of State change the residence address shown on their driver’s license or state identification card records to a business address (or reverse the change back to a residence address).

The form is issued by the Illinois Secretary of State Driver Services Department and is grounded in Public Act 98-323. It supports privacy protections for law enforcement personnel by permitting the use of a workplace or headquarters address instead of a personal home address on official state records.

You can download the official fillable PDF directly from the Illinois Secretary of State website here: Download Form DSD A 281 (PDF).

Who Can Use Form DSD A 281?

Form DSD A 281 is available exclusively to peace officers. Under Illinois law, a peace officer generally includes individuals vested by law with a primary duty to maintain public order or make arrests, such as police officers, deputy sheriffs, elected sheriffs, Illinois State Police officers, and certain other designated law enforcement personnel.

The form is not intended for the general public. Civilian Illinois residents must use the standard address-change process available online or in person through the Illinois Secretary of State.

Purpose of the Form and Legal Basis

Public Act 98-323 authorizes the Secretary of State, upon request of a peace officer, to change the residence address on the officer’s records to a business address. This measure helps protect the personal safety and privacy of peace officers and their families by limiting the public availability of home addresses on driver’s licenses and identification cards.

Related provisions in the Illinois Vehicle Code (for example, 625 ILCS 5/3-405) also allow certain law enforcement officers to furnish a business or headquarters address for vehicle registration purposes. Form DSD A 281 specifically addresses driver’s license and identification card records.

According to Illinois administrative rules (92 Ill. Adm. Code 1030), a peace officer seeking to change a residence or mailing address to a business address needs only to present the completed Request to Change Residence/Mailing Address form (DSD A 281) along with their peace officer badge.

Information Required on Form DSD A 281

The current version of Form DSD A 281 (January 2014) requests the following information:

  • Peace officer’s full name and title
  • Choice of action: change residence address to business address, or change from business address back to residence address
  • Selection of records to update: Driver’s License and/or Identification Card
  • Business address details (street address, city, state, ZIP code, county)
  • Current residence address details (street address, city, state, ZIP code, county)
  • Driver’s license or identification card information (name, DL/ID number, date of birth, gender)
  • Identification presented and badge number
  • Signature of the peace officer and date
  • Signature of the commanding officer and date
  • Secretary of State facility name and number (completed by staff)
  • Date received by the Secretary of State (completed by staff)

Accurate completion is essential. Incomplete or inaccurate forms may delay processing.

How to Complete and Submit Form DSD A 281?

Follow these steps:

  1. Download the official PDF from the Illinois Secretary of State: https://www.ilsos.gov/content/dam/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_a281.pdf.
  2. Fill out all required fields clearly and accurately. Use the fillable PDF features if available, or print and complete by hand in ink.
  3. Obtain the signature of your commanding officer.
  4. Submit the completed form in person to your local Illinois Secretary of State Driver Services Facility. Bring your peace officer badge as required identification.

The form itself instructs applicants to submit it to a local Driver Services Facility. Processing occurs at the facility level. There is no fee associated with filing Form DSD A 281 according to available guidance from secondary sources that reference the form.

After the change is processed, the address on the state’s electronic records will be updated. To receive a new physical driver’s license or identification card reflecting the change, you may need to visit a facility, present acceptable identification, and pay any applicable duplicate or corrected card fee, consistent with standard Illinois procedures.

Important Notes for Peace Officers

  • This form is specifically for driver’s license and identification card records. Vehicle registration address changes follow separate rules under the Illinois Vehicle Code.
  • When a peace officer leaves employment with the agency whose business address was used, timely notification to the Secretary of State is required so records can be updated appropriately.
  • The form does not suppress the address from all public records; it changes the address shown on the specified Secretary of State records. Separate privacy request forms exist for certain public officials and judges.
  • Always verify the most current version of the form and any procedural updates directly on the official Illinois Secretary of State website (www.ilsos.gov), as forms and instructions can be revised.

Where to Find Additional Official Information?

Primary sources include:

For facility locations, use the official Facility Finder on the Illinois Secretary of State website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a fee for Form DSD A 281?
No fee is indicated for submitting the request form itself. Standard fees may apply if you request a new physical card.

Can I submit the form by mail?
The form directs applicants to submit it to a local Driver Services Facility. In-person submission with badge presentation is the standard process.

Does this form apply to vehicle registration?
No. Separate statutory provisions allow certain officers to use a business address for vehicle registration. Contact the Secretary of State Vehicle Services Department for those procedures.

What if I am no longer a peace officer?
You should update your address to a current residence address using standard procedures and notify the Secretary of State of the change in status as applicable.

This article is for informational purposes and is based on the official Form DSD A 281 and publicly available Illinois statutes and administrative rules as of the most recent available data. Always confirm current requirements directly with the Illinois Secretary of State before filing.

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