Special Task Force: Remarks by Alan Cockman

AAMVA Chair of the Board and
Vice President, Auto Fund, Saskatchewan Government Insurance

January 14, 2002
National Press ClubEveryone here has been asked to show a form of identification. I doubt you flinched when you reached for your state-issued driver’s license or ID card.

And, in light of the events of September 11^th, the importance of secure identification credentials has gained international attention.

AAMVA, a non-profit association representing chief motor vehicle administrators and law enforcement officials in the United States and Canada, responded to these tragic events. And, as an international safety association we have a responsibility and obligation to further improve public safety and national security in North America.

This is critical since driver’s licenses and ID cards are used for identification by the vast majority of adults in the United States and Canada. Currently, more than 228 million U.S. and Canadian citizens have either a driver’s license or DMV-issued ID card, representing 75% of the total population.

We are the issuers of the document you’ve come to depend on for ID purposes. Because of this, we are in a unique position to be a major force for change and improvement in the issuance of secure ID credentials.

In October, the AAMVA Executive Committee passed a resolution, establishing a Special Task Force on Identification Security. This group was directed to lead the changes that are necessary to improve the issuance of driver’s licenses and ID cards.

After months of examining current business practices, the Task Force is recommending changes to our current driver licensing framework.

***AAMVA***