AAMVA’s Recommendations: Driver’s Licenses/State-issued IDs
Questions & Answers
1.) Why can’t states fund the improvements?
2.) What are states doing now to remedy the issue?
3.) How do the recommendations impact illegal immigrants?
4.) Are you working with INS or SSA?
5.) How will this federal mandate impact states’ rights?
6.) How will your recommendations impact visitors to the United States?
7.) Are you working with the Office of Homeland Security?
8.) Will your recommendations require everyone to apply for and hold a driver’s license or state-issued ID?
9.) When can we expect changes? How long will this take?
10.) Do all DMVs support this effort?
11.) How will your plan impact privacy?
12.) Aren’t you essentially creating a national ID?
13.) Which states have the weakest laws?
14.) Would your recommendations have prevented the Sept. 11 terrorist acts?
15.) Are you creating a smart card?
16.) Isn’t DMV essentially acting as an arm of "Big Brother?"
17.) Did Sept. 11 cause you to take a look at your business practices?
18.) What about the current internal fraud at DMV? Why should we trust DMV?
19.) How will all this impact customer service?
20.) What type of biometrics are you looking to use?
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1. Why can’t states fund the improvements?
States have already assumed tremendous costs in improving security and public safety. But to ensure uniformity, we need the federal funding. We need the mandate and the money.
2. What are states doing now to remedy the issue?
Together, state DMVs are looking at their current business practices and looking at ways of making the process more secure and more uniform state to state.
3. How do the recommendations impact illegal immigrants?
DMV is not in the immigration business. DMV is in the licensing business. Currently there are a number of visitors to this country who stay in the country long after their visas have expired. So, we’re looking into establishing uniform procedures for issuing licenses to visitors to our country.
4. Are you working with INS or SSA?
We have reached out to a number of organizations including INS and SSA. But our efforts will require a partnership with Congress, state legislatures, privacy groups and other associations.
5. How will this federal mandate impact states’ rights?
States’ rights are important and states must retain basic licensing decisions. But federal standards are necessary to ensure uniformity among all states.
6. How will your recommendations impact visitors to the United States?
For those who have never been licensed in the U.S., you shouldn’t expect to walk out of the office with license in hand. For some, we may not be able to offer same day license issuance. We may require more time to verify identification documents.
7. Are you working with the Office of Homeland Security?
We sent letters to a number of federal agencies expressing our concerns and our willingness to work with them. We have a formal request in to meet with the Office of Homeland Security.
8. Will your recommendations require everyone to apply for and hold a driver’s license or state-issued ID?
No. We are simply advocating the strengthening and unifying of our current driver’s license framework.
9. When can we expect changes? How long will this take?
Some things will be long term and some will be short term. We currently have a short-term agenda to develop a uniform definition of residency within 90 days.
10. Do all DMVs support this effort?
All DMVs recognize and fully support efforts to improve identification security. These recommendations were presented to the AAMVA Board of Directors in early January 2002, and were unanimously approved.
11. How will your plan impact privacy?
We must continue to protect privacy as we do now. Every citizen deserves the comfort in knowing their privacy is protected. The Federal Drivers Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) ensures privacy. What we want to do is stop identity fraud at the counter. If we can do this, we’ve actually helped protect your privacy. But in order to do this, we need to be able to verify that you are who you say you are!
12. Aren’t you essentially creating a national ID?
Seventy-five percent of the U.S. and Canadian population already use their driver’s license or state-issued ID as their ID of choice. We have an obligation and responsibility to make sure our practices are as secure as possible. We do not approve of creating a national identification system.
13. Which states have the weakest laws?
We don’t rank our members’ performance. All states can improve, but they can’t do it alone. What we need is a set of minimum uniform standards for all DMVs. And we need the assistance of Congress to do this.
14. Would your recommendations have prevented the Sept. 11 terrorist acts?
Who knows. What I can say is that if AAMVA’s recommendations are put into place it will raise the public’s confidence level in our driver’s licensing process.
15. Are you creating a smart card?
What we want to do is take the card you have and make it even more secure. This is about using smarter tools.
16. Isn’t DMV essentially acting as an arm of "Big Brother?"
No. This is about positive identification. The only information DMVs need or want is the information we use to verify your identity. Our business is ensuring positive identification and ensuring safety.
17. Did Sept. 11 cause you to take a look at your business practices?
This is nothing new to the AAMVA community. AAMVA has long stressed the need for uniformity among states. Unfortunately, it took a tragic event for the public to recognize what the driver’s license has become.
18. What about the current internal fraud at DMV? Why should we trust DMV?
There is no foolproof system to prevent fraud. But we’re seeking stiffer penalties for those who commit identity fraud. We’re also seeking a stronger system of checks and balances to detect fraud.
19. How will all this impact customer service?
Security is customer service. The processes by which we serve the public may change to meet stricter guidelines for issuing driver’s licenses. However, if you cannot provide the means for positive identification, you may have a longer wait time for issuance. But we believe people will be willing to make that commitment and allow us the time to do our homework.
20. What type of biometrics are you looking to use?
We are looking at a number of technologies to positively identify you. We want to make a careful and thoughtful decision and choose the best technology for our needs. Right now we don’t now what the best technology is.