Special Task Force on ID Security: Executive Summary

Background

The importance of secure identification credentials has been heightened due to the catastrophic events of Sept. 11, 2001. The American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) responded to this tragedy and has a responsibility and obligation to further improve public safety and national security in North America. This is critical since the vast majority of adults in the United States and Canada use driver’s licenses and ID cards for identification. AAMVA is in a unique position with its state and provincial members, law enforcement members, industry partners and relationships with other key stakeholders to be a major force for change and improvement in the issuance of a secure driver’s license/ID card.

In October, the AAMVA Executive Committee developed and passed a resolution establishing the Special Task Force on Identification Security. The Task Force’s charge was to enhance the issuance of secure identification credentials, improve the security of these credentials through the development of solution strategies with short-, mid- and long-term actions.

The key work activities of the Task Force included the following:

• The Task Force was established employing a cross section of U.S. and Canadian AAMVA members with unique expertise, and organized into five working groups focusing on technology, new issuance/initial identification, residency issues, document security standards, and communications/advocacy.

• AAMVA’s members provided important feedback and responded favorably to the Task Force efforts and direction. There is unanimous agreement that the Association’s membership and industry partners have an obligation to take a leadership role in advancing needed changes.

• In addition to gathering member input, the Task Force also reached out to industry, the U.S. federal government, Congress and other associations. The Task Force concluded that there were a number of common issues needing to be addressed — relating to administrative processing, verification/information exchange, the need for a unique identifier, the format of the driver’s license/ID card, fraud prevention and detection, residency, and enforcement and control of standards.

In January, the AAMVA Board unanimously accepted the Task Force’s recommended strategies.

Recommended Strategies

AAMVA recommends eight broad strategies:

1. Improve and standardize initial driver’s license and ID card processes.
2. Standardize the definition of residency in all states and provinces.
3. Establish uniform procedures for serving noncitizens.
4. Implement processes to produce a uniform, secure, and interoperable driver’s license/ID card to uniquely identify an individual.
5. Establish methods for the prevention and detection of fraud and for auditing of the driver’s license/ID processes.
6. Ensure greater enforcement priority and enhanced penalties for credential fraud.
7. Improve the integrity of the driver license and ID card issuance process and documents through state-based solutions and funding obtained via state-federal partnerships.
8. Establish public and stakeholder awareness and support.

Expected Results

AAMVA expects that the strategies will help secure a safer America through:

• Increased security
• Increased highway safety
• Reduced fraud and system abuse
• Increased efficiency and effectiveness
• Achieved uniformity of processes and practices