In an effort to crackdown on identity fraud, Robert J. Higgins, director of the Department of Administration, today announced that the Department of Motor Vehicles is bolstering security for obtaining a Rhode Island driver's license.
"Certainly, the incidents of September 11th and the renewed focus on homeland security mandate that this issue be addressed," said Higgins. "The driver's license has now become the primary form of identification in this country. Thus, it is imperative that we utilize the same identity standards as required in states across America."
Possible uses of counterfeit licenses include: terrorism, insurance fraud, identity fraud, check fraud, voter fraud, medical fraud and the illegal purchase of firearms. Additionally, fraudulent licenses are often used by fugitives to camouflage their identity, parents who seek to avoid paying child support and by those whose actual license has been suspended or revoked.
Effective immediately, Rhode Island will adopt national guidelines as defined by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators. Those guidelines establish clear standards to be used to identify signature, identity and residence.
For example, beginning today the DMV will join neighboring states in not allowing the use of an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) as a means of substantiating one's identity. The move to abolish the use of ITINs was reinforced by a May 1, 2003 visit from three officials of the Internal Revenue Service who warned the Administrator of Motor Vehicles that ITIN numbers were never intended to be used as a tool for proving identity in obtaining a license. According to the IRS, the only purpose of an ITIN is to provide a traceable number for someone who has a tax obligation but is unable to get a social security card-students, for example.
"We strongly discourage the use of ITINs for any other purpose, especially as a means of identification for obtaining a driver's license," according to a letter from the IRS, dated May 22, 2003, to the Administrator of the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles.
In January, the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators issued national guidelines titled, Acceptable Verifiable ID Resource List and Procedures stating that the "events of September 11, 2001 have caused a radical shift in the perception of risk regarding the issuance and use of driver's license or ID cards. To address a portion of these concerns, a list of verifiable identification resources has been developed by the AAMVA for use by jurisdictions to verify an applicant's identity. By utilizing the list, motor vehicle agency employees should be able to verify that the person in front of them is who they are claiming to be [emphasis original]."
Furthermore, a recent news article in the journal of the National Council of State Legislatures reports: "In the security conscious post-Sept. 11 environment, concerns about the driver's license integrity and verifiability have taken on a whole new meaning. Now, despite no formal change, the license is commonly used as a form of identification to travel by airplane, to purchase alcohol, write checks and perform numerous other activities. Because it is so widely accepted as identification, lawmakers worry that terrorists could exploit gaps in the system to remain in the United States illegally, travel without restriction and cause further harm."
Director Higgins noted that state officials have briefed community agencies on the new standard and vowed to work in partnership with them in an attempt to resolve any unintended consequences.