NAII Backs Auto License Standard

By Daniel Hays

NU Online News Service, June 17, 12:02 p.m. EST?A proposal pushed by motor vehicle administrators, for a federally standardized drivers license, has won the conditional support of an insurers' group.

The idea, which is a legislative issue being pushed by two Democratic congressmen, has the backing of the National Association of Independent Insurers. Des Plaines, Ill.-based NAII said the system should ferret out bad drivers, who add to carriers' costs.

Charles Taylor, NAII assistant vice president for government relations in Washington, said the group's announcement followed a briefing from the director of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators.

AAMVA, he said, has been promoting the idea of creating minimum standards as a homeland security issue.

According to U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who held a hearing on the topic, eight of the 19 men linked to the Sept. 11 terrorist attack were able to obtain official state-issued identification cards. They exploited a loophole in Virginia allowing them to receive a license simply by showing a notarized form vouching for in-state residency, he said.

More than 240 types of drivers licenses are in use throughout the nation and some require no proof of residency, according to Mr. Durbin, who is drafting legislation.

In the House, Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., has already submitted a bill with Rep. Thomas Davis, R-Va. The measure would, among other things, require the state motor vehicle databases to be linked and that licenses have a security feature such as a retinal scan or fingerprint imbedded on an encrypted smart chip.

Mr. Taylor said members on the NAII Personal Auto/Nonstandard Auto Insurance Committee like the idea of one driver record. "However, we're going to monitor its possible provisions" he said because of possible concerns over privacy issues.

He said the AAMVA has hired the Washington public relations firm of PodestaMatoon to push the issue, but it may be difficult to get it through a Congress focused on elections and appropriations issues.

Terry Tyrpin, NAII senior vice president, insurance and research services said in addition to improving security, a linked and standardized license system would mean motorists "would no longer be able to hide bad driving records or other underwriting information by obtaining multiple drivers' licenses."

He added that "insurers should be more likely to discover if one of their policyholders had an accident or serious violation in another state. Insurance premiums then could be adjusted accordingly and good drivers would not have to pay higher premiums to subsidize bad drivers."

Mr. Tyrpin said, "Over time, highway safety will be improved by deterring motorists from holding multiple licenses, hiding out-of-state traffic law violations or acquiring a driver's license under false pretenses."

But the NAII noted that, while a "smart card" license could help law enforcement officers, issues could arise regarding what data is to be entered into the card, who has access to it, how the information is to be kept up-to-date, etc.

"A threat to national driver's license standards exists as some privacy groups contend the new licensing procedures could evolve into a national ID card," Mr. Tyrpin said. "It would be regrettable if these groups thwarted an initiative crucial to national security interests and to improving the integrity of the driver's license and driving record system."

Jason King, a spokesman for the AAMVA said the proposed standards are "no silver bullet' to end security concerns, but he said the current auto license "product is defective and not as secure as it can be." He said AAMVA wants, "one license one driver history and one identity.

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NAII Backs Auto License Standard

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