By Victoria Wicks
South Dakota State Representative Lance Russell says the copying and storing of people’s personal documents puts them at risk of identity theft.
For that reason, Russell sponsored House Bill 1186. It precludes the state Department of Public Safety from copying and electronically storing the documents people provide when they apply for a driver’s license.
Russell testified Monday before the House Committee on State Affairs.
Also testifying was a spokeswoman for the Department of Public Safety, who says if the bill becomes law, South Dakota will fall out of federal compliance.
Cindy Gerber is director of the Drivers’ License Division.
“Without copies of the documents submitted, it would be virtually impossible to prove fraud on the part of the applicant. Without copies as evidence, there is no way of knowing if the document was ever actually submitted, or whether or not it was fraudulent,” Gerber says. “Removing the requirement to retain the documents would give applicants de facto immunity against prosecution of fraud.”
Gerber says more than 435,000 drivers, or more than 70 percent of South Dakota’s total number of drivers, have been issued a federally compliant card as of Jan. 1.
Gerber says documents have to be kept for 10 years. She says someone who does not have a federally compliant card won’t be able to use a license as I.D. for boarding aircraft or entering federal buildings.
The committee voted the bill down.