BP BHEAD INT S

AN ACT Relating to driver's license and identicard security; amending RCW 46.20.091, 46.20.117, 46.20.118, 46.20.161, and 46.20.181; adding a new section to chapter 46.20 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that while the driver's license was designed to be merely a declaration of the privilege to operate a motor vehicle, it has become a de facto national identification document. Drivers' licenses and identicards issued by the department of licensing are the most widely accepted forms of personal identification used by Washington residents. There is an increasing use of false drivers' licenses and identicards to purchase liquor, to cash bad checks, and to obtain food stamps and other benefits. In recognition of these losses that are borne by taxpayers, businesses, and government, Congress has recently directed the states to produce more counterfeit-resistant drivers' licenses. In keeping with the congressional directive, the Washington state legislature commissioned a feasibility study to identify technologies to improve the security of the Washington state driver's license and identicard. It is the purpose of this act to require effective means of rendering drivers' licenses and identicards as immune as possible from alteration and counterfeiting in order to promote the public health and safety of the people of this state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 46.20 RCW to read as follows:

In accordance with the recommendations issued in the feasibility study of driver's license technologies, as required by chapter 287, Laws of 1996, by February 1, 1998, the department shall enter into a contract for the procurement of a new state driver's license and identicard. Under the study recommendations, the contract shall, at a minimum, provide for incorporation of the following features:

(1) A central issuance system. A central issuance system requires issuance of permanent licenses and identicards from one central, secure location. Upon verification of eligibility, the license or identicard will be mailed to the resident.

(2) A digital imaging system. A digital imaging system permits a person's photograph and signature to be stored and displayed by computer, which allows for improved file management, flexibility, responsiveness, and fraud protection.

(3) Machine-readable technologies, including a one-dimensional bar code, two-dimensional bar code, and a magnetic stripe. The primary purpose of these machine-readable technologies is to provide for rapid and accurate verification that the license or identicard is genuine. Through encryption, both the magnetic stripe and two-dimensional bar code offer additional levels of security against alteration and counterfeiting.

(4) An electronic finger image identification system. The system will be designed to compare finger scans with the data base to prevent the issuance of multiple licenses or cards to the same person. A one-to-many finger image search, to determine if an applicant is enrolled in the system under a different name, should be conducted of each resident applying for an original license or identicard. Additionally, a one-to-many image search should be employed for renewals or duplicates during the first four years of the system. After the initial four-year implementation of the system, a one-to-one finger image search, matching the present finger scan to the image that was captured when that person was enrolled in the system, should be conducted of each resident applying for a renewal or duplicate license or identicard.

(5) A fusion or trimodal optical variable device that is not readily available to the general public. The image or color change of an optical variable device helps to prevent fraudulent duplication because attempts at alteration are apparent by distortion or destruction of the license or identicard. Furthermore, the optical variable device prevents the license or identicard from being accurately copied by color photography or a color copier.

(6) A second picture of the card holder printed on the license or identicard in ultraviolet ink. Digital printing enables the applicant's ultraviolet picture to be added to the license or identicard at the time of issuance for presentation of information that is uniquely tied to the card holder.

Sec. 3. RCW 46.20.091 and 1996 c 287 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Every application for an instruction permit or for an original driver's license shall be made upon a form prescribed and furnished by the department which shall be sworn to and signed by the applicant before a person authorized to administer oaths. An applicant making a false statement under this subsection is guilty of false swearing, a gross misdemeanor, under RCW 9A.72.040. Every application for an instruction permit containing a photograph shall be accompanied by a fee of five dollars. The department shall forthwith transmit the fees collected for instruction permits and temporary drivers' permits to the state treasurer.

(2) Every such application shall state the full name, date of birth, sex, and Washington residence address of the applicant, and briefly describe the applicant, and shall state whether the applicant has theretofore been licensed as a driver or chauffeur, and, if so, when and by what state or country, and whether any such license has ever been suspended or revoked, or whether an application has ever been refused, and, if so, the date of and reason for such suspension, revocation, or refusal, and shall state such additional information as the department shall require, including a statement that identifying documentation presented by the applicant is valid.

(3) Whenever application is received from a person previously licensed in another jurisdiction, the department shall request a copy of such driver's record from such other jurisdiction. When received, the driving record shall become a part of the driver's record in this state.

(4) Whenever the department receives request for a driving record from another licensing jurisdiction, the record shall be forwarded without charge if the other licensing jurisdiction extends the same privilege to the state of Washington. Otherwise there shall be a reasonable charge for transmittal of the record, the amount to be fixed by the director of the department.

(5) Every person applying for an original, renewal, or duplicate driver's license shall submit to an electronic finger scan as provided in section 2 of this act.

Sec. 4. RCW 46.20.117 and 1993 c 452 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The department shall issue "identicards," containing a picture, to nondrivers for a fee of ((~~four~~)) twenty-two dollars. However, the fee shall be the actual cost of production to recipients of continuing public assistance grants under Title 74 RCW who are referred in writing to the department by the secretary of social and health services. The fee shall be deposited in the highway safety fund. To be eligible, each applicant shall produce evidence as required in RCW 46.20.035 that positively proves identity. Each applicant for an original, renewal, or duplicate identicard shall also submit to an electronic finger scan as provided in section 2 of this act. The "identicard" shall be distinctly designed so that it will not be confused with the official driver's license. The identicard shall expire on the fifth anniversary of the applicant's birthdate after issuance.

(2) The department may cancel an "identicard" upon a showing by its records or other evidence that the holder of such "identicard" has committed a violation relating to "identicards" defined in RCW 46.20.336.

Sec. 5. RCW 46.20.118 and 1990 c 250 s 37 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The department shall maintain a negative file. It shall contain negatives of all pictures taken by the department of licensing as authorized by RCW 46.20.070 through 46.20.119.

(2) The department shall maintain a finger image data base consisting of all finger images obtained by the department for use in issuing drivers' licenses and identicards.

(3) Negatives ((~~in the file shall~~)) and the finger image data base are not ((be)) available for public inspection and copying under chapter 42.17 RCW.

(a) The department may make the ((~~file~~)) negatives available to official governmental enforcement agencies to assist in the investigation by the agencies of suspected criminal activity. The department may also provide a print to the driver's next of kin in the event the driver is deceased.

(b) The department shall allow fingerprints found at a crime scene to be compared to the department's finger image data base when an official government enforcement agency receives a court order directing the comparison. A court may grant such an order if it finds that there is probable cause to believe that the location of the fingerprint at the crime scene would suggest that the fingerprint could belong to the person who committed the crime.

(c) A court may also grant such an order if it finds that there is probable cause to believe access to the finger image data base will assist an official government enforcement agency in identifying a missing, incapacitated, or deceased person.

Sec. 6. RCW 46.20.161 and 1990 c 250 s 40 are each amended to read as follows:

The department, upon receipt of a fee of ((~~fourteen~~)) twenty-two dollars, which includes the fee for the required photograph, shall issue to every applicant qualifying therefor a driver's license, which license shall bear thereon a distinguishing number assigned to the licensee, the full name, date of birth, Washington residence address, and a brief description of the licensee, and either a facsimile of the signature of the licensee or a space upon which the licensee shall write his usual signature with pen and ink immediately upon receipt of the license. No license is valid until it has been so signed by the licensee.

Sec. 7. RCW 46.20.181 and 1990 c 250 s 41 are each amended to read as follows:

Every driver's license expires on the fourth anniversary of the licensee's birthdate following the issuance of the license. Every such license is renewable on or before its expiration upon application prescribed by the department and the payment of a fee of ((~~fourteen~~)) twenty-two dollars. This fee includes the fee for the required photograph.