Brief Description: Prohibiting manufacture or sale of fraudulent drivers' licenses and identicards.

Sponsors: Representatives Benson, Schual-Berke, Moeller, Bush, Simpson, Mielke and Rockefeller.

Hearing Date: 2/19/03.

Staff: Thamas Osborn (786-7129).

Background:

Financial fraud: Driver's licenses are a citizen's primary means of identification with respect to commercial financial transactions related to banking, credit card use, check cashing, and loan acquisition. The ready availability of forged and stolen driver's licenses has significantly contributed to the epidemic of identity theft crimes and other types of financial fraud.

Current criminal penalties: Under current law, the simple possession or display of a forged or altered driver's license is a misdemeanor. The manufacture or alteration of a driver's license, or the use of a fictitious or altered driver’s license, constitutes the crime of forgery when done with the intent to injure or defraud. Forgery is a class C felony. Furthermore, the use of a stolen or forged driver's license with fraudulent intent can also constitute the crime of identity theft. Identity theft can be either a class B or class C felony, depending upon the amount of the loss suffered by the victim.

Summary of Bill:

It is a class C felony to manufacture, sell, or deliver a forged, stolen, fictitious, counterfeit, fraudulently altered or unlawfully issued driver's license or identicard. This same prohibition applies to the unlawful manufacture, sale, or delivery of a blank driver's license or identicard.

When this offense occurs in connection with the crime of identity theft, the jurisdiction for purposes of prosecution may be either the place of the victim's residence or the locality in which any part of the offense took place.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on February 13, 2003.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.