"Your Life on Your License"

Decatur Daily News (Ala.) (05/13/05); Ellington, M.J.

Alabama will use special chip technology to store a wealth of personal
information on drivers' licenses that is accessible by law enforcement
officers using computer equipment. Decatur, Ala., Police Capt. Ken
Collier believes the technology will allow quick access to valuable
information, such as the last credit card purchase and medical
history, as well as eliminate forgeries. However, Collier admits the
card could put Alabama residents at greater risk of identity theft.

Alabama lawmakers plan to include many provisions currently included
in the federal Real ID program, which recently passed Congress and is
awaiting President Bush's signature, according to state Department of
Public Safety spokesperson Martha Earnhardt. Alabama already mandates
that all drivers undergo a background check; only Texas and
Connecticut also mandate such checks.

The state boasts that highly trained inspectors combined with the
background check has led to about 5,000 arrests per year, according to
Earnhardt. Civil liberties groups oppose the state and federal ID card
program, because 
it violates privacy rights and leads to discrimination.
http://www.decaturdaily.com 

                            -==-

Source: NLECTC - http://www.nlectc.org/justnetnews/weeklynews.html

Reproduction of this text is encouraged; however copies may not be
sold, and the NLECTC Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology News
Summary should be cited as the source of the information. Copyright
2005, Information Inc., Bethesda, MD.


Cheers, Steve...

---