JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Millions of motorists across the nation are carrying around driver's licenses containing their Social Security numbers — a potential jackpot for identity thieves.
Privacy experts strongly warn against the practice. And a recent federal law ordered states to stop issuing licenses displaying Social Security numbers.
Yet some states continue to do so, a review by The Associated Press has found. And in other states that have dropped the practice, it could take up to eight years before people who have licenses with Social Security numbers on them are issued new ones.
A sampling of just 11 states by the AP identified more than 14 million motorists with Social Security numbers on their licenses.
A name, birthdate and address are valuable pieces of information for someone who wants to steal another person's identity and obtain loans and credit cards. But a Social Security number is the richest prize of them all.
"For a thief, getting a wallet that has a Social Security number on it is like finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow — it is the most useful item for a personal identity thief," said Beth Givens, director of the San Diego-based Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.
About 8.9 million U.S. adults were victims of identity fraud in 2005, costing an estimated $57 billion, according to a survey released by the Better Business Bureau. One contributing factor is believed to be the availability of Social Security numbers on driver's licenses and health insurance cards that people carry around in their wallets and purses and display when writing checks at stores.
A 2003 survey by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators identified 17 states and the District of Columbia where Social Security numbers were put on licenses. In all of those jurisdictions, drivers could ask that the number be put on or left off. But in some cases, drivers were encouraged by motor vehicle clerks to put their Social Security numbers on their licenses for the sake of convenience.
In 2004, President Bush signed a law barring states from putting Social Security numbers on new or renewed driver's licenses, identification cards or vehicle registrations. The law took effect this past December.
A follow-up survey by the AP found that most states have changed their policies and are complying with the federal law. But some are not.
Mississippi's driver services director, Maj. Joseph Rigby, cited a state law allowing the practice. "I believe there's a separation of state and federal government," he said. "Right now, we still have a state law on the books that I have to abide by."
At least three other states and the District of Columbia are still putting Social Security numbers on licenses but said they are reversing their policies after getting inquiries from the AP.
In Iowa, officials said they will mail new licenses and identification cards in the coming weeks to 3,770 residents who were issued cards with Social Security numbers after the federal law took effect. A department spokeswoman said federal officials never notified the state about the new requirement.
Nevada said it plans to drop the old practice in March. "We weren't aware of it," Department of Motor Vehicles spokesman Tom Jacobs said of the federal law. And Ohio's motor vehicle agency said it will pursue a change in state law to comply.
States are also removing Social Security numbers from licenses when people renew them. But because licenses are valid for several years, the change is slow.
In Missouri, half of all drivers — 2.3 million — still have their Social Security numbers on their licenses. Because licenses last six years, it will take until 2011 to take them out of circulation.
In most states, if drivers want to remove their Social Security numbers before their licenses expire, there is a fee. In Missouri it is $12.50.
Despite the privacy risks, some motorists have no intention of dropping their Social Security numbers any earlier than they must.
Karri Hoener renewed her Missouri license just weeks before the federal ban became law. She kept her Social Security number on it. Hoener has no worries about identity theft and figures her Social Security number is easier to remember than some randomly assigned string of digits.
"I just chose the lazy way out," said Hoener, 28, a veterinary clinic manager from rural Owensville, "because I know the number — and everybody asks you for your driver's license number."
Privacy expert Eric Gertler, author of the book "Prying Eyes," strongly suggests that people remove their Social Security numbers from their licenses.
"When an identity thief criminal wants to take advantage of you — rob you of your identity, steal your good name — the first area of attack is the Social Security number," Gertler said. "By having your Social Security number on your driver's license, it's basically one-stop shopping — or, let's say, one-stop stealing — for an identity thief."
___
On the Net:
Privacy Rights: http://www.privacyrights.org
AAMVA: http://www.privacyrights.org
Full Yahoo Story:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060206/ap_on_re_us/drivers_identity_theft
Privacy experts strongly warn against the practice. And a recent federal law ordered states to stop issuing licenses displaying Social Security numbers.
Yet some states continue to do so, a review by The Associated Press has found. And in other states that have dropped the practice, it could take up to eight years before people who have licenses with Social Security numbers on them are issued new ones.
A sampling of just 11 states by the AP identified more than 14 million motorists with Social Security numbers on their licenses.
A name, birthdate and address are valuable pieces of information for someone who wants to steal another person's identity and obtain loans and credit cards. But a Social Security number is the richest prize of them all.
"For a thief, getting a wallet that has a Social Security number on it is like finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow — it is the most useful item for a personal identity thief," said Beth Givens, director of the San Diego-based Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.
About 8.9 million U.S. adults were victims of identity fraud in 2005, costing an estimated $57 billion, according to a survey released by the Better Business Bureau. One contributing factor is believed to be the availability of Social Security numbers on driver's licenses and health insurance cards that people carry around in their wallets and purses and display when writing checks at stores.
A 2003 survey by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators identified 17 states and the District of Columbia where Social Security numbers were put on licenses. In all of those jurisdictions, drivers could ask that the number be put on or left off. But in some cases, drivers were encouraged by motor vehicle clerks to put their Social Security numbers on their licenses for the sake of convenience.
In 2004, President Bush signed a law barring states from putting Social Security numbers on new or renewed driver's licenses, identification cards or vehicle registrations. The law took effect this past December.
A follow-up survey by the AP found that most states have changed their policies and are complying with the federal law. But some are not.
Mississippi's driver services director, Maj. Joseph Rigby, cited a state law allowing the practice. "I believe there's a separation of state and federal government," he said. "Right now, we still have a state law on the books that I have to abide by."
At least three other states and the District of Columbia are still putting Social Security numbers on licenses but said they are reversing their policies after getting inquiries from the AP.
In Iowa, officials said they will mail new licenses and identification cards in the coming weeks to 3,770 residents who were issued cards with Social Security numbers after the federal law took effect. A department spokeswoman said federal officials never notified the state about the new requirement.
Nevada said it plans to drop the old practice in March. "We weren't aware of it," Department of Motor Vehicles spokesman Tom Jacobs said of the federal law. And Ohio's motor vehicle agency said it will pursue a change in state law to comply.
States are also removing Social Security numbers from licenses when people renew them. But because licenses are valid for several years, the change is slow.
In Missouri, half of all drivers — 2.3 million — still have their Social Security numbers on their licenses. Because licenses last six years, it will take until 2011 to take them out of circulation.
In most states, if drivers want to remove their Social Security numbers before their licenses expire, there is a fee. In Missouri it is $12.50.
Despite the privacy risks, some motorists have no intention of dropping their Social Security numbers any earlier than they must.
Karri Hoener renewed her Missouri license just weeks before the federal ban became law. She kept her Social Security number on it. Hoener has no worries about identity theft and figures her Social Security number is easier to remember than some randomly assigned string of digits.
"I just chose the lazy way out," said Hoener, 28, a veterinary clinic manager from rural Owensville, "because I know the number — and everybody asks you for your driver's license number."
Privacy expert Eric Gertler, author of the book "Prying Eyes," strongly suggests that people remove their Social Security numbers from their licenses.
"When an identity thief criminal wants to take advantage of you — rob you of your identity, steal your good name — the first area of attack is the Social Security number," Gertler said. "By having your Social Security number on your driver's license, it's basically one-stop shopping — or, let's say, one-stop stealing — for an identity thief."
___
On the Net:
Privacy Rights: http://www.privacyrights.org
AAMVA: http://www.privacyrights.org
Full Yahoo Story:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060206/ap_on_re_us/drivers_identity_theft
Oh no, I didn't mean it that way, it just that she's being cute that why I was laughing... 
now you got me laughing 
