Have you ever...?

Laws are written to protect the citizens under that jurisdiction. A very noble effort and for the most part, quite successful. But what happens when those laws actually have the opposite effect and put those citizens at risk? I recently had the opportunity to find one of those laws and would like to share this potentially dangerous information.

While gathering information for a driver鈥檚 license reinstatement hearing, I learned that I must provide three witness statements from upstanding citizens willing to speak up for my character. A very understandable request.

The problem arises with the accompanying requirement that I also include those witnesses driving records. In order to obtain those records, the witnesses must entrust me with some very sensitive information. The driving record request application asks for social security number, date of birth, and the driver鈥檚 license number. Information that the perpetrators of identity theft thrive on.

This information would enable any one, in my circumstances, to steal the identities fo the good citizens that have offered to help. While I would never consider such an action, I am not the only one that faces this request.

Thousands of people have this similar hearing on a daily basis. Each of them must provide the same information. On a yearly basis, this puts millions of good and kind people in an extremely dangerous situation. If you are one of those kind hearted individuals that have helped a friend or relative through such a hearing, you are at risk. And you were put through that risk by the very governing agency sworn to protect you.

With identity theft one of our governments top priorities, wouldn鈥檛 you think that our officials would alter the process so that citizens would not be put in such a potentially dangerous situation?

If you have ever helped another in a similar position I ask you to voice your concerns by writing to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. Ask him to look into practical alternatives. Contact William Gore Jr by mail at:
NC Division of Motor Vehicles
3118 Mail Service Center
Raliegh, NC 27699-3118
or call his office at: (919) 861- 3015. Or send an e- mail to: bgore@dot.state.nc.us
Thank you.

You are so very right on this. Thank you for bringing it to the attentions of the listers on here.

In a way this is a very good law - in order for them to be able to speak up for you they must trust you

To demonstrate that trust they must provide you with very personal information

I like it!

While the information required is what is necessary to commit identity theft, you're missing a big point....

This is not the personal information of strangers you're asking for. This is the personal information of people who know you well, and know you to be an upstanding citizen. If they don't know you well, or don't believe you to be an upstanding citizen, not only shouldn't they be giving you that info, but they shouldn't be speaking up for you to the DMV either.

Whenever you apply for a credit card or any other credit, you're giving the same info to total strangers doing minimum wage clerical work in an office... that's more of a danger. Most identity theft is the result of "inside jobs" at credit granting companies.

Richard

That is why they should provide the printout themselves.

If you need all that for evidence, you are allowed to ask for it and they are free to refuse it.

If that means you don't get your license back, well, too bad for you!