BILL NUMBER:S5097

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in
relation to renewal of drivers' licenses

PURPOSE:

To require an updated signature and photo image for renewal and
display on a renewed license.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends the vehicle and traffic law to require an updated
signature and photo image accompany an application for license
renewal. These updates will be displayed on the applicant's new
license.

Section 2 provides the effective date.

EXISTING LAW:

New York State Law and regulations require that all New York drivers'
licenses are renewed and updated at a minimum of every eight years.

JUSTIFICATION:

              

Currently, New York State law and regulations require that all New
York drivers' licenses are renewed and updated at a minimum of every
eight years. This requirement for updated license information is for
safety precautions. Generally the updates required include listing
changes in height, residential address, and eye examination results.
Pursuant to law and regulations there is the requirement to obtain an
eye exam every eight years which can be achieved at county and state
operated Departments of Motor Vehicles.

However, the only states in the country that lack the requirement to
update driver's license photos are New York and Nevada. This results
in many New York driver's license photos and signatures being decades
old. The intent of requiring a photo on a driver's license is to help
verify identity, prevent fraud and identity theft, and increase
safety. By allowing license holders to have identifying photographs
and signatures that are decades old defeats the legislative intent
behind these requirements.

This bill requires that an updated signature and photo image of the
applicant accompany a submission of an application for license
renewal. Requiring an updated photo and signature on a driver's
license would not have to include an additional cost to the state
resident license holder. Instead, this innocuous update would have
tremendous benefits at little detriment to the applicant.

In this state and throughout the country, a driver's license is the
leading document verifying identity. It is provided to safety
officials, government workers, and private business whenever photo
verification is needed. Updating this document with a current photo
and signature is necessary to prevent fraud and provide accurate
information to these sources. Furthermore, providing accurate


information to police officers in the field is especially necessary to
promote public safety and security efforts. For all of these reasons
it is imperative that this bill is enacted.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Minimal.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have
become a law.