BILL NUMBER: S1219

SPONSOR: RITCHIE
 
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 Depart-
ments 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 secu-
rity efforts. For all of these reasons it is imperative that this bill
is enacted.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2017-2018: S.1925 Referred to Transportation.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Minimal.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after 3t shall have
become a law.