Officials Check License System For Vulnerabilities To Terrorism

AP via Indianapolis Star ^ | December 17,2003 | Deanna Wrenn

[John W]

INDIANAPOLIS -- State officials investigating how 1,000 foreign nationals obtained Indiana driver's licenses also are trying to determine why they wanted the documents.

While fake IDs have always been a problem among underage drinkers and illegal immigrants, fears of terrorist attacks have focused extra attention on the problem. But officials are not sure if the Indiana license applicants had criminal plans or just wanted driving privileges.

[meenie]

Other states use facial recognition technology as simple as a photo to determine if the liscensee is the same as the original. How marvelous.

[gubamyster]

ping

[John W]

Former U.S. marshal to review Indiana BMV procedures


By Deanna Wrenn
The Associated Press
December 18, 2003 7:04 AM


INDIANAPOLIS -- A former U.S. marshal will review fraud detection procedures at the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, where authorities say more than 1,000 foreign nationals may have used fake visas and passports to obtain driver's licenses.

Michael Carrington, who is currently a threat assessment consultant in South Bend, will deliver recommendations by the end of April, Gov. Joe Kernan said.

"Clearly, we have work to do," Kernan said Wednesday. "We need to do better. That's why we're taking these steps."

Kernan said problems found with current BMV procedures could result in immediate changes. One change likely to be implemented soon is having managers sign off on the license applications in which applicants present foreign documents as a source of identification.

"We'll be adding an additional layer of checks and balances," Kernan said.

Kernan said the state supports prosecuting those involved with the scam and would continue working with law enforcement. He said BMV employees who were involved could lose their jobs and face prosecution.

Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi said Carrington's review would not affect the ongoing investigation which has seen his office oversee stings at several BMV branches. So far, the BMV probe has resulted in more than a dozen arrests and the suspension of six state employees.

BMV Commissioner Gerald Coleman has defended Indiana's licensing system. He has said while the state used to be an easy place for people to get an ID, changes last year put it "in the middle of the pack" compared with other states.

Coleman has said he wanted to wait for the Carrington's findings before changing any BMV policies.

Carrington, who was the U.S. marshal for northern Indiana for eight years and is a former public safety director for the city of South Bend, said Wednesday that every state faces similar security challenges.

"These are national issues," Carrington said. "Everybody is grappling with the same kind of issues."

During a police sting last month, police arrested seven people who prosecutors say obtained Indiana driver's licenses by using bogus passports and visas and bribing BMV employees.

Seven more people were arrested in another police sting in Indianapolis last week after they also tried to use fake documents to obtain a state ID.

Six state BMV workers have been suspended so far, though none of the six were arrested or charged. Prosecutors say the workers took bribes of a few hundred dollars every time they helped foreign nationals illegally obtain driver's licenses.

[texastoo]

I liked America when we didn't have all these crooks. We have always had crooks but not on the scale that we have now. Thanks to our government and not control of illegal immigration