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Bill allows police access to DL photos

By ASSOCIATED PRESS   Tuesday, November 3, 2009 - 7:24 p.m.
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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Police would be allowed to have electronic access to Wisconsin drivers’ license photographs under a bill that passed the state Assembly on Tuesday.

Under current state law, police anywhere in the country can look at the photos if they submit a written request to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

The bill would require the Transportation Department to make digital versions of each photograph available to police agencies through the state Department of Justice’s computer network. Law enforcement agencies would submit electronic requests to view them.

The bill must pass the Senate and be signed by Gov. Jim Doyle before it becomes law.




reader COMMENTS (7)
mespl
Nov 4, 2009 at 8:50 a.m.
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I recently read an article about how the FBI used legislation similar to this down I believe in Virginia to help in locating a person on their most wanted list. When they put the criminal’s picture into their facial recognition software and ran it against the DMV database they came back with more than 100 possible matches. These types of programs are not as accurate as the movies make them out to be. I understand that this is not the stated intent of this program however it could be used in this manner and more people could be falsely accused. I am just giving an example.

anonomouse
Nov 4, 2009 at 8:11 a.m.
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Again Wisconsin is behind the times. Illinois has been able to do this for years.

Sparky55
Nov 4, 2009 at 6:50 a.m.
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The technology and equipment should have been in place several years ago. What quite a few people do not realize is that for each traffic citation issued, there is a surcharge on the bond amount that is supposed to go into a fund administered by the Department of justice and DOT. These funds are created when someone pays their fine, and the surcharge amount is supposed to be placed into this special fund to pay for and administer these programs. Well, like everything else, good old Tommy and deficit Doyle have raided these funds and applied the money to everything but what it was intended for.

my_3_kids
Nov 4, 2009 at 6:49 a.m.
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So Make SURE you Smile Pretty :=)

Napalm
Nov 4, 2009 at 6:07 a.m.
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wow...talk about 10 years behind the times.

dukes
Nov 3, 2009 at 10 p.m.
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I agree, I thought this was in place already. The only people that will be against this are people that have something to hide. So all the ACLU extremists can settle down, this is something that will better society....

realitybytes
Nov 3, 2009 at 7:38 p.m.
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I am shocked that police do not already have instant electronic access to this information.

So right now cops can't verify that the photo on your fake ID is legitimate. Isn't that interesting!

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