Fingerprinting No Longer Just For Criminals

Senate Passes Fingerprint ID Bill

Opponents: Bill Clears Way For Government Intrusion

POSTED: 11:45 a.m. CST March 4, 2003
UPDATED: 11:50 a.m. CST March 4, 2003

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A bill requiring "finger imaging" of state driver's license applicants passed the Oklahoma Senate on Monday.

The measure was approved, 27-16, despite objections that it was another example of government intrusion into people's lives.

"It's a case of 1984 coming to Oklahoma in 2004," said Sen. Owen Laughlin, R-Woodward, referring to the novel by George Orwell that is often cited by those warning of "big brother" government.

Under the measure, an electronic scanner will record features of a person's index finger when a driver's license is obtained. The images will be kept by the Department of Public Safety.

Opponents said it was an issue of citizens losing another one of their freedoms by being required to submit to a form of fingerprinting.

Supporters said the bill would protect citizens against identity theft and help law enforcement officers.

"I believe we are striking a blow for freedom of all law-abiding citizens of this state and nation," said Sen. Robert Kerr, D-Altus, author of the bill.

Sen. Dick Wilkerson, D-Atwood, a former state law enforcement official, said drivers' licenses are easy to counterfeit by "anybody with a computer and an exacto knife."

Sen. Mike Fair said he saw nothing wrong with determining that "the people who are driving our streets are who they say they are." He said it could "stop some of those criminals who would blow up our shopping centers."

The bill now goes to the House for consideration.

In other action, the Senate approved a bill by Sen. John Gumm, D-Durant, which would restore a five-year property tax exemption given the past several years to manufacturers and distributors that located in Oklahoma.

Under a tax exemption law that expired last December, companies got a property tax break from local governments if they paid their employees 150 percent of the federal minimum wage. Gumm's bill requires that employees be paid 175 percent of the minimum wage.

"The idea being that if we're going to invest public dollars to attract these companies into our state, then the companies should invest in our people in the form of higher salaries," Gumm said.