Chautauqua County Clerk Joins Others from Across State to Call for Delay in Implementation of Green Light Law

OVER 50 PERCENT OF COUNTY CLERKS CALL FOR GOVERNOR TO DELAY IMPLEMENTATION UNTIL OCT. 1, 2020

Larry Barmore

MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County Clerk Larry Barmore is joining 27 other county clerks from across New York State with DMV responsibilities in calling on Governor Andrew Cuomo and state DMV Commissioner Mark Schroeder to halt implementation of the Driver License Access & Privacy Act, also known as the Green Light law, immediately for the safety and security of all New Yorkers. Among those who are making the request are all officers of the New York State Association of County Clerks (NYSACC),

In a media release sent out on Friday, the group said that following what they say are two hastily delivered webinars and a conference call, they agree that the state DMV failed to provide regulations that would ensure the integrity of the identification process for Standard Driver License applicants.

The group claims the State DMV has failed to put in place safeguards to prevent someone who has a social security number from signing the affidavit form (NSS-1) claiming they’ve never been issued a social security number, enabling people to conceal their true identities. In fact, State DMV representatives admitted during their conference call with County Clerks on Monday, December 9 that they have no way to check or verify if a person using the affidavit form (NSS-1) in fact was never issued a social security number.

The group also claims the State DMV has also failed to apply standards to the translation certification process, allowing anyone regardless of their age or language proficiency to certify a document’s correct translation without any proof of such. The absence of standards to the translation certification process allows for anyone regardless of their relationship to the applicant to certify the translation of documents for anyone, including minors. Furthermore, County DMV representatives have no way of ensuring the correct translation of written documents and have been directed by State officials to simply “look for the word ‘certify’ on the document.”

Because of these lax regulations, the group says that implementation of the State law at this time would create unacceptable security risks as the loopholes allow for nefarious people to obtain a New York State Standard Driver Licenses and use it to commit bank fraud, identity theft, credit card fraud, human trafficking, and other criminal activities.

In addition, the group says that the federal REAL ID Act, which increases security standards for certain state-issued driver licenses and identity documents, goes into effect October, 1, 2020. They say the implementation of the State law prior to October 1, 2020 would create unacceptable security risks because the lax regulations would allow for nefarious people to obtain a New York State Standard Driver License and use it to board an airplane, enter secure federal buildings, enter military bases or enter nuclear sites for malicious reasons for nine months until the REAL ID Act takes effect.

As a result of the concerns provided, the group of 27 county clerks are strongly urge Governor Cuomo to halt the implementation of the Driver License Access & Privacy Act and to direct the State Department of Motor Vehicles to promulgate stronger regulations that would protect the security of all New Yorkers and ensure the integrity of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles licensing and identification verification procedures.

Those clerks who are calling for the delay are: