Driver's license agency criticized on prevention of fraud, ID theft
By Berny Morson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published June 10, 2008 at 1:32 p.m.
Updated June 10, 2008 at 11:53 p.m.
The state agency that issues driver's licenses is doing a poor job of preventing fraud and identity theft, state auditors said Tuesday.
The report to the Legislative Audit Committee said 48,000 dead people were still listed in state Department of Revenue computers as holding active driver's licenses. In at least one case, the person was dead for more than 30 years.
The auditors found 24 cases in which driver's licenses were obtained fraudulently in the names of dead people.
The problem occurred even though a sister agency, the state health department, maintains a data bank of death certificates open to the revenue department, the auditors said. That's how the auditors identified the dead people on the driver's license rolls.
Officials of the state Department of Revenue, which oversees licensing, did not dispute the findings, but said the agency is moving to eliminate problems identified by the auditors.
Senior director Joan Vecchi said the agency will work closely with the health department to keep the driver's license rolls current. She said six of the fraud cases uncovered by the auditors are now being prosecuted.
The auditors found that the department has poor control over the motorists' personal data.
Too many employees have access to information that could be used for identity theft, and that information is routinely transferred over phone lines without encryption, the auditors found.
Former employees sometimes retain access to data long after leaving - in one case for more than a year. However, the auditors found no instances of fraud by the former workers.
Workers at 55 offices around the state do a spotty job of checking documents to verify the identity of applicants and to ensure that they are U.S. citizens, the auditors said.
Those problems occur partly because of high turnover among clerks, revenue department officials told the audit committee.
Mark Couch, the department's lobbyist, said workers start at $2,200 a month.
That salary, based on old job descriptions, doesn't reflect their current responsibilities, Couch said. Often, they face angry applicants, who have waited in line for an hour, only to be told they have the wrong documents.
"You have some great employees, but if you can work somewhere else, you're probably going to do that," said Roni White, who heads the revenue department's driver's license section.
White said the agency scrambles to fill positions as they come open. Applicants are not required to pass a skills test.
"At this point I have a couple of employees that I'm not sure can read that are working for us," White said.
Auditors did not address the turnover and competency questions. But the report notes that pre-employment background checks are inadequate and no further checks are made after people are hired.
Sen. Jim Isgar, D-Hesperus, agreed the hiring issues - including the salary schedule - must be addressed.
"This is not the same job they had a few years ago. We're expecting a lot more of them," Isgar said.
morsonb@RockyMountainNews.com or 303 954-5209
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June 10, 2008
1:57 p.m.
Suggest removal
Who_Me writes:
Like everything else in this state related to state-run IT systems, typical FUBAR scenario.
June 10, 2008
3:09 p.m.
Suggest removal
anya writes:
Ya pay peanuts, ya get monkeys.
However, this just cannot be; the Department of Practical Jokes and Homeland Security says that terrorists can't fly or go to the bathroom unless they have legal identification like a drivers license, and I just know that they are doing a heck-of-a-job.
June 10, 2008
3:21 p.m.
Suggest removal
dmacaudio writes:
Thats just great, As a new resident of CO I had to prove who I was because my valid PA drivers license (w/pic) had a middle initial instead of my middle name as my passport (w/ pic also) has. After wasting 3 hours waiting at the license center, I had to then obtain a certified birth certificate. and go back again. All under the guise of preventing identity theft. This system is in need of revamping and protections.
June 10, 2008
3:22 p.m.
RBN writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
June 10, 2008
3:26 p.m.
Suggest removal
LingLingfor_prez writes:
Paying people that have a responsibility to safeguard personal info a lower salary is a huge part of the problem. If it is difficult holding on to employees, maybe an increase is in order.
June 10, 2008
3:34 p.m.
Suggest removal
Scott writes:
I thought that after the DMV was embarrassed to the hilt a couple of years ago over this passport stupidity that they stopped it! Obviously the Snivel Serpents (government employees) and brain dead fools that are in the legislature prevailed and the stupidity continues. Pay no attention to the FACT that dmacaudio (or anyone else) can enter and leave the good ol' U. S. of A. with a valid U.S. passport. Oh no! The brain dead must have something even better!
anya, please do not insult monkeys. Note: No smiley face on this one. I mean it.
Scott
June 10, 2008
3:37 p.m.
Suggest removal
dmacaudio writes:
I fail to see how the issue of how much license workers are paid is relevant. They may indeed be underpaid but is that not another issue? Regardless of the salary shouldn't our info be safeguarded regardless?
June 10, 2008
3:51 p.m.
Suggest removal
Heidi writes:
"workers start at $2,200 a month. That salary, based on old job descriptions, doesn't reflect their responsibilities, he said."
Just how much money does it take for someone to do their job thoroughly? I think most job descriptions state: "and other duties as assigned".
I'm glad to see there is finally some auditing and reporting done on this and on the children's health care.
June 10, 2008
3:56 p.m.
Suggest removal
Heidi writes:
"Regardless of the salary shouldn't our info be safeguarded regardless?"
Yes, dmacaudio. But if it takes paying someone more, then I am all for it. Wouldn't it save us more in the long run? Now we have to pay for the prosecution.
June 10, 2008
4:04 p.m.
Suggest removal
junglegymco writes:
dmacaudio - Are you serious?! You don't see a correlation between job expectations and wages? Wow . . .
June 10, 2008
4:48 p.m.
Suggest removal
Art writes:
US passports are not acceptable in Colorado? Why is that? If we can go to France or Japan with our passport why is it not good enough here in Colorado. This is a new one? Or is it?????
June 10, 2008
5:10 p.m.
Suggest removal
Who_Me writes:
Part of the conflict between this state and the department of old fat white men security administration.
June 10, 2008
5:12 p.m.
Suggest removal
Who_Me writes:
Scott wrote:
I thought that after the DMV was embarrassed to the hilt a couple of years ago over this passport stupidity that they stopped it!
No, here is a life lesson for you: you have to have pride or shame to know embarrassment. As the typical state worker has neither, embarrassment is not a valid reaction to this situation.
June 10, 2008
5:52 p.m.
Suggest removal
Acemon writes:
RBN - Post your mug so we can all see how you measure up!
Who_Me - Thanks for your racist attitude.
June 11, 2008
4:59 p.m.
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Who_Me writes:
Okay, they're not all white, nor are they all men. Feel better now?
June 19, 2008
10:46 p.m.
Suggest removal
fatheromalley writes:
Who_Me my aren't we witty, but let someone else "slip" and you'd be all over them like stink on doo-doo, eh?
Is it any wonder they are doing a lousy job?
When I read the ambiguous way they wrote their requirements in the paper, I thought then this was just another way to allow illegal aliens here and even offer them the opportunity to vote. (All ya need is a drivers license and a utility bill, wow)
If the driver's license is easier to get with decreased security, wink wink, then maybe just maybe in time, the sanctity of our own voting booths will be much like Stalin's. He said one time when asked if he was ever concerned that "the people" would not vote him in again. He responded, "I don't care who does the voting or who they vote for, I just care about who's doing the counting"
Good old Uncle Joe, much the same strategy as our much beloved Saddam who would never promote or supply the attackers of America with sanctuary and places to train. Because HE wasn't involved with 9/11. Supposed stupidity or naivety is always a good ruse. Play dumb, right?
So now drivers licenses are given out like lollipops and we have a responder that says they were toooooo strict.. yeah.
I guess your name wasn't Jose' and Quanita buddy, sorry... .. I wonder if they ever investigate the legality of illegal aliens gaining access to driver's licenses? Hmmm.. the article didn't really hone in on that little potential issue... now did they? Got a green card anyone?
Go to www.fatheromalley.com for videos, answers, new paradigms.
If you are a ideologue you won't like it, so I would advise strongly not to go there.. it'll only make your eyes bleed..
May God Bless,