Show Ohio citizens may have a bit more privacy as House Bill 46 passed though legislature last week. The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles no longer prints Social Security numbers on driver’s licenses and state identification cards. The policy began January 31. Lt. Governor Maureen O’Conner, director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety, said the law is to increase security and protect Ohioans. “Now if our residents lose their license or it’s stolen, the Social Security number won’t be on the license unless the person wishes for it to be,” O’Conner said. Although the law prohibits Social Security numbers from being displayed, residents may request the number be printed on the card. Christine Purnell, a sophomore in social work, planned to put hers back on her license at renewal time. “It just makes sense to keep it on there because usually that’s what people are looking for when they look at your drivers license,” Purnell said. “I knew it was an option to have it on there, and I always choose to have it on my license. I’ve never felt unsafe or anything,” said Brad Glober, a junior in communications. Christine Colver, a senior in marketing, doesn’t see how the number was beneficial. “It poses more of a risk. Someone could just see it and pick it up off the street and get your number,” Colver said. The Social Security ID numbers have been on licenses since 1967. In 1998, people were given the option of asking the number to be removed, except for a commercial driver’s license, on which the number had to be displayed. “I think it is a good thing,” said Lewis Wickline, a truck driver for B & B Industries. “If someone gets your license, it’s really easy for identity theft to happen.” John Boggs, a truck driver for Boggs Trucking, is relieved the numbers are being taken off, and wishes it would have happened years ago. “Your Social Security number in today’s world can get out there and, being all over the country, it’s easy to lose your license traveling as much as truckers do,” Boggs said. The removal of Social Security numbers from documents and ID cards has been a security trend over the past decade. Eight years ago, university ID cards displayed student, faculty and staff social security numbers. “For privacy reasons, we changed to a new card format that does not contain a social security number,” said Valerie Shafer, who was in charge of the BUCK-ID system when the change took place. The card used today has a randomly generated 19-digit number that identifies university affiliates within our BUCK-ID card system. This number is encoded on the magnetic stripe contained on the back of the card and read when a card is swiped through a machine. Each time a card is lost and reissued, a new number is assigned. Social Security Number Frequently Asked Questions 1. Why does PennDOT need this information on driver’s license/learner’s permit and photo identification applications? 1. Why does PennDOT need this information on driver’s license/learner’s permit and photo identification applications?
NOTE: Your social security number will only be part of your driver record. It will not be printed on any of our products. 2. Does Federal law permit the collection of this information? 3. Will PennDOT give out this information? 4. Is the social security number printed on the
driver’s license, learner’s permit or photo identification card? 5. What if I never had a social security number? 6. Are there any exceptions to the social security number requirement?
7. Why am I asked to provide my social security number again when having my photo taken? Bureau of Driver Licensing Mail Products and Services Section, 1101 South Front Street Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17104-2516 Return to Frequently Asked Questions Where do I find my Social Security number?You can find your Social Security number on tax documents and bank or financial statements. If you don't have any documentation, you can request a new Social Security card online with the Social Security Administration.
Is my SSN on my card?If you have a Social Security Number, you can find it on your Social Security card. Some other places that you can find your SSN are on tax returns, W-2s and bank statements. You may even find it on previously filed USCIS forms.
Is Social Security a ID?Despite its narrowly drawn purpose, use of the SSN as a general identifier in records systems eventually grew. In 1943, Executive Order (EO) 9397 required Federal agencies to use the SSN in any new system of records to identify persons.
Is ID and Social Security number the same?To file tax forms and claim treaty benefits, the IRS requires a nonresident alien to have either a Social Security Number (“SSN”) or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (“ITIN”). These are not the same as a national ID number.
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