"An Act relating to renewal of a driver's license by applicants 25 years of age or younger; and providing for an effective date."

Under current statute, an Alaska driver's license may be renewed by mail if a licensee meets certain requirements that are outlined in AS 28.15.101(c). HB 388 prohibits licensees 25 years of age or younger from renewing an Alaska driver's license by mail.

Examining drivers and issuing licenses is no longer the sole concern of the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Because the driver's license has assumed a role beyond traffic safety, where both government and private entities rely on the license for personal identification, there is a concern about obtaining fraudulent driver's licenses, especially among minors.

An Alaska driver's license expires five years after the date of issue. An individual, who renews by mail, receives a sticker to adhere to the back of the expired driver's license. A licensee can then give the driver's license, with the extension sticker on the back, to a younger sibling or to a younger friend. The licensee may then go to a DMV office and request a duplicate license, being able to show positive proof of identification through a birth certificate or other acceptable means.

The use of a fake ID increases the use of alcohol and underage smoking. Fraudulent driver's licenses have led to increased strains on private businesses and the court system.

The Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles is in the process of improving the technology used to create driver's licenses, enabling the division to deter potentially fraudulent activities. DMV is working to create a license that is difficult to counterfeit in order to protect against both identity theft and minors who attempt to create, or obtain a license fraudulently, in order to show proof of age that they are over 21.

HB 388 strengthens the security of driver's licenses, deters fraudulent activity by minors, and reduces the liability on government and private entities that rely on state-issued licenses as a means of positive identification.

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