J.B. VAN HOLLEN
ATTORNEY GENERAL

Enhancing Public Safety by Enabling Real-time Access to DOT Photos

The TIME system is the critical information network relied on by law enforcement officers for timely, accurate, on-the-scene information. The TIME system network has been operational for over 35 years. During much of that time, Wisconsin motor vehicle operator licenses have included photographs. And for the past 10 years, law enforcement has had the ability to make a written request to DOT for drivers’ license photographs. But as the technical capability to transmit images in real time over the TIME system has become a reality in recent years, the law—at least as it relates to drivers’ license photos—has lagged behind.

As Attorney General, I’ve had the privilege of traveling the state and meeting with many of you to talk about what we can do at the state level to help you do your jobs better. One issue that’s been repeatedly raised is the desirability of the TIME system to carry drivers’ license photos. And it’s an issue with good reason. Public safety and law enforcement can be considerably enhanced by enabling real-time access to DOT photos. Electronic access to DOT photos through the TIME system would improve officer safety, help quickly identify false identification or misidentification, and can contribute to the safe recovery of missing persons.

At DOJ, we have the capability of providing images over TIME, and with minor modifications to enable our computers to talk to DOT’s computers so that we can receive DOT’s images in real time, we can make electronically providing drivers’ license photos to law enforcement a reality. But we need changes to our law. Fortunately, legislation was introduced by Representative Kitty Rhoades to allow DOJ to do just that. I had the privilege of testifying before the Assembly Transportation Committee in support of AB-639 in January, and on February 26, the Assembly passed the bill on a voice vote. That indicates broad bipartisan support for this legislation. I am cautiously optimistic that the Senate will act on this legislation and it will be signed into law by the Governor.

If this legislation is enacted, it won’t be costless to the Department of Justice. But I will direct my office to take advantage of federal funding available to assist states in facilitating interstate driver photo sharing, and I have pledged to cover other costs with discretionary monies that the Department of Justice is awarded through its litigation activity. I am committed to using these limited funds to enhance DOJ operations and law enforcement projects that have a strong nexus to the agency – just like upgrading TIME to enable real-time access to DOT photos.

Electronic access to DOT photos makes DOJ better and I believe it makes local law enforcement and the communities they protect safer. I am hopeful this bill will become law.

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