The Washington State Senate has approved the use of facial recognition software for applications for driver's licenses, permits and ID cards. Calling it the session's most important bill for law enforcement, Senator Mary Margaret Haugen moved the passage of Senate Bill 6150, implementing the use of a facial recognition matching system to prevent people from attaining licenses or ID cards using multiple identities.

Sen. Haugen: “We will use facial recognition like 31 other states and this will prevent personal theft of your identity whether it be with an ID card, a driver’s license or a commercial driver’s license.”

Haugen says by measuring the precise distance between of applicants’ facial features, the Department of Licensing can match results against a massive database and know if an applicant has received a card under a different identity. During a pilot project, the facial recognition allowed the department to catch eight-to-twelve applicants with multiple identities a day.