Senator Crain Files Bill to Require Sex Offender Info on Driver’s License

State Senator Brian Crain has filed legislation to identify registered sex offenders on their state driver’s license. Under Senate Bill 1426, convicted sex offenders would be given 180 days after being notified by the Department of Corrections to get a new license reflecting their status as a sex offender or face cancellation of their license for one year.

“I simply want to make sure we are using every resource available to protect children from molesters and rapists,” said Crain, R-Tulsa. “The sex offender registry is already the law and is available to the public.
This bill simply helps utilize that information in a way that can help better protect our most vulnerable citizens.”

Sen. Crain explained one way of utilizing the bill would be for vendors or delivery services that may do business with schools or daycare centers to identify drivers who should not make deliveries to those locations.

“There are laws that are supposed to keep child molesters from working for such facilities, including safeguards such as criminal background checks. But what about other types of businesses that bring individuals in contact with children that don’t require such checks? This legislation provides greater protection by helping those businesses identify workers who shouldn’t be around children.”

In addition to the one year cancellation of a driver’s license for those who fail to update the document to
reflect sex offender status, violation of the proposed law would also be a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $200.00. If approved, the new law would take effect January 1, 2007.