Phoenix City Council moves forward with universal city identification card program
Dec 17, 2015, 6:30 PM
PHOENIX — The Phoenix City Council voted Wednesday night to explore a city ID card for residents who do not have identification.
The 5-4 vote does not implement the ID program, but it allows the city to look for partners who could potentially manage the program.
Supporters hope the card could serve as an ID for those who do not have one. They also think the card can be streamlined and be used as a library card and a debit card among other uses.
Viri Hernandez with the One Phoenix ID coalition said it could help when it comes to reporting crimes.
“Because they don’t have an ID they haven’t reported crimes,” Hernandez said. “They haven’t reported being victims of abuse, being raped, living through domestic violence. That’s not OK.”
Alessandra Soler with the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona praised the city council’s vote.
“Without (an ID), many communities, including homeless people, transgender individuals and immigrants, are left vulnerable,” she said. “Most importantly, municipal IDs create safer neighborhoods by empowering people who are otherwise wary of interacting with the police to report crime.”
Phoenix city councilman Jim Waring, who voted against Wednesday’s night measure, said people without identification can still report crimes. He also said the program, which could cost around $5 million, is not worth the money.
“There was almost no return in investment and no savings, about $20,000 a year,” Waring said. “It would take us 200 years to get our five million back.”
A bill recently introduced by Republican state senator John Kavanagh, SB 1017, would allow Arizona cities to issue residents cards to access municipal services, but those cards could not be used as a form of identification. The earliest the bill could be heard in the legislature is Jan. 11.
