http://www.eastsidejournal.com/sited/retr_story.pl/30645 ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Thousands have SSNs removed from database - 3,000 beat deadline; 400 others denied 2000-10-03 by Dean A. Radford Journal Reporter Nearly 3,000 residents beat the Sunday deadline to ask the state Department of Licensing to remove their Social Security numbers from the department's database. The requests were made after citizens learned through news reports that the state was collecting the numbers to comply with a federal law cracking down on dead-beat parents who are not making their child support payments. Most felt the collection was a violation of their privacy. ``It's something you don't want to give up unless you have to,'' said Marie Sullivan, a department spokeswoman. She adds, however, that ``we are going to do our darnedest to protect this.'' The state will collect the numbers again when people renew their driver's licenses. As of Sunday, it's now mandatory that residents give their Social Security numbers when applying for a new license, for a renewal or a replacement. The state Department of Social and Health Services will use the numbers to help identify parents behind in child-support payments. The state has posted small signs explaining the new law in seven languages at the counters of local offices. The law also applies to most other licenses, including hunting and fishing licenses, although the state won't collect those numbers until next spring. Another 400 requests missed the deadline and those senders will receive a message from the state that their requests can't be granted. Anyone who e-mailed or mailed a request will be notified if it was granted or denied. The licensing department set up a special e-mail address to make the requests but is still checking the time and date on requests made to other department addresses. _________________________________________________________________ Eastside Journal 1705 132nd Avenue N.E. Bellevue, WA 98005-2251 Phone: 425-455-2222 Fax: 425-635-0602 All materials Copyright © 2000 Horvitz Newspapers, Inc.