The bill would have banned the future use of RFID tags on driver’s licenses
Oklahoma state legislators failed to override a veto by the state’s governor on a bill which would have banned the use of radio frequency identification tags in driver’s licenses.
"It made no sense to prospectively ban technology that can provide future benefits," said Paul Sund, a spokesman for Governor Brad Henry.
State representative Paul Wesselhoft called the possible use of RFID tags in licenses "a violation of our personal privacy," and said the technology would allow the federal government to keep track of individuals.
The House voted 69 to 19 to override the veto, seven votes short of the 76 needed for an override. The house had originally passed the bill 76 to 13.
Wesselhoft said that many lawmakers did not cast a vote, and that he may make another attempt to override the governor’s veto.
The Associated Press reports that Oklahoma doesn’t currently use the RFID technology, which would potentially allow medical information or emergency contacts to be accessed by scanning the tags.
The AP says the RFID bill is the eighth which has been passed by a Republican legislature, but that Henry, a Democrat, has vetoed. Henry has also rejected bills on abortion and gun control.
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