Assemblyman Scott Wilk

Gov. Jerry Brown has signed AB 346 by Assemblyman Scott Wilk, designed to allow law enforcement personnel to confirm a motorist’s identity by requiring the driver to show his or her face during a traffic stop.

“The act of obstructing one’s face from law enforcement is a public safety concern and I am thankful the governor chose to sign this measure,” said Wilk. R-Santa Clarita. “AB 346 will equip law enforcement officers with the means to not only protect themselves, but our communities here in California.”

This legislation addresses a loophole in current law, which was brought to light by a routine traffic stop. Verifying one’s identity is a necessary component in traffic stops. A license by itself only provides evidence of the licensee’s identity; it does not establish that the driver and the licensee are the same person. AB 346, the “Identity Confirmation Act,” will require a motorist, who is lawfully detained in a traffic stop, to present his or her full face to a law enforcement officer as a part of the identification process.

“I am very thankful that AB 346 has been signed. With this legislation, officers and citizens can feel confident that the correct person is being identified through the use of a common sense approach to visually comparing their identification card to their face. This will speed up the contact process and provide assurances that the right person is held responsible for their actions and not have another person put in jeopardy. I am sincerely thankful to Assemblyman Wilk and his staff who made this a reality,” Chris Coulter, Past President of the Simi Valley Police Officers Association President.

AB 346 passed through the legislature with bi-partisan support. It will take effect on January 1, 2016.

Assemblyman Scott Wilk represents Simi Valley, the northern section of the San Fernando Valley and most of the Santa Clarita Valley.