The Ohio House of Representatives recently passed a bill that gives Ohioans the option to remove Social Security numbers from their drivers licenses.”What this does is make it optional,” said Rep. Ron “Mickey” Mottl (D-Royalton). “When you go to get a license, they have to ask you whether or not you would like to have your Social Security number on there or not.”Mottl introduced House Bill 422 after two constituents in his district had problems with their Social Security numbers falling into the wrong hands.”I had one person who had three credit card accounts opened in their name,” Mottl said. “I also had one woman have a car bought in her name.”Students at Ohio State are asked to put their Social Security number on many forms, such as class census cards and exams. In some cases, the number is used to identify a student.”This is the first step in preserving the right of privacy,” said Mottl, a 1996 graduate of OSU. “This makes it harder for people to tamper with your personal information.”Some states have Social Security numbers on drivers licenses and some have a personal identification number instead, Mottl said.”The Social Security number was invented to be your own personal number, not an identification number,” Mottl said.OSU no longer uses Social Security numbers on student I.D. cards.Three years ago students were given student numbers on their I.D.s, while students and faculty with older I.D.s have their Social Security number on them. Attempts to reach University I.D. Card Services for an explanation were unsuccessful.”I think the bill is a good idea,” said Nate Heiss, a freshman from Worthington majoring in engineering. “People can use them to get a hold of personal information, credit cards, checking accounts, and even use them on fake I.D.s.”House Bill 422 affects all Ohio drivers licenses, temporary permits, State I.D.s, and commercial licenses.”I think removing Social Security numbers is an excellent idea,” said Jenny Spencer, a sophomore from Cleveland majoring in political science and French. “Other forms of identification can be used. Everything is linked to a computer anyway and there is so much other information on a license.”House Bill 422 passed out of the House Transportation Committee unanimously. It is now in the Senate and waiting for the governor’s signature, Mottl said. The bill had many supporters that included both political parties.