ATLANTA - A new law that goes into effect January 1 will require drivers to give the state their Social Security Numbers to get a driver's license. <br>
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The law is part of a federal effort to catch parents who will not pay child support. <br>
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The data collected from license applications will go into a database the state will use to track down parents who are not meeting their obligations. <br>
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States are required under the 1996 welfare reform act to collect the data or face a loss of federal money, but they were given time to get the system up and running. <br>
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Department of Motor Vehicle Safety spokeswoman Susan Sports says applicants do not have to bring their Social Security cards. <br>
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But they do need to be sure they give the state the correct number. A minor mistake could make the state suspect potential identity fraud. <br>
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Another law that takes effect January 1 could help people who celebrated New Year's a little too enthusiastically. <br>
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It says that people who have had too much to drink can leave their cars parked, go home and sleep it off and return for their cars before noon the next day without fearing someone will have them towed. <br>
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To be shielded from the tow truck, the car has to be parked in a paid, private parking lot that is within 500 feet of an establishment that serves alcoholic beverages.
