FORTVILLE — The move began as a way to strengthen a rule requiring a photo ID to sign up for water utilities in Fortville, but it ended up doing away with that notion entirely.
Proponents of the change say a photo ID just isn’t necessary. But opponents say photos protect the town and its utility customers.
Fortville Town Council voted 3-2 on Jan. 6 on first reading to amend utility account regulations to not require customers to provide photo IDs when signing up for water, sewer and stormwater service. Becky Davis, Tonya Davis and Fritz Fentz voted in favor while Robert Holland and Libby Wyatt voted against.
Alex Intermill, Fortville town attorney, said before the vote that the intent of the town’s rules had been for customers to be required to present a photo ID when coming in to establish new service from the water, sewer and stormwater utility.
But the way the policy language was written raised a question over whether an ID without a photo could be used, Intermill continued. That led town staff to want the council to consider an amendment stating customers need “a valid state-issued photo identification, such as a photo identification card, driver’s license with a photograph, or a valid passport, a copy of which shall be maintained by the town.”
The substantive change, Intermill said, was an emphasis on “state-issued photo identification” and “driver’s license with a photograph.”
Indiana residents can get state-issued driver’s licenses without a photograph for religious reasons. On those driver’s licenses, however, it states “not for identification purposes,” putting it at odds with Fortville’s rules for signing up for utilities.
“I don’t know why we need a photo, because when they go to the (Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles), they require all that information to be sure that is the person that it is,” Becky Davis said.
Intermill said in the instance that led to the proposed amendment, the person looking to sign up for utilities was offered the opportunity to provide information to the town that they provided to the BMV that enabled them to get a driver’s license without a photo, but the person declined. The person also declined an offer to come before the council, explain their situation and seek an exception, he continued.
Holland said that could have ended in a situation that allowed the town to keep the rules it’s had while still allowing the customer to sign up for utilities.
“I think it’s a sound policy to know who you’re doing business with,” Holland said of requiring state-issued photo identification. “If somebody has one of those one-off instances, they can work with the town manager, the office staff or they can come to see us. I don’t think that’s going to happen very often at all, and if it does, they have an avenue.”
Wyatt agreed.
“Having a photo ID to be able to say who you are makes a lot of sense to me,” she said.
Becky Davis moved to change the rules to require utility customers to provide a valid state-issued form of identification, but not necessarily forms that come with a photo.
“There are people out there that don’t have photo IDs,” Tonya Davis said. “Not that that’s the best way to live your life, but there’s a lot of people that don’t have that.”
Fentz expressed support for requiring state-issued photo identification up until the vote, explaining afterward that he had a last-second change of heart and that Fortville was rare in its requirement for photo IDs.
Customers singing up for utilities in Greenfield must present photo IDs. Citizens Energy Group, which provides gas, water and sewer service in Indianapolis, does not.
Some Fortville residents who attended the meeting expressed disappointment with the council’s decision. Sonja Meyer said it could lead to instances of customers turning on utilities in other people’s names, not paying their bills and leaving victims with poor credit.
“I think it’s a bad idea not to have the photo ID,” Meyer said.
Sharon Beatson disagreed with the decision, too. She said while Fortville is small, it’s also growing and that requiring photo IDs would help utilities staff ensure customers are who they claim to be.
But Fortville Police Chief Bill Knauer said just because someone presents a photo ID, it doesn’t mean they are who they say they are.
“If I got a laminator and a good printer, I can make an ID and put your face on it,” Knauer said. “…I support whatever the council does, but I do want to make you aware that these photo IDs are cropping up and they can be falsified.”
