Secretary of State Jesse White reminds Illinoisans to register with the Emergency Contact Database

Secretary of State Jesse White is reminding Illinoisans to register with the Emergency Contact Database, allowing the public to voluntarily enter their emergency contact information through the Secretary of State’s website at www.cyberdriveillinois.com.

The database, which was established in 2009 by Public Act 95-0898, currently includes the emergency contacts of more than 156,000 people.

That information is then made available electronically to law enforcement statewide through LEADS (Law Enforcement Agencies Data System).

“With recent news reports of missing or unidentified people, I wanted to use this opportunity to remind the public to always carry some form of identification with you and to register with the Emergency Contact Database,” White said. “My office created this database to help ensure that loved ones are promptly contacted should one of their family members or friends suffer an injury that renders them unable to communicate to first responders,” said White. “The Emergency Contact Database offers some added peace of mind.”

The voluntary database allows Illinois residents to enter information at www.cyberdriveillinois.com

for up to two family members or friends, including addresses and phone numbers should it be necessary for law enforcement to reach them in case of an emergency.

All Illinois residents possessing an Illinois driver’s license, instruction permit or identification card qualify for the voluntary program. Residents may list anyone in the United States as emergency contacts.

Only law enforcement will be able to access the emergency contact information once it has been entered into the database.

As part of a public awareness campaign, White’s office has distributed information cards on the program to all law enforcement agencies and public libraries statewide. Residents without access to a computer are encouraged to visit their local public library.

Illinois is just the third state to establish an emergency contact database, joining Florida and Ohio.