Did you know you can no longer skip the Department of Motor Vehicle's question about organ donation?
Transplant donor groups, such as Donate Life, in California pushed for the change, which went into effect July 1.
Local resident Sue Sunderland knows what it is like to wait for an organ donation. "I probably would have had to wait at least another three to five years for an organ."
Thankfully, her five year wait ended when her friend gave her a kidney.
There are currently more than 100,000 people just like Sunderland on the national waiting list.
In California, only 28 percent of drivers choose to give up vital organs after death, which his well below the national average.
In an effort to increase that percentage, people filling out the driver's license or identification card application can no longer skip question number seven.
"The big picture was to increase organ and tissue donation in the state," said Sunderland who is also the lead volunteer and local ambassador with Donate Life.
The way you answer the question is also very specific. It is either 'yes' or 'not at this time' meant to give people who are not sure time to think about it.
For Susan Otto, who checked 'not at this time,' time is exactly what she needed. "I know they do need donors and it sort of forces you to think about it and decide... I don't know, maybe I'll change my mind."
Others, do not give it a second thought. "I think it's a good idea. A lot of people need a lot of help out there," said Donor Aaron Shewmaker.
A spokesperson for Donate Life said it is too early to tell if the new rule is working to bring up donor percentages. The group should have a better idea by the end of October.
Click here for more information on organ donation.
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