National ID in Intelligence Reform Legislation

Free Congress Organization ^ | Nov 23, 2004 | Steve Lilienthal

[juggernut]

Found an interesting article concerning our driver's license becoming a National ID that is in the Intelligence Reform bill that will decided by the 108th Congress in a special session starting December 6. One of the mandates are states will be required to participate in the Driver License Agreement (DLA) as proposed by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA), a private corporation which is composed of executives from law enforcement, motor vehicle administrators.

The article is located at Free Congress Org.

Driver's licenses are a state matter which should not be dictated by the Federal Gov't. States with lax standards such as Virginia are already updating their laws.

Even with the suggestions of restrictions on data and penalties placed, the person who has their identiy stolen by such savory characters as Mexican law enforcement personal are still left "holding the bag" such as having to clean up their credit or even worse, false or trumped up traffic charges making its way to their state driving record which has bad ramifications such as increased insurance premiums or loss of driver's license thanks to the DLA.

Here are some excerpts from the article below:

Legislation in 1996 required applicants for driver's licenses to supply their Social Security numbers and some states even print the actual number on the card. Because some states fail to do a thorough job in verifying the identities of applicants for driver's licenses, a black market has been created for Social Security numbers in order to obtain driver's licenses under false pretenses. Generally, states have leeway to decide whether or not the Social Security number is displayed on the license.

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Furthermore, H.R 10 in Section 3053 on the "Linking of Databases" says that in order for the states to be eligible to receive grants they must "participate in the interstate compact regarding sharing of driver license data, known as the `Driver License Agreement,' in order to provide electronic access to a State to information contained in the motor vehicle databases of all other States." The provision leaves open the possibility that Canada and Mexico could be interlinked to this database because they are considered to be participants in the `Driver's License Agreement' that was forged by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, which represents both U.S. and Canadian motor vehicle administrators. AAMVA in its July 2004 Driver's License Agreement states that the jurisdiction of the agreement covers "A state, territory or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, a territory or province of Canada or any state of the Republic of Mexico of the Federal District of Mexico." While that is not the definition employed in the intelligence bills, it would be prudent on the part of Congress to add a stricture against allowing the State databases to be linked to those of Canada and Mexico.

At the very least a provision needs to be inserted mandating that no linking could occur until definite steps are taken by the Federal Government to ensure that both foreign governments have instituted serious steps to guard against fraud and identity theft of the information being accessed of U.S. drivers and serious penalties placed on those foreigners who alter information regarding our country's citizens or falsify information regarding their own citizens.

[ApesForEvolution]

Freaking GOP ain't got a clue...

[Congressman Billybob]

"A fed ID card does not protect the life of anyone"

Your words. You are aware, I presume, that one of the main attackers on 9/11 was stopped by a traffic cop, two weeks before the attacks? The cop sent him on his way, because he had a valid driver's license that made no indication that he was an illegal alien whose permit to be in the US had expired.

One of the "requirements" just struck out of this law would have required that ANY LICENSE FOR A LEGAL ALIEN WOULD EXPIRE WHEN HIS VISA EXPIRED. Almost 3,000 dead Americans are the proof that your statement is DEAD WRONG.

Billybob

[NMC EXP]

Your argument ignores the fact that there are an estimated 10 million "undocumented" (i.e. no ID card) aliens living and working in the US right now. You know, the ones Jorge wants to provide amnesty for.

How many of that 10 million are terrorists?

You also assume the next attack will involve a plan like the first which requires the attackers to open bank accounts, get credit cards, attend flight schools and buy airplane tickets. Things for which ID papers are required.

These people are ideological murderers.

They are not stupid.

The fedgov and the military are always fighting the last war and therefore screwing up the one currently engaged in.

Yes I am aware that one of 19 was stopped by a traffic cop. Surely you do not believe that finding out his ID paper was false would have prevented 9/11. THese people were suicide attackers. I doubt he would have confessed the plot while sitting in jail on immigration charges.

No your federal ID card plan would not have prevented 9/11. Hell, there were FBI agents and flight school managers blowing the whistle on the plot and nothing happened.

And the TSA screeners at airports still strip search and grope American caucasian females and give the 30 year old swarthy middle eastern types a pass.

Can't profile you know.

Tell me the govt cares about security of the average citizen.