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Posted on 01/11/2008 1:32:19 PM PST by Calpernia
The Homeland Security Department today released the 284-page final rule for implementing the Real ID Act that would standardize the handling of personal information for driver’s licenses.
The release of the long-awaited final implementation regulations — the law was passed in 2005 — is expected to spur contracting activity on the program after months of uncertainty as federal officials were crafting the rule.
(snip)
The final rule also requires a 2-Dimensional Bar Code Machine Readable Zone, which DHS said is already used by 46 jurisdictions.
Under the Real ID Act of 2005, states must meet new rules for collecting, verifying, storing and publishing personal information related to driver’s licenses, and they must share the personal information of license holders with other states. The law generated substantial controversy due to its high cost and possible risk of identity theft and privacy loss.
Many systems integrators and IT contractors are preparing to assist state motor vehicle departments in upgrading their infrastructures to incorporate Real ID requirements. Many state administrators have been postponing those improvements until the Real ID rule was released, Grant said.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontechnology.com ...
Associated Press Excerpt:
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Friday that if states want their licenses to remain valid for air travel after May 2008, those states must seek a waiver indicating they want more time to comply with the REAL ID Act's new rules.
So far, 17 states have passed legislation or resolutions objecting to the REAL ID provisions, many due to concerns it will cost them too much to comply. The 17, according to the ACLU, are: Arizona , Colorado , Georgia , Hawaii , Idaho , Illinois , Maine , Missouri , Montana , Nebraska , Nevada , New Hampshire , North Dakota , Oklahoma , South Carolina , Tennessee and Washington state.
But Chertoff, as he unveiled final details of the REAL ID rules, said that where a particular state doesn't seek a waiver, its residents will have to use a passport or a newly created federal passport card if they want to avoid a vigorous secondary screening at airport security.
"The last thing I want to do is punish citizens of a state who would love to have a REAL ID license but can't get one," Chertoff said. "But in the end, the rule is the rule as passed by Congress."
(snip)
CNN Excerpt:
"CNN is reporting that the US Homeland Security Department has mandated Real ID for drivers licenses. According to the article, this will not include a 'chip', but a list of options by state. Despite legislation passed in various states and objections by groups such as ACLU, this appears to be a done deal. Without one of the new IDs you will be unable to board a plane after 2014 if you are under 50."
The list of States is somewhat amazing.
One of the reasons why I’m not sure how I feel about Real ID.
Just barcode my forehead and get it over with.
To make things simpler, the ID should be implanted into the right hand.
Many of us knew this was coming down the pike. Of course we were called tin-foilers for saying it.
The Indian and Chinese H-1Bs are going to make a fortune.
Many Americans object to the government forcing them to carry a national identification card, like many other countries do.
My idea is to require everyone to carry a passport at all times. If you are an American citizen, you will carry a US passport which can be used for all identification purposes. If you are a foreigner, you will carry your nation’s passport with the US visa noted in that passport.
If you are a legal immigrant and have permission to work in the US, your passport can be used for that purpose. Of course, illegal immigrants won’t have passports or visas giving them permission to work.
Under fifty? Child bearing years.
I’ve heard that about Federal Building access too.
Why not barcode the area you sit on?
Could one conclude then, that the Federal government is completely aware that there are many phony state drivers liscenses in circulation?
How about the states that demand driver ID's for VOTING. The Feds gonna clean that up too, since they are intimately linked?
“Two more people have been arrested, and 19 others are still wanted, for allegedly getting Rhode Island driver’s licenses that were falsified by two clerks at the state Division of Motor Vehicles.
The clerks had sent the licenses to dozens of illegal immigrants and suspected drug dealers who’d paid middlemen between $2,500 to $3,000 apiece to conceal their identity with a valid license, according to the state police. Some of the “customers” have since been rearrested on drug charges in various states — where their true identity was revealed by fingerprints — but others are on the run.”
The clerks immigration status was also “ in question”
So why do we even bother?
I remember that. But, it was this Real ID that trumped Spitzer and the illegal alien IDs though. Which is why I’m not sure how I feel about this anymore.
http://blog.newyorkcitycommunity.us/2007/10/28/the-steamroller-and-the-chertoff-license.aspx
The Steamroller and the Chertoff License
An MSNBC report said the final rules were estimated to have cut costs by 75%,
As far as the applicant goes I’m not sure what additional additional info above what they currently provide for a drivers license will be required of them. A birth certificate or passport I’d guess and that maybe basically it...
"Just barcode my forehead and get it over with."
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