States Challenge Nat'l Driver's License

[leobold1]

My Way News - States Challenge Nat'l Driver's License

Feb 4, 9:36 AM (ET)

By LESLIE MILLER

WASHINGTON (AP) - A revolt against a national driver's license, begun in Maine last month, is quickly spreading to other states.

The Maine Legislature on Jan. 26 overwhelmingly passed a resolution objecting to the Real ID Act of 2005. The federal law sets a national standard for driver's licenses and requires states to link their record-keeping systems to national databases.

Within a week of Maine's action, lawmakers in Georgia, Wyoming, Montana, New Mexico, Vermont and Washington state also balked at Real ID. They are expected soon to pass laws or adopt resolutions declining to participate in the federal identification network.

"It's the whole privacy thing," said Matt Sundeen, a transportation analyst for the National Conference of State Legislatures. "A lot of legislators are concerned about privacy issues and the cost. It's an estimated $11 billion implementation cost."

The law's supporters say it is needed to prevent terrorists and illegal immigrants from getting fake identification cards.

States will have to comply by May 2008. If they do not, driver's licenses that fall short of Real ID's standards cannot be used to board an airplane or enter a federal building or open some bank accounts.

About a dozen states have active legislation against Real ID, including Arizona, Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming.

Missouri state Rep. James Guest, a Republican, formed a coalition of lawmakers from 34 states to file bills that oppose or protest Real ID.

Though most states oppose the law, some such as Indiana and Maryland are looking to comply with Real ID, Sundeen said.

The issue may be moot for states if Congress takes action.

[Woodmonkey]

I never thought I'd say this, but I see a real need for national standards in getting drivers' licenses. As it is now, individual states set their own standards, and they impact the rest of the states.

Some states require little ID so illegals can get a driver's license, which is then used to acquire a Social Security card, get services, is used as ID etc.

States need protection from the states who give them out to practically anyone who shows up.

[leobold1]

Funny thing is...except for driving, my military ID is exactly what this is proposing. Hell, in a couple years its supposed to be set up so it can be used as a military credit/debit card, as long as you have a military bank (Navy Fed, Fort Sill, Marine Air Fed, etc). The whole problem is getting it all linked. The major banks have already signed off on it.

But the military is backward to the "civvies" out there, so its just par for the course.