http://www.timesunion.com

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New security rules for driver's licenses

By DEVLIN BARRETT, Associated Press
Thursday, January 10, 2008

WASHINGTON -- Americans born after Dec. 1, 1964, will have to get more secure driver's licenses in the next six years under ambitious post-9/11 security rules to be unveiled Friday by federal officials.
     
The Homeland Security Department has spent years crafting the final regulations for the REAL ID Act, a law designed to make it harder for terrorists, illegal immigrants and con artists to get government-issued identification. The effort once envisioned to take effect in 2008 has been pushed back in the hopes of winning over skeptical state officials.
Even with more time, more federal help and technical advances, REAL ID still faces stiff opposition from civil liberties groups.
To address some of those concerns, the government now plans to phase in a secure ID initiative that Congress passed into law in 2005. Now, DHS plans a key deadline in 2011, and then further measures to be enacted three years later, according to congressional staffers who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because an announcement had not yet been made. DHS officials briefed legislative aides on the details late Thursday.
Without discussing details, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff promoted the final rules for REAL ID during a meeting Thursday with an advisory council.
"We worked very closely with the states in terms of developing a plan that I think will be inexpensive, reasonable to implement and produce the results," he said. "This is a win-win. As long as people use driver's licenses to identify themselves for whatever reason there's no reason for those licenses to be easily counterfeited or tampered with."
In order to make the plan more appealing to cost-conscious states, federal authorities drastically reduced the expected cost from $14.6 billion to $3.9 billion, a 73 percent decline, according to Homeland Security officials familiar with the plan.
The American Civil Liberties Union has fiercely objected to the effort, particularly the sharing of personal data among government agencies. The DHS and other officials say the only way to make sure an ID is safe is to check it against secure government data; critics like the ACLU say that creates a system that is more likely to be infiltrated and have its personal data pilfered.
In its written objection to the law, the ACLU claims REAL ID amounts to the "first-ever national identity card system," which "would irreparably damage the fabric of American life."
The Sept. 11 attacks were the main motivation for the changes.
The hijacker-pilot who flew into the Pentagon, Hani Hanjour, had a total of four driver's licenses and ID cards from three states. The DHS, which was created in response to the attacks, has created a slogan for REAL ID: "One driver, one license."
By 2014, anyone seeking to board an airplane or enter a federal building would have to present a REAL ID-compliant driver's license, with the notable exception of those more than 50 years old, Homeland Security officials said.The over-50 exemption was created to give states more time to get everyone new licenses, and officials say the risk of someone in that age group being a terrorist, illegal immigrant or con artist is much less. By 2017, even those over 50 must have a REAL ID-compliant card to board a plane.
Among other details of the REAL ID plan:
--The traditional driver's license photograph would be taken at the beginning of the application instead of the end so that should someone be rejected for failure to prove identity and citizenship, the applicant's photo would be kept on file and checked in the future if that person attempted to con the system again.
--The cards will have three layers of security measures but will not contain microchips as some had expected. States will be able to choose from a menu which security measures they will put in their cards.
Over the next year, the government expects all states to begin checking both the Social Security numbers and immigration status of license applicants.
Most states currently check Social Security numbers and about half check immigration status. Some, like New York, Virginia, North Carolina and California, already have implemented many of the security measures envisioned in REAL ID. In California, for example, officials expect the only major change to adopt the first phase would be to take the photograph at the beginning of the application process instead of the end.
After the Social Security and immigration status checks become nationwide practice, officials plan to move on to more expansive security checks, including state DMV offices checking with the State Department to verify those applicants who use passports to get a driver's license, verifying birth certificates and checking with other states to ensure an applicant doesn't have more than one license.
A handful of states have already signed written agreements indicating plans to comply with REAL ID. Seventeen others, though, have passed legislation or resolutions objecting to it, often based on concerns about the billions of dollars such extra security is expected to cost.

http://www.dailygazette.com

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Feds to unveil new driver’s license rules today
Program meant to deter terrorists, illegal immigrants
BY DEVLIN BARRETT The Associated Press

    WASHINGTON — Americans born after Dec. 1, 1964, will have to get more secure driver’s licenses in the next six years under ambitious post-9/11 security rules to be unveiled today by federal officials.
    The Homeland Security Department has spent years crafting the final regulations for the REAL ID Act, a law designed to make it harder for terrorists, illegal immigrants and con artists to get government-issued identification. The effort once envisioned to take effect in 2008 has been pushed back in the hopes of winning over skeptical state officials.
    Even with more time, more federal help and technical advances, REAL ID still faces stiff opposition from civil liberties groups.
    To address some of those concerns, the government now plans to phase in a secure ID initiative that Congress passed into law in 2005. Now, DHS plans a key deadline in 2011, and then further measures to be enacted three years later, according to congressional staffers who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because an announcement had not yet been made. DHS officials briefed legislative aides on the details late Thursday.
    Without discussing details, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff promoted the fi nal rules for REAL ID during a meeting Thursday with an advisory council.
    “We worked very closely with the states in terms of developing a plan that I think will be inexpensive, reasonable to implement and produce the results,” he said. “This is a winwin. As long as people use driver’s licenses to identify themselves for whatever reason there’s no reason for those licenses to be easily counterfeited or tampered with.”
    In order to make the plan more appealing to cost-conscious states, federal authorities drastically reduced the expected cost from $14.6 billion to $3.9 billion, a 73 percent decline, according to Homeland Security officials familiar with the plan.
    The American Civil Liberties Union has fiercely objected to the effort, particularly the sharing of personal data among government agencies. The DHS and other offi - cials say the only way to make sure an ID is safe is to check it against secure government data; critics like the ACLU say that creates a system that is more likely to be infiltrated and have its personal data pilfered.
    In its written objection to the law, the ACLU claims REAL ID amounts to the “first-ever national identity card system,” which “would irreparably damage the fabric of American life.”
    The Sept. 11 attacks were the main motivation for the changes.
    The hijacker-pilot who flew into the Pentagon, Hani Hanjour, had a total of four driver’s licenses and ID cards from three states. The DHS, which was created in response to the attacks, has created a slogan for REAL ID: “One driver, one license.”

I guess the government feels that us older folk are not a threat to national security. It's hard for us to run with our walkers to get away.

No kidding.  I guess as one of the younger group, that means this is just another additional tax  fee on me.

I'm sure that they'll have to charge more for this license than they did before, I mean really, it's "special."  And unless you think that the state is going to give a lower price to the people who don't need this license, guess again.  You don't really think the people are able to look at your date of birth to give you a lower fee, since you license doesn't offer all the same stuff, do you?  

This is age discrimination against anybody born 12/1/1964 and after.  But I guess that's ok, if they can bring in more money.

I guess that is why Spitzer didn't follow through on his giving illegals drivers licenses. The Fed's were going to handle it anyways in their own way. I feel sorry for this younger generation. This will be Big Brother at it's best!

http://www.dailygazette.com

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Bush’s license plan draws criticism
    WASHINGTON — A new Bush administration plan to create national standards for driver’s licenses drew heavy criticism Friday from civil liberties groups, some Republican and Democratic lawmakers, governors, and the travel industry.
    The critics said the new licenses anticipated under the plan, which is aimed at screening out potential terrorists and uncovering illegal immigrants, could still be forged. They also complained that the program, known as Real ID, would be costly for states to implement, potentially restrict summer travel, and allow private companies access to the personal data of most U.S. citizens.
    But they also welcomed Friday’s official announcement that states have until May 2011 before they need to begin issuing licenses that meet the department’s new guidelines, and until December 2014 to begin replacing current licenses. Drivers over age 50 will not have to obtain new licenses until the end of 2017.

Dont think that this wont be tied into National Health care........ >

Your drivers license number will be your insurance policy number.  

Well, if NY takes enough time to get through the process of creating this (and I know how quickly they work), maybe I can at least save some money the next time I need to get a new license.

I'm with you shadow. They must look at us as harmless. Although don't be fooled. I'm sure that the government has all the information they need on us already.

It's seems funny how the day you turn 50, you are swamped with mail from AARP. So if AARP can find us all, the government certain can.

Quoted from JoAnn

I'm with you shadow. They must look at us as harmless. Although don't be fooled. I'm sure that the government has all the information they need on us already.

It's seems funny how the day you turn 50, you are swamped with mail from AARP. So if AARP can find us all, the government certain can.

And that is why they pandered to the largest voting group in the most recent elections.....they played the boomers like a well tuned instrument......

Where is the walk on Washington for freedom and peace and love......

We cant wait for Mr. Ms. Clinton to exhale(considering he supposedly never inhaled) and we cant wait for him to zip up his pants(considering he supposedly never had sex) --thanks to him, his wife will be spending alot of time at the plastic surgeons just to look better to the public and to be the best 'mommy' she can be to the American public when delivering her(NOT,they all eat at the same trough and come from the same think tanks) socialized medicine and the safer American Real ID


SHAME SHAME SHAME----SHAM SHAM SHAM

Between the background check for my pistol permit, the background check to work in a nuclear facility[West Milton, and Kapl] and the background check to work in maximum security prisons the government knows more about me than I do already.

And the public cant figure out where the taxes go....Are we close to Russian life???  Appearance is everything and the PR machines are loosing the battle of perception(at least in my mind)...the rest of America is watching American Idol???--I dont believe that......we just need a REVOLUTION......or a bathtub full of gin......

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The Sept. 11 attacks were the main motivation for the changes.

lie: $$ is the main motivation for the changes and the perception of safety(very easy to accomplish tracking taxes,pay,MD visits etc)
-public complains about how much $$ all those 'illegals' cost us
  -add a little 1/2 truth media by 'experts'
-government(think tanks) promote possibility of bombing/bio/economic attack etc
   -add a little dems fault/reps fault to confuse the issue only leaving fear in the wake with only 1 option left for the public
that is what ya call a well oiled machine.....1/2 performed by the receiver and the other 1/2 performed by the executer.......


Where are our American Doughboys and Rosie the Riviters????

I say back to barter system of service for items and items for service....leave out the $$......How about chickens?? Who's gonna track them??? Certainly not the FDA.......

http://www.dailygazette.com

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Real ID will be a real invasion of privacy

For those of you who are not aware, “Big Brother” has been taking steroids.
On May 11, the Real ID Act will be federally implemented. This means all 50 states will be required to have a wealth of information stored on their drivers licenses; from your birth certificate to your social security number. Without it, you won’t be able to board an airplane or enter a federal building without a strip-search.
    According the federal government, this ID is to combat terrorism and to keep us safe. Terrorists will always be able to obtain fraudulent documents one way or another. Real ID won’t be able to show evil intent, either.
    Departments of Motor Vehicles will have their hands full as well. They’ll have to restructure many of their computer databases, there will be longer lines, slower service and higher fees.
    Identity thieves will be in their glory. The creation of a single, interlinked database, as well as the requirement that each DMV store copies of every birth certificate and other documents presented to it, will create a “one stop shop” for today’s criminals. This could also be exploited by the private sector. Already, bars often swipe licenses to collect personal data on customers. Imagine when every convenience store learns to grab that data and sell it to data companies for a dime.
    Montana’s Gov. Brian Schweitzer has already told the federal government to take a hike, we will not comply. New York doesn’t have to, either. We need to stand up against “Big Brother,” and call our representatives and demand that they not allow this in our state.
    MIKE CROWLEY
    Round Lake

The government already knows everything about us now so what are we trying to hide from them?

Listening to the same people complaining about the real ID act and the illegal immigration " problem " in the same breath is  is rediculus-