Posted on 01/12/2008 5:42:02 AM PST by kellynla
Millions of air travelers may find going through airport security much more complicated this spring, as the Bush administration heads toward a showdown with state governments over post-Sept. 11 rules for new driver's licenses.
By May, the dispute could leave millions of people unable to use their licenses to board planes, but privacy advocates called that a hollow threat by federal officials.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, who was unveiling final details of the REAL ID Act's rules on Friday, said 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 legislation.
Chertoff said that for any state which doesn't seek such a waiver by May, residents of that state will have to use a passport or certain types of federal border-crossing cards 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."
The plan's chief critic, the American Civil Liberties Union, called Chertoff's deadline a bluff — and urged state governments to call him on it.
"Are they really prepared to shut those airports down? Which is what effectively would happen if the residents of those states are going to have to go through secondary scrutiny," said Barry Steinhardt, director of the ACLU's technology and liberty program. "This is a scare tactic."
So far, 17 states have passed legislation or resolutions objecting to the REAL ID Act's provisions, many due to concerns it will cost them too much to comply. The 17, according to the ACLU, are Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Maine, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Washington.
Maine officials said Friday they were unsure if their own state law even allows them to ask for a waiver.
"It certainly seems to be an effort by the federal government to create compliance with REAL ID whether states have an interest in doing so or not," said Don Cookson, spokesman for the Maine secretary of state's office.
The Sept. 11 attacks were the main motivation for the changes: The hijacker-pilot who flew into the Pentagon, Hani Hanjour, had four driver's licenses and ID cards from three states.
The Homeland Security Department and other officials say the only way to ensure an ID is safe is to check it against secure government data; critics such as the ACLU say that creates a system that is more likely to be infiltrated and have its personal data pilfered.
Congress passed the REAL ID law in 2005, but the effort has been delayed by opposition from states worried about the cost and civil libertarians upset about what they believe are invasions of privacy.
Under the rules announced Friday, Americans born after Dec. 1, 1964, will have to get more secure driver's licenses in the next six years, over which time the new requirements would gradually be phased in.
A key deadline would come in 2011, when federal authorities hope all states will be in compliance, and the regulations would not take full effect for all Americans until 2017.
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, said Homeland Security officials familiar with the plan.
By 2014, anyone seeking to board an airplane or enter a federal building would have to present a REAL ID-compliant card, with the notable exception of those older than 50, 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 if someone is rejected for failure to prove identity and citizenship, the applicant's photo would be kept on file and checked if that person tried 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.
_After Social Security and immigration status checks become nationwide practice, officials plan to move on to more expansive security checks. State DMV offices would be required to verify birth certificates; check with other states to ensure an applicant doesn't have more than one license; and check with the State Department to verify applicants who use passports to get a driver's license.
Something NY gov. Eliot Spitzer found out the hard way, eh?
That is not going to happen. I do wish it would but that would require building a fence on both borders and inspection at our ports of entry. It is not happeneing now and it won't happen. An ID card doesn't mean security.
Baby Boomers are exempt. X and Y Gen’ers are more likely to be terrorists I guess.
Stupid commie lib bureaucrats.
Plastic? Are you kidding, or just out of touch? Most places take credit cards without blinking an eye. Just try writing a check without an acceptable picture ID, especially if you are “out of town” or “out of STATE”. We are all already on a “national data base”. It is called the IRS. There are times we stand and fight for our right to live our own life, and there are times we do what is needed to simply LIVE.
Gang, it’s classic HEGELIAN Dialectic.
Create a “problem” by throwing open the borders permitting millions of illegals in.
This creates a reaction by the indiginous population to “DO SOMETHING.”
Voila: The feds order up the NATIONAL IDENTITY CARD (which, BTW, is fully capable of being forged by those with the need and resources to do so —think Saudi Arabia here!)
The phrase “YOUR PAPERS PLEASE!” will soon become a familiar one here.
How special.
I haven’t shown an ID in years cash. I uses cash.
There is no doubt that the Govt. has most of my information which is actually booring. This is not the function of government. This is the UN at work for the NWO.
“That is not going to happen?”
One more 9/11 and don’t be surprised by what Americans will demand!
Borders will be secured, illegals & muzzies deported!
Well, not everyone lives like a hermit! LMAO
Some of us check books out at the library, rent videos and travel.
But since you don’t need an ID then you shouldn’t care whether one is required, no matter what kind.
I have been saying for years that that is the real reason for this immigration mess. And also, to drive the middle class down. This is also supplemented with dumbing down in the public screwel system so that our children are less competitive.
Look what Mexico is doing. As George Wallace said, There is not a dimes worth of difference in the two parties. Now he would have to rephrase that to two countries.
Look at the date of this article. Do you really think Mexico just happened to do this at the same time Bush was announcing this. Do you think there will be a difference in the cards? Where did Mexico get the techology for these cards? Secure? Wrong.
The internation solution with Mexico???????????????
Digital Identification Solutions lands Mexican Federal ID Contract
Monday, January 7 2008
Digital Identification Solutions Group, a leading international ID solutions provider, has won a major new contract from the Mexican federal government to produce a series of new, more secure ID card solutions for the government. They will be producing a 100% polyester contactless high-capacity chip card made and equipped with a crypto-processor as well as special Mifare emulation will allow the agency to store a large amounts of personal information, in addition to using in in a multi-application environment
I have great concerns as to how the “Real ID” will affect gun/ ammo purchases.
“How special?”
and how “special” was 9/11 for you...
“is fully capable of being forged?”
can you say “biometric?”
gezzzzzzzzzzzzz get a grip, if you have ever worked in your life, you have had a national ID; it’s called a Social Security card.
And if you’re that paranoid, you can always stay holed up in the corner of your bedroom in the fetal position. ROFLMAO
Interesting.....(and no, NOT a coincidence); this is a German-based company which also has locations in the U.S. and Mexico.
[08/23/07]Effective immediately, vps ID Systeme GmbH becomes a subsidiary of Digital Identification Solutions AG. The international leader in identification solutions acquires 100% of the Ettlingen-based software company. As a wholly owned subsidiary, vps will continue to operate in the market as a separate company. Through this move, the two long-time partners expect significant synergies to be generated in research & development as well as in sales and marketing.
"For us, incorporation into the Digital Identification Solutions Group means the acceleration of our company's growth strategy," explained Jürgen König, Managing Director and Partner of vps since the founding of the company in 1992. "Under the umbrella of the Digital Identification Solutions Group we will be able to provide even greater support to our international customers and partners, strengthen our market share and expand our sales and marketing channels." Jürgen König will continue to head vps with its 35 employees at the company's present location in Ettlingen, near Karlsruhe, Germany.
http://www.morerfid.com/details.php?subdetail=Report&action=details&report_id=3427
I'm digging into something at the moment about the military spying on Condi Rice/Able Danger/china.
bbs
So why didn’t you Left Coasters staunch the hispanic conversion of Mexifornia BEFORE we got to this point?
Given that you’re from LA, that is, of course, a rhetorical question.
Sounds more than interesting. I’m sure you’ll post what you find out....
It wouldn’t surprise me if this company doesn’t get the contract in the US. I guess we need an internation contract with Mexico to make sure our trucks can cross the border with Mexico. Look what free trade has brought us. LOL! /sar.
I don’t feel secure anymore.
Because, like has happened throughout the United States...if it was directly affecting the community wherein the invasion was occurring....no one else cared. They claimed that those who were sounding the alarm, were "rascists" or "bigots" or over-reacting. The same tactic continues to be used, but now on a national scale.
Nor I.
I’d like to know who the contact person is at this company, and who their contact person is at DHS.
There has to be money shifting between them.....
How are National IDs different than State IDs in this regard?
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