The "REAL ID" Act: A Real Nightmare For Department Of Defense

[Robbien]

If you watched or heard the congressional debate over H.R. 418, the "REAL ID Act of 2005," you might have thought this proposed law—which passed the House of Representatives Friday, February 11, 2005, by a vote of 261–161—was all about stopping terrorists from getting on airplanes. But you would be wrong. This bill—which sets new rules for state motor vehicle departments (DMVs) — promises to be a more of a nightmare for Department of Defense (DoD) than a deterrent to any terrorists.

Consider this language, which is found in the section creating federal standards for state driver's licenses and identification cards: "Beginning 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, a Federal agency may not accept, for any official purpose, a driver's license or identification card issued by a State to any person unless the State is meeting the requirements of this section."

No state currently meets the requirements of the proposed law, and it's unlikely that many will be able to comply within three years. The "REAL ID" Act would require, among other things, that each state create an expensive new computer system for issuing state driver's licenses and identification cards; obtain security clearances for its DMV employees; verify with the issuing agency the validity of each document offered by an applicant in support of a driver's license application; put digital photos on all licenses; print the principal residence of the applicant on the face of the license; ensure that all prior licenses have been terminated before issuing a new one; verify the immigration status of all applicants; and color-code licenses to show that the state has complied with the law. While all these goals may be laudable, achieving them any time soon is almost impossible, particularly within three years. And yet any license issued in violation of this law cannott be used "for any official" federal purpose unless a special waiver is granted by the secretary of homeland security.

. . .

At a time when federal and state budgets are under tremendous pressure, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates the cost of complying with "REAL ID" to be in excess of $120 million—$20 million more than the cost of complying with the legislation enacted last year in Public Law 108-458, the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. This CBO estimate, however, is probably a vast underestimate of the true cost of the proposed law. Worse, Congress has not agreed to pay for the required upgrades to state DMV systems, making "REAL ID" yet another "massive unfunded mandate," according to both the National Governor's Association and the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators. If the federal government isn't going to pay to implement this law, most states won't be able to pay for it without raising taxes—and all of their residents will be punished accordingly

. . .

Also, anyone without a passport or other federal ID prior to the effective date of the law will have difficulty obtaining one unless she can produce some other valid government-issued picture identification, such as a foreign passport. Strangely, this law will make it easier for foreigners or naturalized citizens to travel than nativeborn Americans: The law allows the use of a foreign passport, but bars the use of American state-issued licenses and identification cards.

and much more
http://www.ilw.com/lawyers/articles/2005,0502-stock.shtm

remember to call your representatives!!!!

[Rainscents]

1. This one looks like, American is being hijack by thugs.