[Infowarrior] - States Challenge Nat'l Driver's License

[Richard Forno]

States Challenge Nat'l Driver's License
 http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070204/D8N2UVDG0.html

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.