Real ID Slipped Under the Radar: Where is America Headed?

On May 11, 2005, President Bush signed into law the “REAL ID Act of 2005,” which was attached to the “Emergency Supplemental Appropriation for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief, 2005” continued below...

...okay quick pause...who's NOT going to sign a Bill supporting the Global War on Terror, Tsunami Relief and Emergency cash for defense? Pretty sly I'd say.

... (H.R. 1268, P.L. 109-13). Title II of REAL ID—“Improved Security for Driver’s License’ and Personal Identification Cards”—repeals the provisions of a December 2004 law that established a cooperative state-federal process to create federal standards for driver’s licenses and instead directly imposes prescriptive federal driver’s license standards. The following table summarizes the act’s driver’s license title.

CLICK HERE for the official PDF table.

Let me however, pull out some key points from 3 bullet points below.

--The 1st basically says the optional switch to REAL ID isn't really optional after all. Try and travel without it!

A federal agency may not accept a driver’s license or personal identification
card (DL/ID) after May 11, 2008, unless the state has been certified by the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in consultation with the U.S.
Department of Transportation (DOT) to meet the requirements of the law.

--The 2nd if your license isn't a REAL ID, it will be flagged wit a unique color that allows the Federal Government to stop you from travel or whatever else you're trying to do, i.e.; open a bank account, apply for a mortgage.

In any case in which a state issues a DL/ID that does not satisfy the federal
requirements, a state shall ensure that that the DL/ID: (A) clearly states on its
face that it may not be accepted for federal identification or any other official
purpose, and (B) uses a unique design or color indicator to alert federal
agencies or other law enforcement personnel that it may not be accepted for
any such purpose.

--The 3rd says that states give up their rights to the Department of Homeland Security to set standards.

Grants authority to DHS to issue regulations, set standards, and issue grants under the law in consultation with DOT and the states.

National Conference of State Legislatures

State of Florida info on REAL ID

BOSTON GLOBE article

Recent BOSTON GLOBE article