Will Driver’s Licenses Have Real Security?
The Real ID Act, which requires each state’s department of motor vehicles to verify identification and citizenship or legal residency of any driver’s license applicant, concerns state officials due to the costs and complexities associated with implementation.
Before a driver’s license is issued, applicants must provide documents showing their full legal name, birthdays, and preferably with photo as well as offer documents showing residency and Social Security eligibility. Each document must be verified with issuing agencies, and a copy of the documents must be digitally maintained.
The driver’s licenses themselves will contain identification data, a photo, and a signature, as well as other security features. The act also mandates that the driver’s license information be entered into a state database that is then shared with other states.
States must be in full compliance with the Real ID Act by May 2008 or else citizens cannot enter federal buildings or other protected areas.
The Department of Homeland Security will soon release regulations concerning implementation of the act in order to clarify what documents are acceptable.
Although states received $100 million in funding to implement the act, National Conference of State Legislatures believe the real cost, including equipment, upgrades, storage, employee training, and overtime pay, will total up to $750 million.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from Security Management (09/05) Vol. 49, No. 9, P. 36; Grasser, Eric .
