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US Announces Revised Plan for National ID CardsBy VOA News

11 January 2008



The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has released a revised plan for phasing in a national identification card program that was set to begin this year.

Passed by the U.S. Congress in 2005, the Real ID Act establishes national standards for drivers' licenses and government-issued personal identification cards to make it harder for terrorists, illegal immigrants and others to obtain or counterfeit.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff speaks at news conference in Washington DC, 11 Jan 2008At a news conference Friday in Washington, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said the phased-in program gives states greater flexibility in implementing it and extends the period of enrollment for citizens over the age of 50.

He estimates it will cost states about $8 to make a Real ID license.

The original program was rejected by 17 states partly because it was expensive. But the cost of the new plan has been reduced by more than 70 percent - from $14.6 billion to $3.9 billion.

The Department of Homeland Security says enrollment will be completed for all individuals under the age of 50 by December 2014, and for those more than 50, enrollment may be extended to December 2017.

But critics argue the ID program could put at risk the privacy of citizens, saying it creates a database of personal information that could be hacked into or otherwise compromised.

Lawmakers called for stricter identification requirements after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The Department of Homeland Security points out that the hijackers in those attacks obtained 30 drivers' licenses and used 364 aliases.



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A talk show host is reading an article that says they will use face recognition technology to check with the national database to see if the applicant is legal, has other drivers licenses, etc.



I think a national ID card is a good idea & can't see how it restricts my liberty. On the contrary, it makes it more difficult for criminal aliens to gain access to various services they haven't contributed to (legally) and don't deserve.



But it always chaps my ass when I see the federal gov't mandating expensive actions on the States without funding. The States should be able to opt in as they wish or Washington should adjust their bloated budget to pay for it.



Your thoughts?

I think for me, it will depend on what type of "personal info" is in their database. What will it be limited to? Overall I don't care for things like this but I need more details before I decide which way I am on this.

As for the states having to fund, I agree with you, Accountable.

I heard some states were not opting for this, which would cause travel problems this summer.

Travel problems?

This just pisses me off. I already have several forms of ID that state WHO I AM, WHERE I WAS BORN AND THE FACT THAT I BELONG IN THIS COUNTRY. If the Homeland Security Admin doesn't know who I am by now ----they are really screwed up in their paperwork.

Yes, I was watching Fox this afternoon. Maybe it was for a new form of driver's license-I was on the bike clocking about 85 mph at the time. But the report was saying it could be required by this summer, and have to be used at the airport for ID, and if you do not have it, you couldn't travel to some places within the US.

nvalleyvee;756978 wrote: This just pisses me off. I already have several forms of ID that state WHO I AM, WHERE I WAS BORN AND THE FACT THAT I BELONG IN THIS COUNTRY. If the Homeland Security Admin doesn't know who I am by now ----they are really screwed up in their paperwork.
Unless I read it wrong, it's not adding a card; it's linking the state DMV's together.

They already did that. My Bro got caught for attempted murder 5 years after the fact because they ran his DMV license in a different state. We won't talk about his stupidity - it was already linked 9 years ago.

That was it-the report said some states would not opt for it. Residents of those states would not have an acceptable card then, and would have travel difficulties. Airport check-in would need those cards, and not accept the regular driver's license.

Imagine the backup at the DMV for this, if everyone is required to go get one, within a few months? The passport situation and the delays occuring now are outrageous. I am lucky, anyone here has to drive down to DC to get their passports, which take about 9 months to process otherwise.

chonsigirl;756986 wrote: That was it-the report said some states would not opt for it. Residents of those states would not have an acceptable card then, and would have travel difficulties. Airport check-in would need those cards, and not accept the regular driver's license.

Imagine the backup at the DMV for this, if everyone is required to go get one, within a few months? The passport situation and the delays occuring now are outrageous. I am lucky, anyone here has to drive down to DC to get their passports, which take about 9 months to process otherwise.


I live in the 5th largest state with the bottom 5th in population. Imagine the turmoil.

Okay, this one's a bad idea. I still think we should have something that shows we're citizens, and it should be at no additional cost. Lord knows the gov't has enough of our money to foot the bill.

Did Acc agree with me?

nvalleyvee;756993 wrote: Did Acc agree with me?
Whaddayamean?? We usually agree. :-6 Libertarian, remember?

I remeber Libertarian..............OH cRap - I am one..........:wah:

This is required by the Homeland Security Act. Many States are furious over it. They don't want to spend the money necessary to run everyone through their driver license offices for what is going to be a very difficult process for many of them. People are going to have to prove they are who they are without the help of the drivers license they have used for that purpose most of their lives.

I am so against national ID caards. That is good for the illegals...............not for me.

Today from New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/12/us/12 ... ref=slogin

The airlines, in fact, are worried, because travelers with driver’s licenses from states that do not have a waiver would have to use a passport or a military ID, or face additional screening, including a pat-down.


(from the article)

Now, this is a definite infringement on citizen's rights. If the state they live in does not have an ID card, why should they be harrassed this way? Not everyone has a passport, I don't. I don't plan on going out of the country.

Military ID-I remember crossing the border once with my husband a few years back before he was ill. As soon as he flashed his military ID, they searched all my baggage! My children were thoroughly delighted, with smart comments about everything being laid out in the roadway, including unmentionables.

(from the article)The airlines, in fact, are worried, because travelers with driver’s licenses from states that do not have a waiver would have to use a passport or a military ID, or face additional screening, including a pat-down.
This is why I've always disagreed with gov't security for private airlines. The airlines should provide their own security. That way they can be as invasive or free as they want, reserving the right to refuse service.

chonsigirl;757116 wrote: Military ID-I remember crossing the border once with my husband a few years back before he was ill. As soon as he flashed his military ID, they searched all my baggage! My children were thoroughly delighted, with smart comments about everything being laid out in the roadway, including unmentionables.
Those darned militant Canadians!

Given that the big complaint I here about the Illegals concerns them working and claiming benefits I wonder why the government chose to turn driving licences into ID cards rather than issue social security cards?

Also, why drivers licences for ID cards when drivers licences are not universal - too many people do not drive and it's too easy to claim that you don't.

As to the effectiveness of ID cards against terrorists, virtually zero - whatever you create they will learn to counterfeit.