Nope. Another factual inaccuracy in the article. States will issue Real ID compliant IDs as both Driver's Licenses and non-driver, state issued IDs. You will also likely be able to get a non-compliant DL for less $ if you chose. You can also always use a Passport instead if you choose.
The Federal Govt. will NOT be issuing a Federal ID: each state will continue to issue IDs that if they meet the requirements of Real ID, the Federal Govt. will accept as proof of identity
This is NOT mandatory either for the states to issue a Real ID or any person to obtain one
According to the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, age is only a "protected class" if you are discriminated AGAINST and are 40 or older. It's ok to discriminate based on age if the person is under 40.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protected_class
I agree, there is no mandate here. Real ID is simply a standard process, set of data, and security features applied to the issuance of a DL/ID. Passports are federal IDs and are therefore already accepted for federal purposes. STATE issued DL/IDs are not and must meet the Real ID standard if the Feds are to accept them as proof of ID.
People are getting WAY too knee-jerk emotional about this rather than taking the time to read and understand what the regulations say. Statements "Without one of the new IDs you will be unable to board a plane after 2014 if you are under 50" aren't factually accurate: you can continue to use a passport or other federal ID as well.
People hear the term "National ID" (which Real ID is not) and instantly think Nazi Germany or Stalinist Russia and throw up their hands in disgust rather than trying to actually understand what Real ID actually is(which admittedly does take more effort).
Myth: This will be a National ID that all citizens will be required to obtain. Fact: Each state will continue to issue IDs. There will be little if any change in the actual card itself in most states. No one will be required to obtain a Real ID.
Myth: The card will contain a "chip" that will allow the govt. to track individuals. Fact: The Act calls for a "machine readable" technology. DHS has explicitly ruled out RFID tags and other chips in favor of 2D barcodes.
Myth: The MRZ on the card will not be encrypted and susceptible to skimming. Fact: 46 states currently use the 2D barcodes. None are encrypted. The information on the MRZ is exactly the same information found unencrypted on the front of the card (It's even readable by people!).
Myth: All DL information will be housed in one giant database which will make it easier for identity thieves to steal your identity Fact: Each state will continue to operate independent databases. States will be required to check with other states to ensure that a person only has one valid ID at a time.
The 9/11 Commission endorsed the REAL ID requirements, noting that "For terrorists, travel documents are as important as weapons... All but one of the 9/11 hijackers acquired some form of identification document, some by fraud. Acquisition of these forms of identification would have assisted them in boarding commercial flights, renting cars, and other necessary activities."
Recommendation: The U.S. border security system should be integrated into a larger network of screening points that includes our transportation system and access to vital facilities, such as nuclear reactors. The President should direct the Department of Homeland Security to lead the effort to design a comprehensive screening system, addressing common problems and setting common standards with systemwide goals in mind. Extending those standards among other governments could dramatically strengthen America and the world's collective ability to intercept individuals who pose catastrophic threats.
Here are a few ways how changes made as a result of Real ID will improve security:
Standard levels of identity-proofing prior to issuing and ID (States are all over the place with this right now)
Verify identity documents with the issuing entity. If someone brings you a passport, verify with DOS that they actually issued one to the person. Same with SSOLV, SAVE, EVVE, etc.
Requiring that a person is in the country legally prior to issuing an ID or set the expiration date on the ID to the last day the person is permitted in the US (had this been done prior to 9/11, several of the terrorists whose visas had expired would not have been able to obtain valid IDs which they used make preparations and board planes)
Ensure "one person, one license" by checking with other states prior to issuing an ID (this is a major problem not just for combating terrorism but for identity theft as there have been numerous instances where a person has obtained multiple licenses under multiple names for the purpose of fraudulently obtaining credit)
Photo first- Capture an applicant's photo at the begining of the process. If the person later presents fraudulent documents and skips out, there is a photo record of the individual.
Standardize the information appearing on the IDs (things like first and last name, DOB, DL#, address, etc. are standard)
Want further proof? Have you read the DHS Draft Regulations for Real ID (link above)? I'm doubtful...If not, read it before demanding proof of something you haven't even spent the effort to look into.
It's all about risk. A person that did something bad in the past (a crime, defaulted on a loan, misrepresented a product) is much more likely to do something bad again in the future. Conversely, there is much less risk when dealing with a person who has done little to no bad things in the past (no crimes, paid debts on time, postive feedback). This system actually does work well provided that each person has only a single ID, the person is adequately authenticated, and that a person's record is accurate, secure, and fairly managed.
I agree that confirming a person's identity is not sufficient. However, establishing a person's ID does help you determine a person's intent based on previously documented behavior. It's the model on which the criminal justice system (criminal record), capitalist system (credit record), and even eBay (feedback record) are based.
You are right on. The discussion of identities in the US is a very emotionally charged issue(i.e. not rational). When the average American hears "National ID" they instantly think of how they were utilized by Nazi Germany or Stalinist Russia to carry out atrocities rather than all of the positives and practical aspects you outlined.
That's actually not true. Several of the terrorists were not in the US legally (expired visas etc.) and some used fraudulently obtained documentation to obtain drivers licenses.
If funding is really the main issue, why don't we just buy a few less Stealth Bombers which cost roughly $2B a piece.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-2_Spirit A secure ID would help keep us much safer than a few extra bombers. Bombers didn't help us much on 9/11 but it is likely that a secure ID would have made it much more difficult for the terrorists and may have prevented the attacks altogether.
It may actually be cheaper for some states (especially smaller ones) to not comply and have their citizens obtain US Passports if they want to fly. Sometimes we forget that many people never fly and that over 25% of Americans already have a US Passport.
Also, Federal employees won't need a Real ID to access Federal facilities. They'll already have a Federal ID issued under Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12).
This is not a state's rights issue. The Federal Govt. is not forcing the States to comply. They are however setting an identification standard for Federal use. Federal use includes going through TSA security at airports etc. You can always get a federally issued ID (like a passport) for this purpose if you wish.
If a state wants to issue DLs printed on copy paper typed out on a typewriter with no breeder documents required that's fine; just don't expect the Federal Govt. to let you use that to identify yourself to them.
Slashdot Mirror
Just get a passport!
Nope. Another factual inaccuracy in the article. States will issue Real ID compliant IDs as both Driver's Licenses and non-driver, state issued IDs. You will also likely be able to get a non-compliant DL for less $ if you chose. You can also always use a Passport instead if you choose.
But don't see what the fuss is about either...
According to the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, age is only a "protected class" if you are discriminated AGAINST and are 40 or older. It's ok to discriminate based on age if the person is under 40. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protected_class
I agree, there is no mandate here. Real ID is simply a standard process, set of data, and security features applied to the issuance of a DL/ID. Passports are federal IDs and are therefore already accepted for federal purposes. STATE issued DL/IDs are not and must meet the Real ID standard if the Feds are to accept them as proof of ID.
People are getting WAY too knee-jerk emotional about this rather than taking the time to read and understand what the regulations say. Statements "Without one of the new IDs you will be unable to board a plane after 2014 if you are under 50" aren't factually accurate: you can continue to use a passport or other federal ID as well.
People hear the term "National ID" (which Real ID is not) and instantly think Nazi Germany or Stalinist Russia and throw up their hands in disgust rather than trying to actually understand what Real ID actually is(which admittedly does take more effort).
Myth: This will be a National ID that all citizens will be required to obtain.
Fact: Each state will continue to issue IDs. There will be little if any change in the actual card itself in most states. No one will be required to obtain a Real ID.
Myth: The card will contain a "chip" that will allow the govt. to track individuals.
Fact: The Act calls for a "machine readable" technology. DHS has explicitly ruled out RFID tags and other chips in favor of 2D barcodes.
Myth: The MRZ on the card will not be encrypted and susceptible to skimming.
Fact: 46 states currently use the 2D barcodes. None are encrypted. The information on the MRZ is exactly the same information found unencrypted on the front of the card (It's even readable by people!).
Myth: All DL information will be housed in one giant database which will make it easier for identity thieves to steal your identity
Fact: Each state will continue to operate independent databases. States will be required to check with other states to ensure that a person only has one valid ID at a time.
I guess you didn't bother to read it. I'm done.
It's all about risk. A person that did something bad in the past (a crime, defaulted on a loan, misrepresented a product) is much more likely to do something bad again in the future. Conversely, there is much less risk when dealing with a person who has done little to no bad things in the past (no crimes, paid debts on time, postive feedback). This system actually does work well provided that each person has only a single ID, the person is adequately authenticated, and that a person's record is accurate, secure, and fairly managed.
A State issued ID(sans driving priv.). All states currently issue them as well and will continue to regardless of REAL ID.
I agree that confirming a person's identity is not sufficient. However, establishing a person's ID does help you determine a person's intent based on previously documented behavior. It's the model on which the criminal justice system (criminal record), capitalist system (credit record), and even eBay (feedback record) are based.
You are right on. The discussion of identities in the US is a very emotionally charged issue(i.e. not rational). When the average American hears "National ID" they instantly think of how they were utilized by Nazi Germany or Stalinist Russia to carry out atrocities rather than all of the positives and practical aspects you outlined.
Legal and EXPIRED. At least this "fucking moron" can read...http://www.9-11commission.gov/staff_stateme nts/911_TerrTrav_Ch2.pdf
That's actually not true. Several of the terrorists were not in the US legally (expired visas etc.) and some used fraudulently obtained documentation to obtain drivers licenses.
If funding is really the main issue, why don't we just buy a few less Stealth Bombers which cost roughly $2B a piece.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-2_Spirit A secure ID would help keep us much safer than a few extra bombers. Bombers didn't help us much on 9/11 but it is likely that a secure ID would have made it much more difficult for the terrorists and may have prevented the attacks altogether.
/ information/benefits_of_a_secure_license/
"The 9/11 Commission recommended national identification standards for driver's licenses as a way to prevent future terrorism in its report to Congress." http://www.secure-license.org/cms/index.php/plain
It may actually be cheaper for some states (especially smaller ones) to not comply and have their citizens obtain US Passports if they want to fly. Sometimes we forget that many people never fly and that over 25% of Americans already have a US Passport. Also, Federal employees won't need a Real ID to access Federal facilities. They'll already have a Federal ID issued under Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12).
This is not a state's rights issue. The Federal Govt. is not forcing the States to comply. They are however setting an identification standard for Federal use. Federal use includes going through TSA security at airports etc. You can always get a federally issued ID (like a passport) for this purpose if you wish. If a state wants to issue DLs printed on copy paper typed out on a typewriter with no breeder documents required that's fine; just don't expect the Federal Govt. to let you use that to identify yourself to them.