Tougher Standards for Driver's Licenses?

Tougher standards for driver's licenses?

The Bush administration yesterday issued its long-awaited plan to thwart terrorism by tightening identification standards for driver's licenses, potentially forcing 23 million Californians to trek to the Department of Motor Vehicles to provide more proof of who they are and pay more money when renewal time rolls around.

"Raising the security standards on driver's licenses establishes another layer of protection to prevent terrorists from obtaining and using fake documents to plan or carry out an attack," Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said in a statement accompanying the release of the 162-page set of proposed rules.

Under the proposal, 200 million Americans will have to apply in person for licenses when the new verification standards would become effective no later than Jan. 1, 2010.

Homeland Security estimates that applicants will spend nearly 56 million hours annually, or 44 minutes each, tracking down identity documents and standing in line; they will pay $171 million a year just to find acceptable identification.

Technically, compliance by states is voluntary. However, licenses that do not meet federal standards could not be used to board commercial aircraft or enter federal buildings.

Moving to avoid a growing rebellion in state houses, Homeland Security has offered to extend the original May 2008 deadline by 18 months to give states more time to upgrade computer networks and bring on more employees.

Under the proposal, motorists will have to bring proof of identity, including a birth certificate and Social Security number when applying for a license. A passport also may be used.

Applicants also must provide confirmation of residency, such as a utility bill. The information would have to be verified by employees with access to a computer network linking records kept in all 50 states.

In California, first-time applicants are currently required to provide a birth certificate and Social Security card. However, renewals usually can be handled over the Internet or by mail without the need for identification documents.

The proposal would allow some renewals by mail or over the Internet, but only if that particular state has maintained verified copies of the original documents used when applicants obtained their last license. California does not have those records.

"This is something we're still looking into," said Mike Marando, a spokesman for the Department of Motor Vehicles.

California has estimated the tab at $500 million over the next few years. That includes hiring 500 employees and opening dozens of field offices to ease an expected crunch of 2.5 million applicants every year. No decision has been made, but the $27 license fee is expected to jump.

States estimate that compliance will cost $11 billion over the next 10 years - money few have, according to the National Governors Association. The Bush administration and Congress have committed just $40 million so far to implement the program, called the Real ID Act.

"Are we getting $11 billion worth in real improvement in identifying citizens or is this just yet another feel-good piece of legislation at inordinate cost to the states that, in the end, all it's going to do is raise the price of the average driver's license for the average American?" said Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, a Democrat.

In another concession, the Bush administration proposes allowing states to spend up to 20 percent of their now-restricted Homeland Security grant money to implement the license program. That would mean less than $10 million of the $47 million California received in homeland security grants last year.

"We believe the Real ID Act has merit, but we have real concerns for California," said DMV's Marando. "There are three areas of concern: time, funding and privacy."

The act has ignited protests over privacy concerns and some civil libertarians warn that it is just one step away from a national identification card.

But it's a price worth paying, according to many, including Rep. Brian Bilbray, R-Carlsbad.

"This is the minimum we should be asking of the states in the effort to keep terrorists from threatening national security," Bilbray said. "After all, the states and the federal government lost trillions of dollars in the last incident, on 9/11. It's worth it for all of us to contribute our part."

The American Civil Liberties Union contends the proposed regulations could expose citizens to unwarranted invasions of privacy.

For example, a 50-state connected network of personal information containing Social Security numbers, birth certificate information and other data could be easily breached, said Kevin Keenan, executive director of the ACLU office in San Diego.

"It's a treasure trove for identification thieves," Keenan said.

The federal effort, Keenan said, puts too much of the onus on states that might not have the resources or expertise to safeguard such a vast information storage system.

Homeland Security officials "are washing their hands of protecting our privacy and dumping an impossible job on the states," he said.

In its proposed rules, Homeland Security recommended that states not use radio frequency identification technology to protect privacy. The RFID technology can embed information in licenses, but may be accessible by others using remote hand-held readers.

Homeland Security also disputed claims that a national ID card is the ultimate goal, pointing out that the information and licenses will be under the control of the states.

On another contentious front, Homeland Security recommended distinct "driving only" documents for those who cannot meet the federal identification standards. That way, a license to drive can be issued but not used to board planes or enter federal buildings.

In California, debate continues to rage over whether the state should allow driving-only documents for people who cannot prove they are in this country legally. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed past measures that would allow illegal immigrants to obtain licenses, saying he wants to wait until the Bush administration fleshes out national policy.

Congress adopted legislation calling for tighter licensing standards in 2005. Advocates noted that two of the 19 hijackers on Sept. 11, 2001, had phony licenses, which helped them buy tickets, rent cars and board the ill-fated planes.

http://www.house.gov/list/speech/ca50_bilbray/3022007.html