REAL ID is an effort to combine driver's licenses and state ID cards into a national identification system as a way to support national security. It requires states to adopt federal standards for handling drivers’ personal information and to share that information with other states.
Beginning May 11, 2008, these ID cards became mandatory for all federal purposes such as flying on commercial airlines, entering government buildings, nuclear facilities or national parks, and more. However, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has extended full implementation requirements to 2011.
REAL ID licenses and cards must meet the following minimum standards:
- information and security features that must be incorporated into each card
- applicant's proof of identity and U.S. citizenship status verification of the applicant's source documents
- security standards for issuers of licenses and identification cards
While DHS believes that a federal ID plan will help fight terrorism and reduce fraud, many people see it as a way for Big Brother to keep tabs on its citizens.
Latest Developments
Background
The Real ID Act started off in the House, introduced by Representative James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) with 140 cosponsors. The House passed REAL ID by a vote of 261-161. This bill was later attached to the 2005 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief bill, which was passed by Congress and signed into law on May 11, 2005.
The deadline for REAL ID statutory compliance was May 11, 2008, although DHS has offered extensions to all states through December 21, 2009 in order to meet requirements. If certain benchmarks are meet at that time, a second extension will be automatically granted until May 11, 2011 to complete full implementation of REAL ID.
