Folks,

Federal law requires the States provide every resident with a new ID
card and maintain a database of these cards which will be accessible to
not only the Feds, but pretty much to anyone with a barcode reader.

The idea is to make you feel safer and free from worry about those pesky
Canadians that lurk pretty much everywhere.

The States are free to not participate in the program but that will mean
they will be required to place on the front of any card they issue as ID
(your driver's license, for example), "in bold letters", that the card
is not acceptable to the Department of Homeland Security and bearers of
that card will not be able to access Federal buildings or travel by air
beginning on May 11, 2008 though, because the job is so massive, the
Feds have extended the deadline until May 11, 2013. Nice guys.

     From the Feds: Definition of "official purpose" Section 201(3) of
    the Act provides that the term "official purpose" "includes but is
    not limited to accessing Federal facilities, boarding
    Federally-regulated commercial aircraft, entering nuclear power
    plants, and any other purposes that the Secretary shall determine."
    DHS proposes to limit the regulatory definition of "official
    purpose," at this time, to those purposes expressly stated in the
    Act -- accessing Federal facilities, boarding commercial aircraft,
    and entering nuclear power plants. /DHS, under the discretionary
    authority granted to the Secretary of Homeland Security under the
    Act, may expand this definition in the future. DHS seeks comment on
    the proposed scope of "official purpose," and how DHS could expand
    this definition to other federal activities./

Now, I know so many of you spend your summer vacations traveling to
nuclear power plants that all this just makes sense but, note the
italics. The Feds can change their mind - at any time - and add
virtually anything to the list.

The card must include your name, home address and other personal
information on the front and a machine readable barcode on the back.
There's talk of built-in radio tags as well so we'll always know where
you are at any given time. And while it's not in the original
legislation, Homeland Security is considering a standard format for
these new ID cards.

     From the Feds: Information on driver's licenses and identification
    cards. The following information would be required to appear on
    State-issued driver's licenses and identification cards: full legal
    name, date of birth, gender, a unique driver's license or
    identification card number (not the SSN), a full facial digital
    photograph, address of principal residence (with certain
    exceptions), issue and expiration dates, signature, physical
    security features and a common machine-readable technology (MRT).

Now wait, I know what you're saying, the Feds have denied any claim that
this amounts to a national ID card since they're not maintaining a
national database. Semantics! my dear Watson! Each state MUST make their
database available to a central network which screams NATIONAL to me.

     From the Feds: Database connectivity. States would be required to
    provide electronic access to specific information contained in the
    motor vehicle database of the State to all other States.

/"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

/Tell that to Timothy McVeigh.

     From the Feds: A frequently-heard concern relates to the amount of
    additional information the Federal Government will have about
    driver's license holders and what the Federal Government will do
    with that data. In fact, however, neither the Real ID Act nor these
    proposed regulations gives the Federal Government any greater access
    to information than it had before. Moreover, there is no information
    about a licensee that the Federal Government will store that it is
    not already required to store.

Of course. But, what they're not saying is that they can readily access
- cripes! anyone can readily access any of this information at any time
from any computer with a 'net access and a pass into your State DMV
office. So, while the Feds are not going to be *storing* this
information your state will be doing it for them.

Now, let's say you don't have a utility bill. What will the Feds accept?

     From the Feds:    
    . A valid unexpired U.S. passport.
    . A certified copy of a birth certificate.
    . A consular report of birth abroad
    . An unexpired permanent resident card.
    . An unexpired employment authorization document (EAD).
    . An unexpired foreign passport with valid U.S. visa affixed.
    . A U.S. certificate of citizenship.
    . A U.S. certificate of naturalization; or
    . A REAL ID driver's license or identification card issued
    subsequent to the standards established by this regulation.

You know, I always keep a copy of my great, great, great grandparents
immigration papers handy just for cases like this, don't you? And did
you catch that? You can use your REAL-ID card to get a REAL-ID card -
even though they do not yet exist.

NY State is already elbow deep with compliance but it would be quite a
thing if NY were to stop kissing the arse of Homeland Security and
decided not to play along. Can you imagine what it would be like at
Kennedy or LaGuardia if we didn't? If just NY stood tall (there are 22
states who have voiced "concern" and several have voted not to
participate at all) the Feds would have to come to their senses.

I didn't grow up being told this was a Free Country only to have that
freedom taken away by my own government.

Well, enough of all this. The Federal draft document outlining this
nifty proposal is online here
<http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/nprm_realid.pdf>.

As always, your comments are welcome. /(but subject to suspicion unless
you can provide a valid passport, proof of social security or a
permanent resident card.)/

JmG