Real ID Act will make forging state IDs more difficult for college students - but life looks to get easier for U.S. alcohol vendors
Arrash Baghaie
Issue date: 4/10/08 Section: Features
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The Real ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005 with the intention of tightening security on state driver's licenses and identification cards within the coming months.
Contrary to some of the hype surrounding it, the Real ID Act does not propose the creation of a national ID card, but sets national standards for state ID cards.
The requirements under the Act include improving screening methods for those who can obtain state IDs, requiring more documentation to be presented with ID applications, requiring that states materially improve their IDs to protect against forgery, tampering and counterfeiting, and, more controversially, requiring that all states make their IDs universally scannable - a provision that may spell doom to underage drinkers with fake IDs.
Sophomore Laina Rosebrock was unperturbed by the threatened loss of fake IDs. "I'm sure some people would really dislike that," Rosebrock said. "But personally, I don't feel the need to get a fake ID."
Among states, the Act has garnered serious opposition, most vehemently from Montana, Maine and New Hampshire. Because of complaints and noncompliance from a host of states, the original May 2008 deadline for states to adopt ID regulations has been extended to December 2009 - but some states still refuse to participate, regardless of extensions.
These states, along with civil libertarians, find fault with the program, claiming that the standards called for effectively add up to a national ID card and that the improvements are too costly and burdensome to complete. The federal government, in response, has maintained that after its final deadline, it will not accept noncompliant state IDs for federal business.
Rosebrock said she does not believe that the federal government is unnecessarily infringing on states' rights in this case.
"It doesn't seem like [the federal government is] treading past [its] boundaries," she said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
John R.
posted 4/10/08 @ 11:31 AM EST
A. REAL ID networks all 50 state databases into one network. This is a national network.
B. REAL ID creates a powerful platform for an innumerable regulations on the individual. (Continued…)
Chris
posted 4/10/08 @ 2:44 PM EST
Yeah I def have to agree with John here. One thing he didn't mention though is that this Real ID database will also be shared with Canada and Mexico.
Also think about this. (Continued…)
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