Opinion
Real ID disaster in the making
Story by Cedric Jacobson | January 29, 2008
Montana Kaimin
Get your passports ready, because soon your driver’s license won’t be good for anything more than a story to tell your grandchildren. Something that hasn’t received enough media attention recently is the REAL ID Act of 2005. Almost three years ago, this fiendish little act was appended to a bill whose primary thrust was tsunami relief. It passed with little discussion or fanfare, and the deadline for the big changes it mandates are just around the bend.
Under the REAL ID plan, current state drivers’ licenses will become invalid and will have to be rolled out anew. This new identification will be necessary for all things federal – including entering any federal building or boarding an airplane. In addition to standard information, these IDs will also have a barcode that contains all information on the card – which anyone with an appropriate scanner can gather. The Department of Homeland Security is also recommending the use of RFID tags as part of a border security plan. That’s right, they want your new license to broadcast your personal information over the airwaves, accessible to anyone driven enough to get around the meager security measures.
Homeland Security has further charged the state DMVs with verifying all of the information you give them. That means they have to speak with whomever issued your birth certificate, social security number and any other documents that you are required to show them in order to get your license. This is something that most state DMVs have neither the staffing nor the training to do. And we all know what happens when government agencies are understaffed and overstressed (think “going postal”). Plus, all of these documents will be retained in a digitally scanned format for at least ten years.
So far, we have some changes. But nothing too big, right? Wrong. A few more things follow, that should make you shudder. Homeland Security is requiring that states interconnect databases with all their licensed information, including criminal backgrounds of people holding those licenses. Also, these databases will presumably be able to access information from different federal agencies like the Social Security Administration. The stated purpose is for ease of verification of information and checking to see that another license hasn’t been issued elsewhere.
However, these implications are staggering. Not only is this leaving the door wide open for federal government access to very specific personal information, it is streamlining that process.
Also, think of the serious risk of identity theft. If someone were to gain access to one of these tens of thousands of branches nationwide, it is fair to assume that they could then obtain the information of any of the roughly 245 million citizens holding a license in the United States.
What about the cost of this mess? The Department of Homeland Security — and bear in mind that the federal government has a nasty tendency of lowballing prices — has estimated a cost of $23.1 billion over the next ten years. That’s right, billion with a B. Oh, and did I mention that this federal mandate to our states and territories does not come with any new federal funding? The states will have to bear the majority of this enormous cost. Luckily, in 2006 Congress was nice enough to make $40 million available to start the process. Good job, guys.
As hard as they might be, all these changes are necessary and are meant to keep us safe. At least that is what Homeland Security would have us believe. The original reason for this act came from the 9/11 Commission Report, which stated that more stringent ID controls would improve national security. Interestingly enough, the majority of the hijackers had valid identification that was based on a few initially forged documents; some even had valid passports. Oh, and you’ll never guess the next part. With a passport, you don’t need a REAL ID to get into federal buildings or board planes. Sounds like a pretty big loophole to me.
Also, with only two forms of federal ID allowed, the efforts of all forgers will focus on them. We simply cannot make these IDs forgery-proof. And just imagine the risk of one ID that can be faked being used for everything at a national level.
However, there is some good news. Last year, our state government made it very clear that we not only oppose the federally mandated system, but that we will not comply. Gov. Brian Schweitzer responded to the proposal being implemented in our state by saying “No. Nope. No way. Hell no.” He also recently sent letters to 17 other governors encouraging them to revolt against REAL ID as well. Plus, both of our senators have worked to stop this program at a national level. Sen. Jon Tester has referred to it as “a textbook Washington boondoggle.” (note: boondoggle is defined as work of little or no value done merely to keep or look busy — I had to look it up)
The federal government needs to actually work on the program on a step-by-step basis, not replace one broken system with another less secure, outrageously expensive, broken one. In the meantime, you’d better get your passport applications in; our Montana IDs will stop working for entrance into the country on Feb. 1, and for everything federal on May 11.
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Comments
Nice synopsis, but you forgot to mention that the governments of Mexico and Canada will also be part of this database sharing experiment. The reason we have to include the RFID is because of the United Nations ICAO. These wireless spychip can be read at distances between 20-30 feet away.
Posted by rob on 01/29/2008 at 8:43 am
I’ve hated the REAL ID Act since I first became aware of it. I don’t like the collection,paper copying,digitization and placement on a computer database of our most vital, personal identifying documentation by motor vehicle clerks. It smacks of a DOSSIER like you might find in totalitarian countries. This DOSSIER starts out basic but can quickly expand to hold all sorts of non-driving related items. To think that the Federal government will not want to take over these databases is laughable. Another problem with REAL ID is the deliberate lack of any limits or controls on its usage and expansion. CHERTOFF has recently said he envisions more uses [beyond drivers license] for these digital cards. Think about that. Just who may DEMAND a REAL ID for scanning purposes? Will we be required to “SCAN IN” at all sorts of places? This Act needs to be REPEALED--today and the lawmakers need to come up with a sensible replacement working with the American people, a not in secret.
Posted by David on 01/29/2008 at 1:39 pm
Hey Cedric, awesome information and I’m glad to see some media outlets disgusted with the idea of the REAL ID like I am. I live in North Carolina so sadly, our government does whatever the federal government tells it to do. After hearing of the brave effort of Montana’s governor, I want to move there knowing that I live amongst people with common sense. I heard that the 17 other governors that your governor sent letters to are responding positively to his requests and rejecting the REAL ID. Could it be that in the next couple years we could possibly see an uprising among states? Could it be that once again, we go through a battle over who should have more control, the state or the federal government? It’s interesting, and scary to think about but we need change. It’s not just what the REAL ID Act proposes to do that scares me, it’s the fact that I know the temptation of power for our federal government will be impossible to resist and they will push forward further to control the people more. It’s happened in the past and it will happen again. Awesome article sir.
Posted by Sam on 01/29/2008 at 5:45 pm
REAL ID is something both liberals and conservatives can hate.
realidwatch.blogspot.com
Posted by John R. on 01/30/2008 at 10:44 am
Thank you for bringing up this extremely important issue, it is very important and the only reason it is slipping behind everyone’s radars is because no one really knows about it. REAL ID is un-American and I hope that Montana’s government isn’t grandstanding and will actually stand against this. If I have to give up flying on planes to keep my civil liberties then unfortunately that’s a price I’m willing to pay. Besides, flying out of Missoula sucks anyhow…
Posted by James T. on 01/30/2008 at 12:53 pm
I can’t help but wonder who our new totalitarian dictator is going to be. Think back to 1941. Our fathers fought a world war against leaders of other countries that forced exactly the same thing on everyone under their authority. My own father was at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7th 1941, in North Africa during Rommel’s escapades and in Italy and France (all during WWII) helping to free people from this type of thing. From the end of that war in 1945 until very recently WE as a nation fought what was called the “Cold War” against a regime that required “papers” and permission just to travel around the country, and god help you if you tried to leave permanently or just travel to another country.
I find it very disturbing that we are now instituting the very policies that we spent over 60 years fervently fighting against. How soon will we have to show our “real ID plus our travel documents and official permission to cross borders” just to go to Oregon? (nothing against Oregon. It’s just a place I love to visit. I’d live there if I could. But then I might not be allowed to return to California to visit my kids.) How soon will we have to show written proof of intent to go from one state to another?
Another parallel I can’t help but notice here is 666. In most religious texts there seems to be a reference to a universal identification that all will be required by the Anti-Christ to wear or at least posses during his reign just prior to Armageddon. (which by the way a lot of people think is happening right now) In biblical times this was a tattoo of the numbers 666. Without it one would not be allowed to travel, buy food or even be employed. Now I’m not trying to say that the anti-Christ is in charge now but it stands to reason that in the age of high tech the old 666 would become an electronic I.D. card. This is much easier for the government keep tabs on. Just scan you real i.d. at any border crossing and you can instantly be allowed or denied entrance. Just pray that you don’t have the same name as some undesirable so and so because none of your other information will matter at that point. They just won’t take the chance that you might, by virtue of your name, be just as bad as that other guy. Imagine going from Sacramento to Salt Lake City by way of Phoenix just because some guy with the same name as you got caught cheating at Black Jack in Reno. I know all this might sound silly, but I hear you can be on a no fly list right now for the same reason.
I could go on but I don’t want to become too redundant. Suffice to say if we allow our government this kind of absolute power this will never end and we will be living in a cheap copy of the Soviet Union, or should we call it The Democratic Republic of America.
Posted by Brian on 02/02/2008 at 3:56 am
How about that,some real news!If more news of what should really concern the American people was printed, there would probably be a revolution.Like some news on the north American union,the transcontinental highway,the selling of our highways,the tagging and registration of our animals, just to name a few of the things big brothers doing for us.People are soon to forget,we are suppose to run the government,not the other way around.While they have our troops spread around the world frighting for the freedom of other country’s,our constitution is being riped apart and our freedoms taken away.Where’s the real news and who really controls it? I’ll be surprised if this is printed,since I’m just a poor working American who still believes in the constitution and what it stands for!
Posted by wm kelly on 02/08/2008 at 10:10 am
