The agencies who will be responsible for implementing the provisions of the REAL ID Act, which requires upgrades to state driver licenses and identification cards to comply with federal regulations, said that the costs are likely to exceed $11 billion, and they want you to pay for it.
A report (PDF) released by the National Governors Association, National Conference of State Legislatures and the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, says that the costs of reissuing driver licenses and identification cards within five years, establishing on-site identification verification procedures and meeting security and production requirements for the new card will cost $1 billion up front, and $10.1 billion over the next five years.
The REAL ID Act, passed in 2005, requires states to issue identification cards which conform to federal requirements by 2008, or they won’t be accepted by federal authorities, and people won’t be able to enter federal buildings, airports or receive federal services. But the Department of Homeland Security hasn’t yet determined what the requirements will be.
Cost estimates for REAL ID compliance have varied, from millions of dollars right after the act was passed, to a $2.5 billion estimate released by a market research firm last month. The number just keeps increasing as time goes by.
In addition, complying with the act could double — or more — the time individuals spend obtaining or renewing their driver licenses and identification cards, the report said.
“The days of going to the DMV and getting your license on the same day are probably over,” said David Quam, director of federal relations for the National Governors Association. “You’ll have to take all your documents as if you were applying for the first time. What this comes down to is that more people will be in DMV offices spending more time to get an ID.”
The report, “The Real ID Act: National Impact Analysis,” does not say whether the cost of implementation will be passed on to drivers and holders of state identification cards. But Homeland Security officials said the price of similar new smart cards for 750,000 workers at ports and other transportation facilities will be about $140 each.
The State Department recently raised passport fees for adults to $97 to incorporate security into new e-passports, and a smart ID card for federal workers is expected to cost $100 to $150. — Washington Post
“The $11 billion question is, ‘Who’s going to pay for it?’” said NCSL executive director William T. Pound. “State legislators are eager to work with Congress and the administration to ease the impact of REAL ID and look forward to doing so.”
And how do they want to ease the impact? They want the federal government to pay for at least some of the implementation costs, and extend the deadline for states to comply with the act.
Welcome to the $100 identification card. One way or another, you’re going to pay for the card, whether directly through user fees, or indirectly through federal income taxes. You’re going to have to spend the entire day at the DMV, rather than just half the day. And then all the data on that card is going into a centralized government database, so you can be tracked wherever you go.
This doesn’t provide security for the people. This does, however, provide security for the government, against the people. Which was the whole point all along.
Except where otherwise noted, content on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works license.
Video published by this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Sampling+ license.
Bad Behavior has blocked 2524 access attempts in the last 7 days.
Facebook
Digg
del.icio.us
reddit.com
Newsvine
Rob Davidson
Sep 25, 2006
My current state “driver’s license” is set to expire in 2008, and after all I have read about this so-called “Real ID” has made me decide that I am not going to renew it. The fascist bastards can go to hell; I will just have to learn to live with being a “federal pariah.” As it is I will not even apply for their accursed “handouts”, I won’t set foot in their damnable buildings (at least not voluntarily), and I refuse to go anywhere near a thrice-damned airport anymore.)
I do find it very funny (in a sad, sick way) that these jackbooted thugs haven’t even finalized the requirements for these new ID’s yet. The only things these incompetent clowns are actually good at is murder, theft and assault.
Ben Smith
Sep 25, 2006
I’ve been car free for 6 years now, I commute to work via bicycle, 11 miles each way. These thugs can take their ID cards and shove them straight up their asses. The entire nation needs to do the same.
Rob Davidson
Sep 25, 2006
I’ve been car free for 6 years now…
Good for you, Ben, but I didn’t mean that I was going to be “car free.”
Mat Cat
Sep 26, 2006
This is ridicolous. The fact that states have only till May of 2008 to comply with these “federal requirements” by the department of homeland security (rolls eyes) is idiotic. And to add to the impossible deadline, they haven’t even released the the requirements to the states. So basically, we have less than two years to implement a new system that we don’t even fully understand. Great job! Keep up the good work guys!!!
Jason
Sep 27, 2006
Everyone should live in Arizona! My Driver’s License doesn’t expire until I turn 65!
(Though I think my picture will be quite a bit out of date by then, that’s the least of my worries, however.)
Sep 28, 2006
Rantings of a New Yorker » Blog Archive » Revisiting REAL-ID
Nov 04, 2006
The news just keeps breaking - Homeland Stupidity
Robert Biggins
Nov 13, 2006
Which states are not needed the Real ID for May 11, 2008? Arizona? New Hampshire? That I might know to be prepare to move out of Florida to there so I can stay freedom. Now we have one year and 6 months left. Please sent me information. Thank you.
BobbieMac
Nov 13, 2006
Everyone Please go to http://WWW.endtime.com and http://WWW.nonationalID.com
Also go to the holy Bible.
Revelation 13
13:16
And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive F21 a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
13:17
And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
13:18
Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
six. (666)
NHFree
Nov 17, 2006
As of November 2006, only New Hampshire has failed to implement Real ID, and they still haven’t decided for sure what to do.
Nov 19, 2006
Madness and Folly
Joe Plotnick
Dec 05, 2006
Idiotic law making our life harder, I guess the next law is to deport US citizens to Mexico or Cuba, this law is close to doing it so. Many people will have problems with this law, a lot more people than we can imagine. There goes the smell of freedom and Lincon’s USA. Welcome to the free society that is running scared and scarificing its freedom by a boat load. It’s not too late to send concerns to congress, not too late to refuse to have driving lic. all in all. We might as well brake the law, we are being forced to brake it as citizens by depriving us our freedoms. Why bother paying insurance and politicians salary. If the people can muster courage and say no, we can get our voices heard.
Feel sorry for you, my poor fellow citizens.
Dec 17, 2006
Chertoff: Real ID not “invasion of privacy” - Homeland Stupidity
Baikal3
Dec 21, 2006
It is actually much worse than you think.
I’ve read the text of the RealID Act carefully. It requires the states to ensure that each applicant for a driver’s licence show a proof of name, citizenship/immigration status, social security number AND the current address; the law also requires that the state verify the authenticity of EACH of the documents submitted to satisfy the above requirement with the issuing agency. Here is a direct quote from the law:
“Before issuing a driver’s license or identification card to a person, the State shall verify, with the issuing agency, the issuance, validity, and completeness of EACH document required to be presented by the person under paragraph (1) or (2).”
Let us think about what this means in practice regarding, for example, the proof of address. When someone moves to a new address, what kind of a proof of that address could they produce? Presumably a lease or a mortgage statement or a utility bill, say a cable bill. Does that mean that someone from the state DMV will have to physically call the cable company and talk to someone there? How much time and effort will that take (especially given how long we have to spend being put on hold when calling any utility company)? And what about all the privacy protection laws? Can a cable company even legally disclose their customer info to a third party over the phone? All this seems rather insane to me.
I really don’t understand why the states are not fighting harder against this unconstitutional madness!
R
Feb 05, 2007
I will take my family and our corporation out of this country. The bible says antichrist will not have control over the country of Jordon. Way to go U.S.A, walk right into the mark of the beast. And He (God the father) that commanded you not to take the mark will cause sores to come upon you. One 6 stands for numbering, one 6 stands for mankind and one 6 stands for stigma or stuck in. Don’t take the mark.There are a lot of people that understand this and wont walk as sheep to a slaughter.
anonymous
Feb 17, 2007
It sound like it is leading up to biblical prophesy. Now is the time to start making plans to leave this land and/or repent and to give your life to christ.
Mar 01, 2007
DHS issues REAL ID draft regulations - Homeland Stupidity
Anonymous
Mar 06, 2007
The Government is trying to dupe all into believing that we need this and it, for our very safety. It is a cause and effect situation. They create a problem and pretend to be the solution, in order to gain trust and control. That is what, to govern means. They govern us, we do not govern them.
“For the people by the people”, is balony. In order to stop the madness, it would take the American community of citizens to impeach the whole lot, right down to the smallest town mayor. Change the Constitution of America and states, to only allow 4 year terms maximum, in any elected office; this will keep the elected officials from gaining access or forming the good old boy network, in any political party. Furthermore, No lawyers would be allowed to run for office (state or federal). Making the laws and then turning around and interpreting the laws you have just made for your own gain, is just bad for business. Can you say Pharisee!
If people would just visit the websites of their states General Assembly and look at how many re-elected officials they have in both house and senate and compare how many ratified laws that they have either sponsored, or proposed and then compare how long that individual has been in office.
you might be surprised at what they are not doing for the people. Yet, year after year and term after term, they still remain, representing themselves, filling a void. Example,
even though he is dead, Strom Thurman-South Carolina…need I say more.
Anonymous
Mar 06, 2007
To clarify the above statement I do know that Strom Thurman was a Senator for South Carolina. How long? Forty Seven years
and some change. And his father was a Judge and he a What? A Lawyer.
Richard Little
Mar 28, 2007
It is very helpful to the collections industry and junk mail industry that everyone MUST have their physical address on their id.I for one will rent a motel room and declare this as my ONLY address.Homeless persons residing in motels can’t be denied a drivers license if they are legally qualified to hold one.First loophole.
May 09, 2007
DHS: You’ll take a national ID and you’ll like it - Homeland Stupidity
May 30, 2007
StealthBadger.net » Blog Archive » Market-based Solutions.