From the Arizona Republic newspaper. January 14, 2008
Arizona will have to adopt new federal rules aimed at making driver's licenses more secure or residents may no longer be able to use their licenses to board airplanes or enter federal buildings.
Homeland Security Director Michael Chertoff announced the new driver's-license rules on Friday as part of the controversial Real ID Act. The rules are intended to create minimum standards in all 50 states that make it harder for terrorists, illegal immigrants and con artists to get driver's licenses in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Hijackers fraudulently obtained driver's licenses to board aircraft and then fly them into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Residents of states that choose not to comply with the rules won't be able to use their licenses for air travel or for other federal purposes after May 2008, Chertoff said.
"The last thing I want to do is punish citizens of a state who would love to have a Real ID license but can't get one," Chertoff said. "But, in the end, the rule is the rule as passed by Congress."
The rules require states to add several new security measures, including verifying the legal status of residents applying for licenses, verifying the authenticity of birth certificates and other documents used to apply for licenses and making licenses more tamper-proof.
Americans born after Dec. 1, 1964, will have to get a driver's license that complies with Real ID in the next six years. The Department of Homeland Security deemed older Americans born before Dec. 1, 1964, less of a security threat, so they will get an additional three years.
Americans who live in states that opt out of Real ID will have to use a passport or a newly created federal pass card if they want to avoid the hassle of trying to prove their identity during a vigorous secondary screening at airport security, Chertoff said.
For full article go to: azcentral.com | a few simple questions
or http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0111biz-driverlicenses11-ON.html
Arizona will have to adopt new federal rules aimed at making driver's licenses more secure or residents may no longer be able to use their licenses to board airplanes or enter federal buildings.
Homeland Security Director Michael Chertoff announced the new driver's-license rules on Friday as part of the controversial Real ID Act. The rules are intended to create minimum standards in all 50 states that make it harder for terrorists, illegal immigrants and con artists to get driver's licenses in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Hijackers fraudulently obtained driver's licenses to board aircraft and then fly them into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Residents of states that choose not to comply with the rules won't be able to use their licenses for air travel or for other federal purposes after May 2008, Chertoff said.
"The last thing I want to do is punish citizens of a state who would love to have a Real ID license but can't get one," Chertoff said. "But, in the end, the rule is the rule as passed by Congress."
The rules require states to add several new security measures, including verifying the legal status of residents applying for licenses, verifying the authenticity of birth certificates and other documents used to apply for licenses and making licenses more tamper-proof.
Americans born after Dec. 1, 1964, will have to get a driver's license that complies with Real ID in the next six years. The Department of Homeland Security deemed older Americans born before Dec. 1, 1964, less of a security threat, so they will get an additional three years.
Americans who live in states that opt out of Real ID will have to use a passport or a newly created federal pass card if they want to avoid the hassle of trying to prove their identity during a vigorous secondary screening at airport security, Chertoff said.
For full article go to: azcentral.com | a few simple questions
or http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0111biz-driverlicenses11-ON.html