National driver's license hits a bump

National driver's license hits a bump
By Leslie Miller
The ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published February 6, 2007

A revolt against a national driver's license, begun in Maine last month, is quickly spreading to other states.

The Maine Legislature on Jan. 26 overwhelmingly passed a resolution objecting to the Real ID Act of 2005. The federal law sets a national standard for driver's licenses and requires states to link their record-keeping systems to national databases.

Within a week of Maine's action, lawmakers in Georgia, Wyoming, Montana, New Mexico, Vermont and Washington state also balked at Real ID. They are expected soon to pass laws or adopt resolutions declining to participate in the federal identification network.

"It's the whole privacy thing," said Matt Sundeen, a transportation analyst for the National Conference of State Legislatures. "A lot of legislators are concerned about privacy issues and the cost. It's an estimated $11 billion implementation cost."

. . .

The issue may be moot for states if Congress takes action.

Republican Sen. John E. Sununu of New Hampshire, along with Democratic Sen. Daniel K. Akaka of Hawaii, filed a bill last year to repeal the law. Mr. Sununu expects similar legislation will be introduced soon.

"The federal government should not be in charge of defining and issuing driver's licenses," Mr. Sununu said.

Privacy advocates say a national driver's license will promote identity theft.