From a Geheimstaatspolizei press release:
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today a final rule establishing minimum security standards for state-issued drivers’ licenses and identification cards. The rule sets uniform standards that enhance the integrity and reliability of drivers’ licenses and identification cards, strengthen issuance capabilities, and increase security at drivers’ license and identification card production facilities. The final rule also dramatically reduces state implementation costs by roughly 73 percent.[...]
REAL ID will address document fraud by setting specific requirements that states must adopt for compliance, to include: (1) information and security features that must be incorporated into each card; (2) proof of the identity and U.S. citizenship or legal status of an applicant; (3) verification of the source documents provided by an applicant; and (4) security standards for the offices that issue licenses and identification cards.
The tomes of rules are available from DHS. However, the high points from what I heard in the press conference include:
- Folks under age 50 fully migrated over to the new ID by 2014; older folks by 2017
- Mandatory cross-checks of information provided (SSN) to confirm validity
- Photos taken at the start of the DL application process, theoretically to preclude a potential fraudster from making multiple attempts to apply for licenses (…although no mention was made that anyone will actually check the photo database to see if someone is making multiple attempts…)
- Other physical security measures to be built into Real ID-compliant licenses, although states will have some flexibility — a menu of options to choose from
I didn’t hear any mention yet as to whether we’ll all get to go experience the hospitality of the DMV (seems likely), or if some provision will be made for remote/by-mail renewals in those states where such a practice alleviates DMV strain.
Also, as expected, there’s no mention of providing license-holders with the ability to check to see who’s been accessing their data in the databases to be established for this plan, a provision which would go a long way towards combating certain forms of fraud and identity crime, as well as to protect against inappropriate invasion of privacy.
I still say we ought to just go to tattooing or implanting microchips into everyone’s forehead or onto the back of their hands.
