Same old thing. See problem. Recognize problem. Do nothing about problem except come up with excuses for inaction.

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news ... 556321.htm

Contact info: Inquirer.Letters@phillynews.com

Posted on Wed, May. 04, 2005

Overhauling Driver Licensing

Editorial | Real ID, or real trouble?


Remember that some of the Sept. 11, 2001, hijackers flashed driver's licenses before boarding their fateful flights?

So there's really no debate that the nation should do more to safeguard its licensing rules.

But the heavyhanded licensing mandates being rushed through Congress - with a nod from the White House - are way off the mark.

They threaten Americans' privacy, risk exposing millions to identity theft, and seem likely to cripple the states' motor vehicle departments while saddling them with up to a $500 million tab.

That would be a mighty high price to pay for a measure of uncertain benefit to homeland security. It's a classic case of overkill.

Only in December, Congress directed state and federal officials to design sensible safeguards on licensing. As part of the intelligence reform law, that was the right approach - one endorsed by the highly respected 9/11 commission.

And that's why Congress needs to back away from the so-called "Real ID" overhaul of licensing proposed by Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R., Wis.) and other House members.

There's certainly no need for the House and Senate conference members crafting compromise language - including Sen. Arlen Specter (R., Pa.) - to push ahead with this measure without more public debate. Besides driver licensing, the bill also deals with controversial border-security issues and rules for asylum-seekers.

On licensing, the Real ID rules could force states to take extraordinary, cumbersome and costly new steps to verify that license applicants are in the country legally.

Birth certificates and other documents would have to be verified by the issuing agencies - a logistical nightmare that could trip up legal immigrants, in particular. No wonder state officials are in a lather over what they see as another huge and largely unfunded federal mandate.

But citizens should be even more concerned with what would happen with the documents and data being collected for licensing. Real ID could force states to store digital copies of birth certificates, Social Security cards and other documents, along with drivers' photos and other data. Most states' databases likely would be linked, potentially giving wide access to a treasure trove ripe for ID theft.

Civil liberties groups also note that the widely shared data would transform the driver's license into a national identification card. That's a step this nation, at least formally, has resisted so far in keeping with a cherished tradition of privacy.

Tighten security measures, yes. But a one-size-fits-all mandate was rejected last year by Congress, with good reason. Instead, lawmakers then left it up to stakeholders to work out the details of enhancing security.

Those governors, state lawmakers, motor vehicle officials, rights groups, and federal transportation and security moguls are in the best position to craft a better system.

Washington lawmakers need to admit they were right the first time.