National Driver’s License
The American government wants to consolidate the different license requirements and regulations from each state into one national standard, so that whenever a person applies for a driver’s license in the US, they are meeting the same requirement as someone in another part of the country.
On the surface, it’s a pretty good idea. It ensures that everyone who has the license meets the same standards and that the testing done in one state is the same as another, so there is no room left for discrimination or odd laws that would either make it too easy or insanely difficult to acquire the license.
Now to some, this would seem like an attempt to move towards a National ID system. What anti-ID proponents tend to forget when comparing programmes like this to a National ID programme is that a driver’s license is 101% optional, that is, unless you want to drive. But, until then, it’s optional. Of course for some drivers, the license itself seems to be optional, just as turn indicators and car insurance.
While some states are welcoming this, others (notably, lawmakers in 34 states) have decided that they just don’t want to place nice. These states include: Arizona, where license renewal is a joke, a real joke, as well as Utah and a few of the ‘blue’ states. The 34 states who have joined are part of a coalition effort started by Missouri state Rep. James Guest, a Republican.
If they did comply, instead of putting out a legislation that strictly opposes the Real ID programme that the National Driver’s License programme would use in order to standardise all licenses into a single ID that can be used for a number of things including boarding a plane and in some instances, opening a bank account.
The problem with non-Real ID identification cards is that once there is the standard, most Americans in states that are anti-Real ID will find that they are unable to do a number of things they were able to in the past because they non-Real ID licenses will not be compliant with the systems in place, and will pose a problem for everyday Americans who rely on that card for key transactions.
The legislators who are anti-Real ID will have to answer to disgruntled voters who find that their otherwise valid licenses fail to achieve what the holder wants to do. Yet, some people may tolerate that small set back if they are of the firm belief that this programme to nationalise the driver’s license is one step closer to a National ID programme, where everyone would have to carry mandatory papers.
For state legislators, there may be a silver lining in this otherwise dark gloomy overcast. It appears that there is support in Washington that would seek to derail the existing law.
In addition to the fears that this would lead to mandatory ID, there are also concerns arising that this will aid more than deter identity theft, a sensitive issue for Americans, who find themselves surrounded by unscrupulous individuals ready to capitalise on people’s fears and employ social engineering to exploit those fearful of identity theft.
While something may appear to sound ok on the surface, once you get past the tip of the iceberg, beneath lies all the dank secrets and horrors that no man dare contemplates.
What does it mean for Americans? They’re back at square one in the War on Terror and they are no closer to deterring identity thieves.
States take action to oppose national driver’s license
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