Updated 03.11.08
Call Senator Voinovich and urge him to PASS the
Tester
Amendments.
Read our 3/11/2008 Action Alert.
The Department of Homeland Security issued the final regulations for Real ID on Jan. 11, 2008. The final regs fail to address many of the concerns with Real ID - privacy, data security, cost.
Read more at
www.realnightmare.org
Department of Homeland Security Plans to Water Down Real ID in Last-Ditch Effort to Lure States In; Privacy Threats Remain.
Read the press release from the national ACLU office.
What’s Happening Nationally
The federal
REAL ID (Identification) Act of 2005 was signed into law on May 11,
2005. This act in effect created a national ID by requiring state IDs to
meet federal requirements by May 2008. State motor vehicle departments
are also required to create a national database.
On March 1, 2007, after many months of delay, the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security finally issued draft regulations to instruct states on
how to comply with the Real ID Act of 2005.
The regulations fail to answer many of the most troubling problems with
Real ID, and project the total cost to rise above $23 billion.
Across the country, states are passing legislation rejecting
Real ID. Visit
http://www.realnightmare.org/states/13/ for the current progress of state opt-out efforts.
Read the ACLU’s press release about the regulations
View the regulations
Visit the ACLU’s website
“Real Nightmare”
for more information on Real ID and what you can do to stop it.
What's Happening in Ohio
State Data Breaches
State of Ohio Data Breach Shows Government Unable to Protect Personal Information. New “Real ID” Law Would be Recipe for Disaster.
Read the ACLU of
Ohio press release.
State now estimates
that total number of persons affected by data loss is near 800,000.
Read the
article.
Thousands of personal
records stolen in carjacking
Read
more.
Ohio BMV computers
slow down... and Real ID isn't even in place yet!
Read the article.
Ohio Legislation
On May 8, 2007, Representative Fessler introduced HCR 18, a resolution
urging Congress to repeal the Real ID Act, in the Ohio General Assembly.
Click
here to read the resolution.
About Real ID
ID Document Standards
At a minimum, the ID must include: name, birth date, sex, ID number, a
digital photograph, address, and a common machine-readable technology,.
such as a bar code, to be decided by the Department of Homeland
Security. Homeland Security can adopt new requirements unilaterally to
add even more private information onto the ID without the approval of
Congress.
Issuance Requirements
In order to receive an ID, the state must require the applicant to
provide: a photo identity document, documentation showing the person's
date of birth, proof of the person's social security number, and
documentation showing the person's name and address. State motor vehicle
departments are required to create a national database with digital
copies of these documents, storing them permanently, and sharing this
personal information with other states and federal agencies without
privacy protection.
State Implementation
Problems
A report issued in January 2006 by the American Association of Motor
Vehicle Administrators highlights the many difficulties Ohio and other
states face in implementing Real ID. The response from the Ohio Bureau
of Motor Vehicles (BMV) indicates that Ohio cannot afford the hassle and
expense of the many changes required by Real ID.
- BMV Customers would have to bring all the required documentation
with them, such as a current photo ID, a birth certificate, Social
Security card, etc.. in order to apply for or renew a drivers
license. Individuals without proper documentation would be denied a
license.
- Customers could face long wait times, delays, and be subjected
to return visits because of the new requirements to law enforcement
in order to verify the authenticity of documents and to recognize
fraudulent documents.
- The BMV computer system would need a major upgrade to handle all
the new data requirements, including reprogramming current forms and
buying new software and computer equipment. Such an upgrade would be
very expensive, and BMV workers would have to be trained in the new
technology.
- Real ID requires the state to keep digital copies and paper
copies of supporting documents for years. The Ohio BMV says it would
need significant funding to make sure all 216 statewide offices have
the technology and physical storage space to hold all these
documents. Current Ohio laws and regulations do not allow the BMV to
collect and store all of the information required by Real ID,
possibly subjecting the state to costly litigation. State laws would
have to be changed. Ohio would have to enter into agreements with
the other states and the federal government to participate in the
national database.
 Get active!
Fax your congressperson. Tell them
that REAL ID will make us less safe by alienating immigrants and
weakening our privacy rights. If you are not sure who your
representative is, you can call your county board of elections or check
www.aclu.org in the “Scorecard”
section.
Write a letter to the editor. Your
letter can alert people and encourage others to become more active in
guarding their privacy rights.
Stay in touch. Let the ACLU of Ohio know
what kind of progress you’ve made on this.
Tell friends and coworkers. Talk to
them about the dangers of creating a
national ID.
Organize! Have a party and ask guests to
write letters to their congressperson stating that REAL ID should be
repealed.
Resources
"The
Real ID Act – A Backdoor National Identity System." Watch
the two-minute Freedom Files video.
Read more about your privacy rights
here. To read privacy related articles, click
here.
American Library Association's privacy page, with news and background on Real
ID.
go»
Visit the Electronic Privacy Information Center's Real ID page.
go»
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