Real ID Act

Time to Get Real

Post-9/11 identification law still hasn't taken off

This September will mark the ninth anniversary of 9/11. In the meantime, we've experienced nearly a decade of ever-changing airport security measures, elevated risk warnings, confusion, frustration and fear.

One of the post-9/11 security mandates was the Real ID Act, which is a federal law passed in 2005 that created new security, authentication and issuance standards for state driver's licenses and ID cards. Once the law is enacted, only cards that meet federal standards can be used for official purposes, as defined by the Department of Homeland Security, including boarding commercial airline flights and entering federal buildings and nuclear power plants.

The often-criticized law has faced one obstacle and delay after another. The most recent set of difficulties came as 2009 wound to a close.

Down to the Wire

State-issued driver's licenses and ID cards were required to adhere to federally mandated security enhancements by the Real ID Act deadline of Dec. 31, 2009. If a state couldn't make the deadline, its residents would be required to provide extra identification when traveling by air. In fact, as of December 2009, 46 of 56 states and territories hadn't met the deadline, and air passengers would have had to present a valid passport to make it through security— even for domestic flights. And if you didn't have a passport? You'd better get one quick.

My home state of New Mexico was one of the states and territories that did not meet the deadline. And I can only imagine the financial strain the requirement would have put on the state's many low-income families.

Luckily for those 46 states and territories, the Real ID Act final compliance deadline was pushed back to May 10, 2011.

DHS' deputy press secretary, Matt Chandler, said the department will continue to work closely with states to meet this deadline.

"DHS is committed to moving forward to implement this key 9/11 Commission recommendation," he said. "However, Congress must act to address systemic problems with the Real ID Act to advance our security interests over the long term."

These systemic problems include inconsistencies in state policies on issuing driver's licenses. For example, in New Mexico, a state law allows immigrants, regardless of their immigration status, to apply for driver's licenses. Clearly, this will be a main sticking point on the road to Real ID, which creates strict standards of proof for individuals applying for asylum and other forms of relief.

Passing the Buck?

Real ID has faced its share of critics since it was introduced in 2005. For example, it's going to be costly and timeconsuming for everyone involved—from the state down to the individual. Even most citizens who already have driver's licenses will have to reapply for them using certified birth certificates. And because the law requires states to share their Department of Motor Vehicle databases, some claim that it's equivalent to creating a national ID card.

Enter PASS ID, a bill recently introduced into Congress that some are calling a watered-down version of Real ID. The legislation would do away with several of the technological requirements of the 2005 law, but it would still require each state to meet the federal guidelines for its ID cards to be accepted.

DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano has been an outspoken supporter of PASS ID since it became a possibility.

"PASS ID is a critical piece of national security legislation that will fix the Real ID Act of 2005 and institute strong security standards for government- issued identification," she told the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs in 2009. "PASS ID will fulfill a key recommendation of the 9/11 Commission, that the federal government set standards for identification such as driver's licenses and non-driver identification cards, and this bill will do so in a way that states will implement, rather than disregard. PASS ID will enact the same strong security standards set out by Real ID as quickly as REAL ID—but, critically, this bill provides a workable way to get there."

So what's different about Real ID version 2.0? According to the Wall Street Journal, PASS ID would be cheaper, less restrictive and funded in part by federal grants. Apparently it would remove the requirement to verify birth certificates with the issuing department and shared national databases (both huge points of contention).

Not surprisingly, PASS ID has plenty of its own critics—from both sides of the issue. A quick search of news articles and opinion pieces on the proposed legislation unearths people who are in a rage that PASS ID takes all the effectiveness out of the original law. Others are still concerned about the possibility of amassing so much valuable information in one database.

Featured

  • Gaining a Competitive Edge

    Ask most companies about their future technology plans and the answers will most likely include AI. Then ask how they plan to deploy it, and that is where the responses may start to vary. Every company has unique surveillance requirements that are based on market focus, scale, scope, risk tolerance, geographic area and, of course, budget. Those factors all play a role in deciding how to configure a surveillance system, and how to effectively implement technologies like AI. Read Now

  • 6 Ways Security Awareness Training Empowers Human Risk Management

    Organizations are realizing that their greatest vulnerability often comes from within – their own people. Human error remains a significant factor in cybersecurity breaches, making it imperative for organizations to address human risk effectively. As a result, security awareness training (SAT) has emerged as a cornerstone in this endeavor because it offers a multifaceted approach to managing human risk. Read Now

  • The Stage is Set

    The security industry spans the entire globe, with manufacturers, developers and suppliers on every continent (well, almost—sorry, Antarctica). That means when regulations pop up in one area, they often have a ripple effect that impacts the entire supply chain. Recent data privacy regulations like GDPR in Europe and CPRA in California made waves when they first went into effect, forcing businesses to change the way they approach data collection and storage to continue operating in those markets. Even highly specific regulations like the U.S.’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) can have international reverberations – and this growing volume of legislation has continued to affect global supply chains in a variety of different ways. Read Now

  • Access Control Technology

    As we move swiftly toward the end of 2024, the security industry is looking at the trends in play, what might be on the horizon, and how they will impact business opportunities and projections. Read Now

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge. 3

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis. 3

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area. 3