DHS Releases REAL ID Final Rule for Security Standards for Drivers' Licenses, ID Cards
January 21, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS
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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a final rule establishing minimum security standards for state-issued drivers' licenses and identification (ID) cards.
The rule sets uniform standards that are designed to enhance the integrity and reliability of drivers' licenses and ID cards, strengthen issuance capabilities and increase security at drivers' license and ID card production facilities, said the DHS.
The final rule is touted as reducing state implementation costs by roughly 73%, according to the DHS.
REAL ID is designed to address document fraud by setting specific requirements that states must adopt for compliance including:
- Information and security features that must be incorporated into each card.
- Proof of the identity and U.S. citizenship or legal status of an applicant.
- Verification of the source documents provided by an applicant.
- Security standards for the offices that issue licenses and ID cards.
The first deadline for compliance with REAL ID is Dec. 31, 2009. By then, states must upgrade the security of their license systems to include a check for lawful status of all applicants to ensure that illegal aliens cannot obtain REAL ID licenses, said the DHS. Some states are expected to be compliant before that time.
Compliance will be needed for access into a federal facility, boarding commercial aircraft and entering nuclear power plants. Federal agencies will continue to accept licenses for official purposes from residents of states that comply with the law, said the DHS.
The DHS is making approximately $360 million available to assist states with REAL ID implementation - $80 million in dedicated REAL ID grants and another $280 million in general funding as part of the Homeland Security Grant Program, said the DHS.
The 73% cost reduction - from an original estimate of $14.6 billion to approximately $3.9 billion - was achieved mainly by giving states greater flexibility in issuing licenses to older Americans, said the DHS.
Enrollment will be completed for all individuals under 50 years of age by Dec. 1, 2014, according to the DHS. For all others, enrollment may be extended three additional years to Dec. 1, 2017.
At that time, all state-issued drivers' licenses and ID cards intended for official federal purposes must be REAL ID compliant, said the DHS.
The final rule follows a notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Federal Register on March 9, 2007. Based on comments received from various stakeholders, the DHS drafted the final rule to reduce costs and account for investments that some states made to improve the security of their drivers' licenses, said the DHS.
More information about the REAL ID final rule can be found at http://www.dhs.gov/xprevprot/laws/gc_1172765386179.shtm.
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).