…in the news…

My opinion based on an article from www.FOXNews.com:

Homeland Security to Unveil New Driver’s License Rules

So, it seems that there is a substantial amount of resistance to this – both in cost and privacy issues. In fact, several States have already taken a stand against this based on these cost and privacy concerns.

I don’t understand why there are privacy concerns.

Per the Minimum Document Requirements (202(b)), there is no new personal information required on the new ID’s. The additional requirements deal with counterfeiting and fraud prevention. Specifically:

“To meet the requirements of this section, a State shall include, at a minimum, the following information and features on each driver’s license and identification card issued to a person by the State:

(1) The person’s full legal name.

(2) The person’s date of birth.

(3) The person’s gender.

(4) The person’s driver’s license or identification card number.

(5) A digital photograph of the person.

(6) The person’s address of principle residence.

(7) The person’s signature.

(8) Physical security features designed to prevent tampering, counterfeiting, or duplication of the document for fraudulent purposes.

(9) A common machine-readable technology, with defined minimum data elements.”

The only real change with the personal information is that the States will be held accountable for verifying the information provided by anyone attempting to obtain a REAL ID. Yep, that’s it. The States will have to check the documents to ensure that you are not trying to falsely obtain an ID that can be used as a single point document to verify your identity.

How is that bad? I would rather take a certified copy of my birth certificate and my passport and my military ID to the DMV to get my REAL ID, than know that there are people who continue to falsely obtain driver’s licenses using false documents. Who does that? People I don’t want to have genuine ID’s such as terrorists and illegal immigrants.

I continue to be frustrated by the masses of people who oppose any type of change or legislation based largely on the source, rather than any real information about the change. If there is no additional information being required on the REAL ID, then the people who are touting privacy and freedom losses are simply doing so because someone else jumped to an unreal conclusion and started a wave of “mob mentality” opposition.

Don’t bother leaving negative comments to my opinion. I will delete them. 🙂