You asked for it
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/REAL_ID_Act
The REAL ID Act of 2005 is Division B of an act of the United States Congress titled Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief, 2005, Pub.L. 109-13, 119 Stat. 231, enacted 2005-05-11). This legislation was intended to deter terrorism by:
- Establishing the national standards for state-issued driver's licenses and non-driver's identification cards; (This is the part that many have issues with)
- Waiving laws that interfere with construction of physical barriers at the borders;
- Updating and tightening the laws on application for asylum and deportation of aliens for terrorist activity;
- Introducing rules covering "delivery bonds" (rather like bail bonds, but for aliens that have been released pending hearings);
- Funding some reports and pilot projects related to border security; and
- Changing visa limits for temporary workers, nurses, and Australian citizens.
Minimum nationwide standards for state driver's licenses or ID cards, employment, and banking
In the United States, driver's licenses are issued by the states,
not by the federal government. States also issue voluntary identification cards for non-drivers. States set the rules for what data is on the card and what documents must be provided in order to obtain one. States also maintain databases of licensed drivers and ID-card holders.
Driver's License Implications
The REAL ID Act's implications for driver's licenses and ID-cards is detailed in Title II of the Act. Title II of REAL IDImproved Security for Drivers License and Personal Identification Cardsrepeals the provisions of a December 2004 law that established a cooperative state-federal process to create federal standards for drivers licenses and
instead directly imposes prescriptive federal drivers license standards.
After December 31, 2009,
"a Federal agency may not accept, for any official purpose, a driver's license or identification card issued by a state to any person unless the state is meeting the requirements" specified in the Real ID Act. States remain free to also issue non-complying licenses and ID's, so long as these have a unique design and a clear statement that they cannot be accepted for any Federal identification purpose.
The federal Transportation Security Administration is responsible for security check-in at airports, so bearers of non-compliant documents would no longer be able to travel on common carrier aircraft without additional screening. (Or enter a federal building like a courthouse where you have to show ID)
In addition, the federal Social Security Administration, (42 U.S.C. § 666(28)), requires the States to maintain a new hire directory. Employers would no longer be able to accept, or ultimately hire, bearers of non-compliant documents for employment.
Also, financial institutions are required to assist the Federal Parent Locator Service, ((42 U.S.C. § 666(17)). Financial institutions would require compliant documents from all customers.
Bearers of non-compliant documents would be denied financial or banking services.
Additional federal and state agencies who will require compliant documents are listed, in part, in (42 U.S.C. § 666).
The national license/ID standards cover:
- What data must be included on the card;
- What documentation must be presented before a card can be issued; and
- How the states must share their databases.
Strictly speaking, many of these requirements are not new. They replace similar language in Section 7212 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (Pub.L. 108-458), which had not yet gone into effect before being repealed by the Real ID Act.
Data requirements
Each card must include, at a minimum, the person's full legal name, signature, date of birth, gender, driver's license or identification card number. It also includes a photograph of the person's face and the address of principal residence.
(There is no provision for alternate addresses or PO boxes for judges, undercover police, victims of domsetic violence etc) It is required to have physical security features designed to prevent tampering, counterfeiting, or duplication of the document for fraudulent purposes.
It will use common machine-readable technology, with defined minimum data elements (the details of which are not spelled out, but left to the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation and the states, to regulate).
Documentation required before issuing a license or ID card
Before a card can be issued, the applicant must provide the following documentation:
- A photo ID, or a non-photo ID that includes full legal name and birthdate.
- Documentation of birthdate.
- Documentation of legal status and Social Security number
- Documentation showing name and principal residence address.
Digital images of each identity document will be stored in each state DMV database.
(I know I really trust my local 19 year old DMV clerk to protect this information.....)
Linking of license and ID card databases
Each state
must agree to share its motor vehicle database with all other states. This database must include, at a minimum, all the data printed on the state drivers' licenses and ID cards, plus drivers' histories (including motor vehicle violations, suspensions, and points on licenses). Any state that does not link its database, containing records on all drivers and ID holders, to the database of the other states loses its federal funding.
Those are the basics. More information:
FAQ
http://news.com.com/FAQ+How+Real+ID+will+affect+you/2100-1028_3-5697111.html
Voice of dissent (and reason)
http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2005/05/real_id.html
State of Maine opts out of RealID
http://news.com.com/2100-7348_3-6153532.html
Voices of opposition
http://www.realnightmare.org/opposition/9/
Over Forty Groups Announce National REAL ID Public Campaign
http://www.privacycoalition.org/stoprealid/pressrelease.php
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Bye Laura! Lots of 
and prayers that you have a smooth flight and an awesome time at WDW!!!
to have a DIS mini-meet on a 
