Minnesota and the federal government are in a standoff over identification card standards, and it could soon cause problems for Minnesotans looking to board an airplane.
The problem stems from the Real ID Act, which was passed by Congress in 2005. The act requires states to add new security measures to all driver’s licenses, despite concerns that the information is overly invasive. The measure would also come at a significant cost, so in 2009, Minnesota passed a state order saying that they did not plan to comply with the federal law requirement.
“The thinking was that the states band together and try to leverage their influence,” said Senator Scott Dibble, chair of the Senate’s Transportation and Public Safety Committee. “The concerns are absolutely still valid, but the fact of the matter is that the states did not prevail in this debate, in this negotiation with the federal government.”
Unfortunately for Minnesota, only three other states passed similar laws, not enough to make a dent in the federal government’s agenda.
Non-Compliance Issues
Currently, identifications need to be in compliance with the Real ID Act if individuals want to gain access to nuclear power plants or some federal facilities, but that requirement will expand to all federal facilities next month. Furthermore, the final step of the act requires that people would need to show a federally recognized form of identification in order to board a plane as early as 2016, and Minnesota’s current form isn’t recognized.
The act states that the airline regulation would go into place “no soon than 2016,” but it could be later than that, said Minnesota Department of Public Safety spokesperson Bruce Gordon.
“They have also said that they will give ample notice before that happens,” Gordon said. “To date, they have not provided that notice.”
Passports may be used in lieu of the Real IDs, but only about 37 percent of Minnesotans have a valid passport, according to a 2014 survey.
The Downfalls of The Real IDs
Opponents of the new Real IDs are against the national identification requirements for several reasons, stating:
- Overly Invasive – By creating a new nationally recognized identification card, opponents say counterfeiters and identity thieves will have easier access to information, and counterfeit Real IDs will be more accepted as legitimate.
- Tracking – Opponents believe these national ID cards will facilitate in the collection of personal information and human tracking.
- Long Lines – The need to get a new ID in a short period of time will create long lines at the DMV, as well as at airports where security personnel will have to get used to the new forms of ID.
- Expensive – Not only will it be an expensive project to outfit all adults with a new form of ID, but agencies will need to spend millions training their personnel how to spot counterfeit or illegitimate IDs.
- Little Security – Despite claims that the new IDs will be “more secure,” the added protection measures will do little to prevent terrorism, and could actually be counterproductive if the process of creating these IDs is discovered.
It seems unlikely that the federal government is going to cave, but we’ll just have to wait and see. Hopefully common sense prevails.
