For years, the people of the United States have resisted the federal government’s attempts to implement a national identification card. On May 11, 2005, the Real ID Act (Public Law 109-13) slipped under our radar as an attachment to a military appropriations bill (H.R. 1268). Although the politicians in Washington, D.C. deny it, the Real ID Act is a de facto national ID card.

Under the Real ID, all state drivers’ licenses must meet Department of Homeland Security approval. The driver’s licenses must include, at a minimum, data such as name, address, and gender. The cards also must include physical features, probably biometrics such as thumb prints or retinal scans, to prevent tampering. Additionally, the cards must have “a common machine-readable technology, with defined minimum data elements.” This element could be bar codes or it could be embedded RFIDs. RFIDs are small computer chips that contain data and can be “read” with a RFID reader. The Real ID also requires each states to share its motor vehicle databases with every other state.

The federal government claims that the Real ID Act is a “voluntary program,” but without a Real ID you will be denied access to federal services and entry into federal facilities (including the ability to board aircraft). You will not even be able to open a bank account. Essentially, you will be a non-citizen. There are many problems with national ID cards in general and the Real ID Act specifically. Please use the resources here to learn more about the Real ID Act and then join us in demanding that our representatives repeal this un-American legislation. Please do this now.

Remember, the Real ID takes effect May, 2008!