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.
This 90-second Freedom Files video short looks at the federal Real ID Act that may be on its way to your local motor vehicles office, where it would bring longer lines, worse service, bureaucratic nightmares, and higher fees – and turn your driver’s license into a true federalized national identity card that will be used to invade our privacy in ways Americans have never seen before.
Opinion by Leslie Harris, president and CEO of the Center for Democracy & Technology
Balancing national security and civil liberties requires delicate diplomacy to ensure a balance between legitimate security needs and the privacy rights of Americans. Since 9/11, preserving that balance has been ignored and forgotten. Earlier this month, the Department of Homeland Security had a chance to get it right when it released new rules for implementing the Real ID Act. But once again, privacy was kicked to the curb.
West Virginia would join a growing number of states that are refusing to change what appears on their driver's licenses to meet new national security standards under a proposed bill that is enjoying bipartisan support among state lawmakers.
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. 
For an up-to-date list of states where legislation against Real ID is currently active,