Maine and the REAL ID Law

[Ping898]

Interesting I thought....

http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2007/01/maine_says_will.html

Maine Says Will Opt-Out of De Facto National I.D. Law
Maine's legislature overwhelmingly passed a resolution refusing to implement the REAL ID Act which requires states to standardize their drivers licenses according to federal standards, saying the bill would cost the state $185 milllion, turns the state into an extension of the federal government, and would invade privacy. The resolution also calls on Congress to repeal the rule, which was slid into a defense spending bill in 2005. Though the final standards have yet to be announced, after May 11, 2008, federal agencies won't accept non-compliant identification cards, which if the law weren't changed and Maine opted out would mean that Maine residents would have a very difficult time flying and couldn't enter federal courthouses, among other things.
"This is the beginning of the end of Real ID," said Barry Steinhardt, Director of the ACLU's Technology and Liberty Project. "The Real ID national ID scheme is pointless if one or more states refuse to participate, because the whole premise of the program is the creation of a single uniform national identity document and database."
Since this is only a resolution, Maine has not officially opted out, but the ACLU says statutory language is likely to be passed soon. At the end of the last session of Congress, Senators Daniel Akaka (D-HI) and John Sununu (R-NH) introduced a bill that would rollback many of the rules in the REAL ID Act, a warning shot to the Administration that the issue would be in play in the Democrat-controlled Congress in 2007. Legislators in other states including Georgia, New Hampshire and Montana have also introduced anti-REAL ID bills.

 

[tellner]

Good for Maine!

 

[bydand]

Oh please don't stroke the egos' of the Maine Government. I have lived all over and have spent 18 years total in Maine (where I am now). The Government of this State could screw up a wet-dream if given half a chance. Cost the State 185 Million? Wow I'd really love to see where they pulled that figure from actually. There are a grand total of 1.3 million people in the State, even if half of that number have drivers licenses or ID cards it is quite a number to toss around. I personally don't see the great evil in ID's that have the same format from State to State. I think it would make life easier for LEO's and others who have to check ID's regularly, like Bartenders and store clerks (min. smoking and drinking age checks).

 

[jetboatdeath]

Just like the .08 law if the feds want it to pass in Maine they will just withhold federal highway money until Maine crumbles.
I believe this is how they got the last few anti seat belt law states to “give in” as well.
Oh yes Maine will comply…