Heads and tales: Who goes there
By Wade Kwon
Louse of cards: You can piss off the civil libertarians and the immigration advocates all you want — just don’t piss off the DMV. Implementing the Real ID program is turning into a costly nightmare for state motor vehicle agencies. Designed to fight terrorism with national ID cards, the program is forcing the 50 states to modernize and synchronize their old-but-functioning drivers license systems.
After drivers submit documents to prove their identities, states will have to retain paper copies of those documents for at least seven years or digital images for 10 years. … Alabama’s survey response called the project ”massive,” saying that while the state had the proper equipment at six licensing centers, ”we do not have the resources to equip all of our 79 offices.”
Alabama tried to work ahead, but created confusion after notifying 65,000 residents about different names on licenses and Social Security cards, including women who had changed their last name on one but not the other after marriage or divorce.
You may have a legitimate drivers’ license and Social Security card, but if you don’t have a legit Real ID card by 2008, you won’t be able to board a plane or enter a federal building.
- FAQ: How Real ID will affect you [CNET.com]
- How the program affects drivers licenses [National Conference of State Legislatures]
- A history of opposition to national ID cards [Electronic Privacy Information Center]
- An opposition site [UnRealID.com]
• National ID a ‘Nightmare’ for States [Associated Press]
Stuck in neutral: Alabama has begun issuing new harder-to-forge drivers licenses. But when the computer goes down, no one across the state can obtain one. Does this mean the terrorists win by default?
• Drivers fume at license system [Birmingham News]
Inside his heaven: Huntsville native Bo Bice, the most recent “American Idol” runner-up, will be featured on at 9 tonight on CMT’s “In the Moment” (repeating at midnight). He’ll also be on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” at 11:06 p.m. Monday on ABC 33/40. But if you’re more Old Testament than New, you can see Richard Scrushy preach Sunday morning in Anniston. Testify! No, really, we need you to testify in the fraud hearing.
• ‘In the Moment’ [CMT]
Also:
- Girl Scouts ‘shocked’ that Thin Mints cause fat customers
- City council approves $50,000 to hire own mayor
- Seeking better life, onion ring stows away in french fry container
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Saturday, January 14, 2006, 2:12 am
God has a way of moving people
One would certainly hope that Richard Scrushy is truly following his heart…
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