Driver's license a hassle? It may get worse

[EdwardKnoxII 0]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7720464/

 

Driver's license a hassle? It may get worse

Congress weighs 9/11 security measure, but governors oppose

 

WASHINGTON - Americans could soon be required to show four types of ID when applying for a driver's license. Despite objections from governors and state legislatures, Congress is close to passing that requirement as a post-Sept. 11 security measure.

 

Civil liberties and gun rights supporters, two groups often at odds, also oppose the measure on privacy grounds, saying they fear driver’s licenses will evolve into a national identification card.

 

Under the legislation, Americans applying for driver’s licenses would have to bring far more information with them to motor vehicle offices. They would be asked to show birth certificates, a photo ID, proof of their Social Security number and a document with full name and home address, according to a copy of the bill obtained by The Associated Press. It was unclear how the legislation would affect the renewal of licenses for citizens.

 

Verification required

Motor vehicle departments would be required to verify the documents and the Social Security numbers. States still could give licenses to illegal immigrants, but they would have different designs or colors to alert security officers that they are unacceptable as IDs for boarding planes or entering federal buildings.

 

Governors and state legislatures oppose the provisions as too costly, and force motor vehicle officials to become immigration officers.

 

"Governors share the concern for increasing the security and integrity of the driver's license and state identification processes," Raymond Scheppach, the head of the National Governors Association, said in a recent statement. But, he added, the proposed legislation "would impose unrealistic technological standards and burdensome verification procedures on states."

 

Undermine existing work?

The National Conference of State Legislatures estimated the legislation could cost states more than $500 million and undermine existing efforts to make driver's licenses more secure.

 

Those efforts are centered on recommendations first proposed by the president's Sept. 11 commission. State and federal officials should focus on those rather than dismantling the Sept. 11 Commission reforms and impose a rigid, "one-size-fits-all" mandate, NCSL Executive Director William Pound said in the joint statement with the governors association.

 

The two groups noted that an existing framework exists through the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 and "provides the opportunity to develop effective national standards." 

 

Congress should "oppose any legislative effort that would curtail this ongoing rulemaking process," the added.

 

Senate negotiators give green light

Under the federal legislation, which was attached to a bill funding operations in Iraq, states would have three years after the bill becomes law to meet the standards or their driver’s licenses won’t be accepted by federal officers for identification.

 

The House and Senate passed separate Iraq funding bills, and only the House included the license provision. But Senate negotiators working on a compromise bill on Monday accepted the House provision.

 

All but one of the 19 hijackers in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks had some form of U.S. identification, some of it fraudulent, the Sept. 11 Commission found. The commission recommended the federal government set standards for birth certificates and other identification documents, including driver’s licenses.

 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

[Vern Gagne 0]

On a somewhat related note. They should have a special license for Freeway Driving.

 

I only remember showing my learner's permit when I got my licenses.

[Guest Cerebus]

Yes, this will suck for the states, though I think that a uniform design for driver's licenses is a much better idea.

[Guest MikeSC]

I don't care about the driver's license issue --- but if we stick with the present status quo in the Treasury Dept (you know, where providing closer scrutiny to Arab males --- who, ironically, TEND to be terrorists more than any other group presently), I doubt this will do the first thing to make us more safe.

 

So, the gov't will INCREASE our irritation level while simultaneously not making us even the tiniest bit safer.

-=Mike

[Some Guy 0]

Under the legislation, Americans applying for driver’s licenses would have to bring far more information with them to motor vehicle offices. They would be asked to show birth certificates, a photo ID, proof of their Social Security number and a document with full name and home address, according to a copy of the bill obtained by The Associated Press. It was unclear how the legislation would affect the renewal of licenses for citizens.

 

Where would one get said photo ID? High School? My only photo ID is my driver's license. Chances are if you are a legal imigrant from the 3rd world that you wouldn't have a birth certificate, either.

 

Why not just run the person's name through the computer. If it comes up that they are illegal then arrest and deport them. Seems to me that that would be a better way and would curb a lot of problems. This is all about illegal imigration, Tim McVeigh would have been able to get a license and blow up the OK City Building and there is really no way to prevent domestic terrorists if you have no inkling that they're are going to strike.

 

You can do soemthing to stop foriegners from attacking by more careful screening, not letting illegals have licenses, tightening the borders, etc...

 

There is no need to bother American born citizens with shit like this, it's a waste of time and won't accomplish anything.

[The Czech Republic 0]

MUTHA FUCK THE GUBMINT

 

Do people sit in rooms thinking of ways to make more people want to bomb their local DMV?

 

 

EDIT: Of course they do, and they probably work for the DMV.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

If I ever become a terrorist, they will be the first to go.

[The Czech Republic 0]

The DMV sells its database contents to telemarketers for calling lists, so I hear. Man, are they just involving themselves in every facet of national uselessness or what.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Americans could soon be required to show four types of ID when applying for a driver's license.

 

...

 

States still could give licenses to illegal immigrants...

Then what's the point?

 

..., but they would have different designs or colors to alert security officers that they are unacceptable as IDs for boarding planes or entering federal buildings.

 

Christ almighty. If Canada wasn't filled with C-Bacons, I might move up there...

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

If Canada wasn't filled with C-Bacons

 

...bahahahahaaha.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

What would be worse -- living in Canada with a bunch of C-Bacons or in England with a bunch of INXSs?...

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

What would be worse -- living in Canada with a bunch of C-Bacons or in England with a bunch of INXSs?...

...living in America with a bunch of KKK's

 

ZING!

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Actually, I was going to equate America with CheesalaIsGood, but I don't want to appear to be stalking him (I also don't know where he's from).

 

And the question ought to be who wouldn't want to live in an America with a bunch of kkks?...

[Slayer 0]

who wouldn't want to live in an America with a bunch of kkks?...

[Eclipse 0]

I hate the system that is already in place, showing like a zillion things that are worth points. Well, that's how it is in New Jersey. Good thing I already have my license. I don't have to worry about doing that crap again.

[Guest Wildbomb 4:20]

Man, I just can't WAIT to get my new license, then, here in MA. Things are fucked up already. In six months I have to get a new license because it expires. Then I have to get ANOTHER one in a year afterwards if I want to buy liquor. Because even if you ARE over 21, you can't buy alcohol if you present the vertical-"under 21" licenses.

 

That's even if it hasn't expired, too.

 

Another genius idea brought to you from the kind and corteous clerks of the DMV, who alledge: "We're people too!"

 

--Ryan

...man, maybe making the DMV a more fun experience would give Democrats some votes. You be the judge...

[Some Guy 0]

I'm glad I'm old enough that I didn't have to deal with it. My first license was among the first with the goofy holgrams and what not. I never had a vertical one. I also narrowlyt missed the new law about having to have your learner's permit for 6 months and not being able to have minors in the car with you. Back in 98 they were such simpler times.

[SuperJerk 0]

I don't care about the driver's license issue --- but if we stick with the present status quo in the Treasury Dept (you know, where providing closer scrutiny to Arab males --- who, ironically, TEND to be terrorists more than any other group presently), I doubt this will do the first thing to make us more safe.

I thought this would be a good time to whip out my arguments against racial profiling:

 

-What's keeping Arabs from disguising themselves as some other ethnicity to avoid suspicion?

 

-If Oklahoma City taught us ANYTHING, its that ANYONE can be a terrorist.

[The Czech Republic 0]

I don't care about the driver's license issue --- but if we stick with the present status quo in the Treasury Dept (you know, where providing closer scrutiny to Arab males --- who, ironically, TEND to be terrorists more than any other group presently), I doubt this will do the first thing to make us more safe.

I thought this would be a good time to whip out my arguments against racial profiling:

 

-What's keeping Arabs from disguising themselves as some other ethnicity to avoid suspicion?

 

-If Oklahoma City taught us ANYTHING, its that ANYONE can be a terrorist.

Anybody can be a terrorist, but Arab men sure seem to dominate the market.

[Guest MikeSC]

I don't care about the driver's license issue --- but if we stick with the present status quo in the Treasury Dept (you know, where providing closer scrutiny to Arab males --- who, ironically, TEND to be terrorists more than any other group presently), I doubt this will do the first thing to make us more safe.

I thought this would be a good time to whip out my arguments against racial profiling:

 

-What's keeping Arabs from disguising themselves as some other ethnicity to avoid suspicion?

How about this?

 

If you're not a citizen (no matter what your nationality is), you must have INS approval to fly anywhere. Like it or not, visitors are here at our pleasure and do NOT have equal rights as citizens.

 

And you'll HAVE to agree to a stringent search before boarding a plane.

 

Remember, we don't HAVE to let non-citizens travel anywhere if we decide we do not wish to do so.

-If Oklahoma City taught us ANYTHING, its that ANYONE can be a terrorist.

And the moment we have a group BESIDES Muslim men hijacking planes all willy-nilly, we can talk.

-=Mike

[Jingus 0]

-What's keeping Arabs from disguising themselves as some other ethnicity to avoid suspicion?

Excellent point. Depending on how they look, a terrorist could claim to be any number of different races. Indian, South American, Italian, whatever. Something to think about.

 

-If Oklahoma City taught us ANYTHING, its that ANYONE can be a terrorist.

Yeah, but like Mike said, the vast majority of terrorist acts in the US have been caused by Arabian men, so it's only common sense that we have to make watching that subgroup our first priority in terms of security.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Yes, this will suck for the states, though I think that a uniform design for driver's licenses is a much better idea.

Im surprised that they havent done that already to counteract fake IDs.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

who wouldn't want to live in an America with a bunch of kkks?...

Once he mows my lawn he'd have the rest of the day off -- as long as he stays away from those white girls...