The Real ID Act

[Son of Clyde]

[font="Times New Roman, Times, serif"]Congress is poised to pass a law that would make sweeping changes to the nation's system for issuing driver's licenses by imposing stringent requirements on states to verify the authenticity of birth certificates, Social Security cards, legal residency visas, and bank and utility records used to obtain a license.

House Republicans attached the bill to a must-pass supplemental spending package for troops in Iraq without first putting it through the usual legislative scrutiny of hearings and debate. Should it emerge intact from House-Senate negotiations over the spending package, it could be law next month.

Touted as an antiterrorism measure, the ''Real ID Act" would also overturn laws in nine states that allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses. If a state does not comply with any provision of the law, its residents would no longer be able to use their driver's licenses for federal identification purposes, such as for identification purposes, such as for boarding a plane.

The law, some say, would effectively turn the new driver's license into a national identification card.

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[BC]

And if I remember correctly drivers licences usually require  current address info.. and expire at regular intervals to keep things in order..

Yes.. an effective way to keep track of everyone.. much like in the EU and FSU. Maybe even as effective as passports or mandatory ID cards over here since driving in the US is almost a must to do anything.

The 'freedoms' once boasted in the US are dwindling and will likely soon be par with the rest of the world. Except of course that arsenal in the closet..

[TigerPaws]

Legislation like this is proposed in every session of congress and just like the past attempts to put forth a national ID system this one will never even make it to a committee hearing let alone a vote. Americans in general are extremely opposed to any form of national ID system and any attempt to implement one will be met with such strong resistance from the general public that no politician who wishes to remain in office will make any serious attempt to pass such a law. As was to eloquently said by one of our founding fathers "He who trades a little freedom for a little security deserves neither".

[Bruno]

... a national ID system this one will never even make it to a committee hearing let alone a vote. Americans in general are extremely opposed to any form of national ID system ...

I think that you have already one form of national ID system... i am not sure but i thin k that each american have a national social security number ...

[TigerPaws]

I think that you have already one form of national ID system... i am not sure but i thin k that each american have a national social security number ...

Bruno,

 According the U.S. Law the social security number can not be used for identification.

[Bruno]

Great let see a little :

" Today, the Social Security Number plays an unparalleled role in identification, authentication, and tracking of Americans. Because the identifier is used for many purposes, it is valuable to those who wish to acquire credit, commit crimes, or masquerade as another person... The widespread use of the SSN as an identifier and authenticator has lead to an increase in identity theft. According to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, identity theft now affects between 500,000 and 700,000 people annually. Victims often do not discover the crime until many months after its occurrence. Victims spend hundreds of hours and substantial amounts of money attempting to fix ruined credit or expunge a criminal record that another committed in their name..."

http://www.epic.org/privacy/ssn/

"A Social Security number is important because you need it to get a job, collect Social Security benefits and receive some other government benefits. Many other companies you do business with, such as banks and credit companies, also ask for your number."

http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10002.html

"In the United States a Social Security Number (SSN) is considered the standard identifier for everyone from childhood to death and beyond, and is used by many government and private institutions. Issued by the U.S. Social Security Administration, its evolution from being "Not For Identification" between the years 1946 and 1972 to its present status is considered disturbing by many because of the potential for criminal abuse and privacy invasion, but this also makes it ideal for investigative purposes!"

http://www.investigateanyoneonline.com/ssn-aboutnumbers.shtml

And now, for the russian ladies... ( the privacy in america )

"Has your fiancé been married before, perhaps even been to jail? Where in the world is your lousy, cheating "ex" hiding assets? Find out whether your applicant really has the background and experience he claims "

http://www.investigateanyoneonline.com/nd/

[Jet]

Tiger,

I've got to side with Bruno on this one. A clear case of What the law is..... being very different from What the practice is.....

[Turboguy]

All individual financial tracking (credit reports) is keyed to the SS number.

[wxman]

Privacy act prevents anyone from requiring social security number. They can ask, but you are not required to give information to anyone. Our state use to require SSN on license, but several years someone took state to federal court and ruled in favor of plaintiff.  Of course since banks are federally controlled, this information is already available to all credit companies etc. When you fill out credit card application, they ask for SSN, but you do not have to provide it. Of course you may not get approved, but it isn't mandatory.  Because of identity theft, I never give it out, and still have been approved for home loans, credit cards, etc.  The only time I gave it out is on tax forms, and this K1 visa process.

[TigerPaws]

Privacy act prevents anyone from requiring social security number. They can ask, but you are not required to give information to anyone. Our state use to require SSN on license, but several years someone took state to federal court and ruled in favor of plaintiff.  Of course since banks are federally controlled, this information is already available to all credit companies etc. When you fill out credit card application, they ask for SSN, but you do not have to provide it. Of course you may not get approved, but it isn't mandatory.  Because of identity theft, I never give it out, and still have been approved for home loans, credit cards, etc.  The only time I gave it out is on tax forms, and this K1 visa process.

wxman,

 More people like you and I need to say NO when it comes to giving out their SSN, like you I say NO and have never had any real problems, sometimes there is a misunderstanding about the legality of saying no but a simple call from my attorney solves the issue very quickly.

 

[andrewfi]

Having one's attourney verify one's ID, in the form of a response to a complaint from oneself seems like an expensive and inconvenient way to do acheive something that is unncecessary in many parts of the world. I can not imagine retaining an attourney for such tasks, I have no need for such a person, on retention, otherwise.

I do not even know my social security number, nor do I even know where to find it...

The reality is that in the US, driving licence and SS number are de-facto national ID forms, your refusal  to accept this whilst legal (for now) does not alter the reality.

As I understand by attaching this amendment to a bill that will pass, its likelihood of implementation is much greater than a stand alone bill, especially when proposed by the governing majority.

[TigerPaws]

Having one's attourney verify one's ID, in the form of a response to a complaint from oneself seems like an expensive and inconvenient way to do acheive something that is unncecessary in many parts of the world. I can not imagine retaining an attourney for such tasks, I have no need for such a person, on retention, otherwise.

I do not even know my social security number, nor do I even know where to find it...

The reality is that in the US, driving licence and SS number are de-facto national ID forms, your refusal  to accept this whilst legal (for now) does not alter the reality.

As I understand by attaching this amendment to a bill that will pass, its likelihood of implementation is much greater than a stand alone bill, especially when proposed by the governing majority.

 Forget it; It is simply not going to happen as for my use of retained legal counsel, they are paid a flat fee even if I use them or not so that is what a retainer is for.