News / Law
Real ID Regulations to be Announced Today
Michael Chertoff, Homeland Security Secretary, will announce the regulations for the electronic identification card mandate while explaining again why the plan will help keep America safe from terrorists.
While Chertoff has not released any details of the final draft of regulations, Associated Press and the Washington Post cite an anonymous source that there has been a change from the earlier drafts that will delay the deadlines of when a national id card must be used to get on plains and go into federal buildings.
Initially the cards were supposed to be set in use by May 11, 2008, no later than 2013, with the exception of states that have applied for an extension. Now American citizens under the age of 50 wont have to expect to carry around a real ID-compliant identification card until 2014. All Americans will be required to have the card by 2017.
At a meeting of departmental advisors Chertoff said “We’v worked very closely with the states, in terms of developing a plan that I think will be quite inexpensive, reasonable to implement, and produce the results that…are a part of the core recommendation of the 9/11 Commission, which is secure identification when driver’s licenses are presented.”
17 states enacted legislation to reject the real ID plan saying that it is too expensive, while others were considering the idea. The AP and Post report that federal officials have dropped the cost form $14 billion to $3.9 billion with the new rules.
