REAL ID Act of 2005

SOURCE www.npr.org
The REAL ID law, passed in 2005, was not solely a response to the 9/11 attacks but also a result of concerns dating back to 1995. It aims to make state-issued IDs harder to counterfeit and verify the information on them. Despite resistance and delays, most states now offer REAL ID-compliant versions of their driver's licenses.

Key Points

  • REAL ID law passed in 2005 as a response to concerns dating back to 1995
  • Aims to avoid a national ID card by working through states
  • Resistance from states, delays in compliance, and varying 'flavors' of REAL ID
  • Deadline for REAL ID compliance in airports impacting travelers
  • Two-tier system of state IDs affecting immigrants without legal status

Pros

  • Enhances security by making IDs harder to counterfeit
  • Requires states to verify the information on ID cards

Cons

  • Resistance from states due to cost, privacy concerns, and extra documentation requirements
  • Delayed implementation and varying compliance among states