REAL ID deadline looms; S.C. debates
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Listen to audio from House Speaker Bobby Harrell's ETV program on REAL ID.
COLUMBIA — If current airport security measures don't take up enough of your time, how about adding an hour?
Local air travelers soon might face the additional time for screening because of an impasse between the federal government and the Palmetto State over REAL ID.
Gov. Mark Sanford has until Monday to act on an extension to the federal deadline, or residents trying to catch a flight will need a passport or be required to go through a secondary screening process.
Without the extension, current South Carolina driver's licenses would no longer be considered valid identification to fly or enter federal buildings, beginning May 11.
Congress mandated in 2005 that all states put new security measures in place for issuing new driver's licenses or identification cards, but South Carolina has refused to comply with the REAL ID requirements, among about 30 states that have opposed it.
But only South Carolina, Maine and New Hampshire have not been granted extensions to the deadline for issuing new cards.
Sanford is weighing his options as he studies the implications of asking the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for the extension, which would allow the state to begin issuing new licenses Jan. 1, 2010. He said he is worried that the state would break its own laws.
"We still haven't made a decision on it," said Joel Sawyer, Sanford's press secretary. "There's a law in this state that says we will not comply with REAL ID. Homeland Security has said unequivocally that an extension is a form of compliance."
Legislative leaders, including state House Speaker Bobby Harrell, argue that asking for more time to fight the issue doesn't put the state on the hook for compliance. The House and Senate have passed resolutions calling for the governor to ask for the extension while maintaining the state's decision not to comply.
"The only thing the initial extension does is give us more time to continue to express our concerns to the federal government," said Harrell, R-Charleston. "It makes absolutely no sense to me not to ask for the initial extension."
Local residents are of many minds.
Aarin Vaughn of Charleston, who has a passport, said she does not like the idea of the new identification cards.
"I don't agree with it because I think it's too invasive," Vaughn said. The REAL ID requires more forms of original documents, such as birth certificates, and the documents must be verified before the cards are issued. The intent is have a more uniform way of checking for terrorists.
Meanwhile, Melissa Margolius of Charleston said she thinks everyone in the nation should follow consistent rules when it comes to having proper identification.
"You shouldn't have rules in one state and not another," said Margolius, who also has a passport.
Latasha Riley of North Charleston, who does not have a pass- port, said she thinks the state should comply with the REAL ID.
"A uniform ID is the best thing," she said. "If you have to go through secondary screening, it's going to slow you down and you could miss your flight."
Harrell said he's heard from airport officials who say that residents without passports should allow an extra hour — for a total of about two — to make it through secondary screening in time to catch their flights.
Laura Keehner, Homeland Security press secretary, said it was too early to give residents guidance on particulars on flight and airport procedures in the event South Carolina does not seek the extension, but it will mean the rules go into effect May 11.
"It will be as if they show up with no ID whatsoever," she said. "At a minimum, they can expect to wait in line and go through secondary screening."
Military identification and a few other less common forms of identification will be acceptable in place of a passport. The deadline also affects admission in federal buildings and nuclear power plants.
Compliance with REAL ID, though, will mean a big headache for residents down the road, Sawyer said. The state Department of Motor Vehicles estimates that the wait time to get a Real ID-compliant driver's license could jump up to two hours and increase costs from $25 to $60 every eight years instead of every 10.
The additional cost and increased wait time would be required to verify the documents.
REAL ID facts
What is REAL ID?
--State-issued driver's licenses and identification cards that comply with new security measures established by the federal government, as recommended by the commission that studied the 2001 terrorist attacks. The objective is to fight terrorism and reduce fraud.
When will I have to start taking my passport with me to fly?
--May 11 unless the state asks for an extension by Monday. If the state does not ask for the extension residents without a passport can still fly but will be subject to a secondary screening process.
How long does it take to get a passport?
--It takes four weeks to process an application, but requests can be expedited — especially for urgent travel needs. To learn more about how to obtain a passport, check out the U.S. Department of State's Web site. You can also call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778.
What other documents do I need if I don't have a passport?
--Residents without passports would be subject to secondary screening, although military identification and a few less common documents would also be accepted in place of a passport.
For more information:
--Log on to www.dhs.gov and enter "REAL ID" in the search box on the homepage.
Reach Yvonne Wenger at 803-799-9051 or ywenger@post andcourier.com. Reach Warren Wise at 745-5850 or wwise@post andcourier.com.
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Comments
This article has 21 comment(s)
Posted by santee_chris on March 27, 2008 at 6:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So I see this article made no mention of how your personal information will be shared with all other states, Canada, and Mexico with the Real ID. Personally I don't think the Real ID is going to stop any "terrorists" because they would work under the radar similar to how illegal immigrants operate. How can an ID with way too much information packed into it make us more secure when we're leaving our borders open?
Posted by lillycollette on March 27, 2008 at 7:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don’t doubt that terrorist can slip in under the radar. That’s only half of the issue. The other half was reducing “fraud”. We certainly have more victims of fraud that direct terrorist attacks.
I can understand South Carolina’s trepidation in closing the doors to fraud -- considering all the doors they have left open to it.
Posted by sgtwitherspoon on March 27, 2008 at 7:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is the Transportation Security Administration's policy to require all passengers, whose photo I.D. is not valid due to lack of anti-counterfeiting measures, to be subjected to extra screening and baggage search. This adds approximately twenty minutes on to the normal routine, at most. However, if two thirds of the passengers arriving at the checkpoints are in this category, then one hour is probably the minimum that it would add to the wait time. South Carolina needs to get on board with the rest of the United States, or we need to adopt a national I.D. for the United States. Half of the passengers now already use their passports.
Posted by theronce on March 27, 2008 at 8:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, we can fully trust the all-knowing, all-caring federal government. Now, how hard do you really think that it is for the bad guys to get fake passports.
Posted by lillycollette on March 27, 2008 at 8:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am appalled by the amount of fraud and forgery going on and welcome measures that may help curtail it.
---
Forgery of personal documents is an old world-wide problem with no respect of who is victimized. Even the name of King George III of England was forged to a purported marriage certificate with Hannah Lightfoot dated April 17, 1759. (That document and other related forged documents from the 1866 trial are now part of the Royal Archives in Windsor Castle.)
http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/page112....
Doctors forge marriage certificates
HARARE, February 5, 2008 (thezimbabwetimes.com) – … 17 newly qualified doctors forged marriage certificate … The lawyers who authenticated the certificates are also under investigation by the AG’s office… sources in the AG’s office said on Monday that they were treating the matter as a serious criminal offence.
http://www.2dca.org/opinion/March%2014,%...
State of Florida v. Jerry Jaramillo, Jr. and Maria Knudsen, 2d Dis. Ct. of App. (2007)
http://www.nypost.com/seven/08262007/new...
I.D.-THIEF WEDDING CRUSHERS
FORGERY NIGHTMARE TURNS BRIDES INTO 'BIGAMISTS'
By SUSANNAH CAHALAN and DAVID SEIFMAN
August 26, 2007 –
http://star-techcentral.com/tech/story.a...
… Hassan said this in response to a case where a couple was charged in the state Syariah High Court here with forging a marriage certificate. … declined to specify the number of forged marriage certificate cases last year.
Posted by hoyce on March 27, 2008 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great, I have a flight that returns on May 11, wonder if i should just order my passport now for this domestic flight.
Posted by Hobcaw on March 27, 2008 at 10:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Go Mark! Ask for the extension, but don't give in. "There's a law in this state that says we will not comply with REAL ID."
We let illegal aliens walk into our country freely, and even get social security and welfare, yet we hassle our tax-paying citizens with further forms of proof of citizenship, including distributing US passports with RFID chips embedded in them that allow identity thieves to probe us electronically anywhere we walk with our passport!
UNACCEPTABLE!
We MUST fight for our rights, privacy, protection and freedom!
Posted by lantanagurl on March 27, 2008 at 10:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I do not agree with the Real ID Act whatsoever. Criminals always slip under the radar, that's one of the things that makes them criminals. In addition, how in the world would having a Real ID have affected the events of 911? We, the American people, are punished because our GOVERNMENT failed to do it's job in regard to sharing critical information with all of the security entities invovled. Egos are what precipitated those attacks. I've worked with these agencies & there is simply no good excuse why they didn't collaborate with one another. Real ID will not stop terroists & it is a pollyanna mindset that thinks it will. Fraud it may reduce, terror it will not. They will simply find a way around it. I had a college professsor tell me years ago that whatever man go do another man can undo. That was in regard to computer viruses, but I think it is also applicable here. There is always a way around something and the criminal mind will find it so why punish the rest of us with the governments paranoia? I don't believe in living in fear and I refuse to do it.
Posted by lantanagurl on March 27, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A comment on the P&C poll. Only 2 answers were offered...yes or no. I want to know how we should answer the quesion when all of the information has not been presented such as, what does the ferderal government have to say about the extension? Does it say that compliance is assumed if a state asks for an extension? If so, then no, I don't believe Governor Sanford is doing the wrong thing. If the answer is yes, then I belive he is doing the correct thing in saying no to the feds. Governor Sanford has already dealt with the sharks of DC so I am inlcined to go by his decisions rather than Harrell, who has only a local view and not a global one.
Posted by trod on March 27, 2008 at 10:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I dont like the idea of it even though i have to have a similar
card for work.things got a chip in it that stores your info.i believe the basic idea came from this .
http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/twi...
Posted by orvinc on March 27, 2008 at 11:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Way to go Gov. Sanford. He knows this is the Feds way of controlling the states and stomping all over the tenth amendment. We should all try to prevent "Big Brother."
Posted by cpanther515 on March 27, 2008 at 11:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
When I returned to SC in 2007 after living in NC in order to get a SC drivers license I had to provide a copy of my birth certificate and SS# and my wife had to produce a copy of our marriage license a birth certificate and her SS#.
How many illegals are driving in SC that don't have this documention and are still able to get a drivers license?
Posted by CHRISJIII on March 27, 2008 at 11:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just another attempt by the Bush Administration to try and make it look like they are actually doing something. However, as usual, they are not solving anything just making more trouble. Before you know it you'll need internal passports to move outside of your neighborhood. Bad government posing as competent.
Posted by amylrod on March 27, 2008 at 11:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As Hobcaw said, "...including distributing US passports with RFID chips embedded in them that allow identity thieves to probe us electronically anywhere we walk with our passport!" If you keep your passport wrapped in foil or a lead casing, no one can read the chip. The same chip will be in the REAL ID. It is to keep track of us, a step in controlling the people. So if we do end up with real id, remember to keep it in a foil wrap. One more step in the push for one world order.
Posted by Hobcaw on March 27, 2008 at 2:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
REALID and RFID passports are marking us with numbers for Fed Govt control. Where does this info get used for/againts us? Isn't your SS # enough? Is this what the bible warned of?
What about the hoardes of illegal aliens (not immigrants, they are legal)?????? We implement REALID, but then cut our border patrol in half (12,000 to 6,000)? What is DC thinking? Scary ...
REALID is unconstitutional (as is the collection of Federal Income taxes), so SC, ME & NH should continue to hold strong as their constituents demand!
Mark is the man! Stick to you guns!
Posted by Hobcaw on March 27, 2008 at 2:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To "lantanagurl" (above) ... I agree, the P&C poll's answers are conflicting and really ask nothing ...
"Is Gov. Sanford doing the right thing in refusing to request an extension for REAL ID?
Yes, requesting an extension would indicate eventual compliance.
No, his decision will have a negative impact on South Carolina residents."
My write in answer is, "I support the educated decision Giv. Mark Sanford has made to oppose the adoption of REALID by the people of the great state of South Carolina."
Posted by ForPnC on March 27, 2008 at 4:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Real Definition of Real ID -
Another step towards the pure paranoia created by the non-administration in the Darkhouse.
Posted by LPhoenix98 on March 27, 2008 at 4:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The federal government has made us no safer from terrorists since 9/11 and now they expect us to throw our money away along with more personal liberties and swamp our DMV's even more so than they already are? HELLO, terrorist win when they make their targets change their way of life. The other thing is how does this protect us from home-grown terrorism? It doesn't. Does anyone remember the muslim groups here in the U.S. that raised money for Al Qaida? Most were American citizens. John Phillip Walker Lindh was an American born citizen captured in Afghanistan by the U.S. military as an enemy combatant. The war on terror can't be won with new ID's, it has to be common sense. The problem is common sense is so damn uncommon anymore. The federal government has already begun shredding the Constitution of the United States, send a post card to your local legislator telling them we don't want the Constitution of the State of South Carolina shredded. No to Real ID.
Posted by PalmettoDP on March 27, 2008 at 5:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If the feds want us to have REAL ID, then they should send us adequate funding for it. REAL ID was a rider attached to a must-pass spending bill and there was never a congressional debate over it - the states opposing it are right in doing so.
Posted by svESinKW on March 27, 2008 at 6:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was in the same situation as cpanther515 above. I returned to SC in 2007 after living in another state for a few years. What a difference a few years makes! I, too, had to provide my birth certificate, SS card, passport and marriage license. My husband and I said the same thing -- how in the heck do illegal aliens get DLs without all this documentation that us legal, tax-paying citizens HAVE to provide? I was mad. The gal at the DMV said that she's been married and divorced three times and if she were to have to get a new license, she'd have to provide divorce papers and marriage licenses to document all her name changes.
It's been said, and I believe it to be true, that the terrorists have won. They don't have to do another blessed thing -- they have us running scared of each other, which takes the focus off of them.
This is all insanity. God Bless Governor Sanford! We're completely behind him on this issue.
Posted by walleyedwoman1215 on March 28, 2008 at 12:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Re: How in the heck do illegal aliens get DLs without all this documentation that us legal, tax-paying citizens HAVE to provide?
Answer to what was likely a rhetorical question: They don't get DLs.
Ask any Spanish-speaking police officer how often he is called to wrecks involving non-English speaking IAs. Then ask him how often the IAs can produce drivers' licenses (forget about insurance.) The reply will be almost never.
I've seen it over and over and over again.
Sorry to generalize, but stereotypes don't happen in a vacuum.