(Columbia) - The South Carolina Senate has a message for Congress: no money, no REAL ID. Congress passed the REAL ID Act of 2005 as a way to improve homeland security by standardizing states' driver's licenses and ID cards. The cards themselves would be more secure, and getting them would take more scrutiny, like verifying all forms of identification used to get a license.
But Congress is not giving states the money they need to implement the act. It's estimated to cost at least $28 million to start the program in South Carolina, then at least $10 million a year after that. The money is to create new databases and computer systems to be able to share information nationwide so states can verify identification. The new licenses would be made a different way, which requires a new system. DMV workers would also have go through FBI background checks and get training on the new system.
DMV director Marcia Adams says putting REAL ID in place would mean wait times at the DMV would go back to an hour or more, like they were five years ago when the state switched to a new computer system at the DMV.
"What the REAL ID act requires is people to come in person to re-enroll, to bring their documents so that we can look at those documents and electronically verify them. It really does away with any web renewals and any mail renewals," she says.
The license would also cost you more. Instead of $25, she estimates it would cost $60-$85. Idaho and Maine have already passed resolutions saying they won't take part in REAL ID, and South Carolina is the sixth state with a bill pending to do the same.
But the act says you'll need a REAL ID to board a commercial airplane or enter a federal building. What happens to South Carolinians if the state doesn't comply with the law?
Sen. Larry Martin, R-Pickens, main sponsor of the bill to opt out, says, "That is within the province of members of Congress to determine. I really think that, with South Carolina and some other states that have looked at this and have said, 'Look, we just can't do it,' it really puts the ball back in their courts to do something more reasonable."
Congress is already looking at changing the REAL ID Act because of all the complaints from the states. Sen. Martin says he doesn't think Congress would shut down air travel or federal buildings if the state doesn't comply because of the impact that would have on commerce.
Robert Kittle
4/5/2007 7:32:54 PM
