Federal government denies Maine's REAL ID compliance extension

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

Source: WMTW 8 ABC Portland

"The Secretary of State's Office said that beginning Jan. 30, 2017, federal agencies will no longer accept Maine licenses and IDs for official purposes.

As of Jan. 22, 2018, a Maine ID or license will no longer be accepted as identification to board a commercial aircraft. Travelers will need to provide another acceptable for of identification."

"The law was passed in 2005 by Congress to improve the security standards for state-issued identification."



Read more: http://www.wmtw.com/article/federal-government-denies-maines-real-id-compliance-extension/5752409

---

I guess I should probably get a passport.

[forest444]

1. Another accomplishment by Governor Harkonnen.

Perhaps if he'd spend less time obsessing over his "folders of black and brown people," le Pig could actually do something about this awful situation.

[Maine-i-acs]

2. By 2018 this turd, LeRage, will be on his victory lap -

We should all be using our state-mandated photo IDs issued to food stamp recipients, maybe that'll meet the standard.
Of course nobody here will be able to buy a plane ticket by then.

(Harkkonen's a good name too).

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

4. This one seems to not be LePage's fault

Maine legislature in 2007 passed a resolution to not comply with the Real ID Act. This was before LePage was governor.

https://www.cnet.com/news/maine-rejects-real-id-act/

[IllinoisBirdWatcher]

5. GREAT comparison.

He even looks like Harkonnen.

[Duckhunter935]

3. Same with Oklahoma

This will be crazy for Fort Sill to enforce. This red state has had years to comply. Glad it was not extended.

[KellyW]

6. Not just Jan 30, 2017 -Now

Two weeks ago, I had my Washington State Driver’s license rejected by a federal agency as photo ID because of the real ID act.

[tammywammy]

10. All state drivers licenses are supposed to be accepted until January 2018

Did they tell you it was because of Real ID that they wouldn't accept it?

[LTG]

11. only for flying

Last edited Thu Oct 13, 2016, 05:30 AM - Edit history (1)

Use for entering federal buildings and military posts are different, non-compliant IDs are not being accepted.

ETA Different states may have different compliance dates depending upon extensions. WA's extension request was denied last year and the law took effect for us this past January, for all purposes except commercial flights.

[tammywammy]

15. Yeah. Sorry I didn't read the post closely enough.

[MADem]

8. MA has been crawling towards compliance. We finally pulled the trigger in July.

I thought I'd have to rely on a passport or military ID.

BOSTON, MA – Gov. Charlie Baker signed a bill Tuesday to bring Massachusetts ID cards up to federal standards.

The federal REAL ID act imposes new security standards for state identification cards. Not updating Massachusetts cards would mean residents cannot take domestic flights or enter federal buildings. The state RMV will begin issuing new cards in the fall of 2017.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation on Tuesday revealed the new design for state driver's licenses and ID cards, which will be phased in over the next few years....."The new Massachusetts licenses and IDs already include some required REAL ID features such as a second bar code on the reverse side which contains the demographic information printed on the front," MassDOT said. "The RMV is still in the process of programming additional information the federal government has authorized for REAL ID cards which... will include such information as an individual's full legal name and, if pertinent, the individual's legal presence information with the expiration date."

Baker has been pushing REAL ID compliance legislation since October 2015, but legislators balked over the governor's stipulation that only people lawfully present in the country could receive the new IDs. That measure ultimately prevailed, but opponents say it potentially ices out legally present U.S. residents who, for whatever reason, do not have appropriate documentation......Massachusetts received an extension to comply with the federal government's enforcement laws, along with another 25 or so states. Roughly 23 other states are already issuing REAL ID-compliant credentials, the governor's office said. Originally, states were supposed to comply with the REAL ID law by the end of 2009.


http://patch.com/massachusetts/beaconhill/real-id-bill-becomes-law-heres-what-it-means-you

The sticking point was licenses for undocumented people, but it looks like they won't be issued to them.

[LTG]

12. My WA Enhanced DL caused me unexpected headaches in January

In January of this year I flew to Honolulu because my mother had been admitted to Tripler Army Hospital in very bad shape.

When I arrived at Tripler they refused me entry to the Hospital as my WA license was not acceptable as ID for entry to federal buildings, facilities or military bases. I had no idea that was happening or that in 2018 it would no longer be valid for flying.

I had thought my Enhanced Driver's License would work. It is compliant for crossing borders by land and sea between the North American countries, as well as several nations in the Caribbean, under the terms of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. It has the same chip and security measures as the Real ID and requires proof of U.S. citizenship. I could the cross the border for entry to the U.S. with it, but not use it to enter an Army Hospital to visit my mother.

As I was standing there at the security office figuring out my next move, one of the security supervisors motioned me over to him a little ways down the sidewalk. He quietly handed me a one day pass and said to just not say anything. I thanked him and went to see mom. Things were critical there for a few days, but she suddenly started to recover quite quickly. She soon went home and has been great ever since.

Fortunately the other days I went early in the morning, the MPs handled the gate then and were much more understanding.

[Igel]

13. Notice how this goes.

Now, if you have trouble getting one of these forms of ID, nobody really cares.

Real ID says that drivers licenses (and state IDs) have to be a reliable indicator of identity, based on birth certificates or comparable documents, and if you're not a citizen and are here temporarily the ID is flagged for this.

The same group of people who can't get "Real ID" level identification for voting is affected by this, and without the Real ID act the drivers licenses and photo IDs that are/were required in some states to vote wouldn't be the pain in the butt they are for those individuals to get.

[apnu]

16. Illinois managed to get this done despite being so f'd up.

So what's the deal Maine?

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

17. Maine legislature made a resolution back in 2007 to not do anything about it

in protest and so that's why they haven't done anything.

[jpak]

18. When I renewed my passport, I paid the extra and got the "card" version as well

Just in case of this..or voter suppression.

[wincest]

19. the aclu's stance on real ID's

https://www.aclu.org/other/5-problems-national-id-cards

The newest calls for a national ID are only the latest in a long series of proposals that have cropped up repeatedly over the past decade, usually in the context of immigration policy, but also in connection with gun control or health care reform. But the creation of a national I.D. card remains a misplaced, superficial "quick fix." It offers only a false sense of security and will not enhance our security - but will pose serious threats to our civil liberties and civil rights. A National ID will not keep us safe or free.