Wednesday, June 01, 2005

Added stress coming to a DMV near you

If you're going to a driver's license facility soon, expect added stress--to the tune of about $50 I'm guessing.

Thanks to Bush signing the Real ID Act two weeks ago, we're going to end up paying a lot more to renew our driver's license. Real ID requires driver's license applicants to provide either a passport or at least four documents with their Social Security number, address and other pertinent information.

According to a May 31 article in the Baltimore Sun, the Congressional Budget Office estimates Real ID could cost states about $100 million over the next four years, while the National Conference of State Legislatures says states might have to spend $500 million to $750 million to comply.

Apparently, this new law is supposed to keep driver's licenses out of terrorists' hands.

"No one realized that it was a problem that states were giving licenses to anyone who wanted one," said Colleen Gilbert, executive director for the Coalition for a Secure Driver's License, which has pushed for license reform since the attacks 3 1/2 years ago. "But obviously, the 9/11 hijackers knew that, and they took advantage of it. They did that before, and they will do it again."

Gilbert also said that the legislation isn't meant to hurt the average day laborer but that "security has to come first."

Sorry to break the news Gilbert, but this is going to hurt day laborers, you, me--everyone.

Time to stock up on the aspirin 'cause once this system is adopted, there will be headaches -- and I'm talking migraines people.

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