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Government/Legislation
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U.S. ‘REAL ID’ regulations to impact travelers
As announced January 11, 2008, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has introduced a final rule establishing minimum security standards for state-issued drivers’ licenses and identification cards – called REAL ID.
The REAL ID Act of 2005 was passed by Congress in response to a recommendation made by the 9/11 Commission that the Federal government should “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses.” The final rule issued last month proposes to “address document fraud by setting specific requirements that states must adopt for compliance, to include: (1) information and security features that must be incorporated into each card; (2) proof of identity and U.S. citizenship or legal status of an applicant; (3) verification of the source documents provided by an applicant; and (4) security standards for the offices that issue licenses and identification cards.”
Impact on travelers
The impact of the final rule on travelers will vary depending on the traveler’s state of residence. As stated by DHS, “effective May 11, 2008, individuals from States who have not obtained an extension of the compliance date from DHS, or who have not submitted a Compliance Package to DHS under the deadlines provided in this final rule, will not be able to use their State-issued license for federal official purposes, including for identification to board a commercial airplane. Residents of States that do choose to comply, however, through submission of their Compliance Plan or a timely-filed request for an extension, will be able to continue to use their current license to board commercial aircraft (and for other official purposes) through December 1, 2014.”
Citizens of states not in compliance with the rule would need to provide other approved identification, such as a U.S. passport, to board federally regulated commercial aircraft.
Information included on REAL IDs
The Act directs that REAL ID-compliant licenses and identification cards must include the following information:
- The person's full legal name, date of birth, and gender;
- The person's driver's license or identification card number;
- A digital photograph of the person;
- The person's address of principal residence;
- The person's signature;
- Physical security features designed to prevent tampering, counterfeiting, or duplication of the driver's licenses and identification cards for fraudulent purposes; and
- A common machine-readable technology, with defined minimum elements.
Public comments
A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was issued by DHS on March 3, 2007, proposing requirements to meet the minimum standards of the Act. During the sixty-day public comment period, more than 21,000 comments were received. Those comments, and the DHS responses, are outlined in the final rule. Comments included concerns related to privacy; security of personally identifiable data; costs of implementing the program; as well as other comments both in support of, and in opposition to the rule as outlined.
An overview of REAL ID, as well as questions and answers, and the full text of the rule as outlined in the Federal Register, can be found at http://www.dhs.gov/xprevprot/programs/gc_1200062053842.shtm.
Sources: Department of Homeland Security, ABC News, CNN
Expired failed-airline protection law not extended
Congress did not extend the law that required surviving airlines to accommodate ticketed travelers on failed lines. The expired law required that surviving U.S.-based airlines honor failed-airlines’ tickets for a fee of no more than $50 on a standby, space-available basis.
While the risk of airline failure is less than it was when the law was passed, consumers themselves must now deal with the impact should they find themselves in this situation.
For travelers who have begun a trip before the airline failed, the airline may have made alternate arrangements for their return. Travelers holding tickets but who have not yet begun travel will want to look into rebooking their flights, and other airlines may be voluntarily offering breaks on prices and restrictions for failed-airline travelers.
Travelers who have booked their flights through CWT should contact their CWT representative to explore alternative arrangements.
Source: www.chicagotribune.com
