The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles will start offering REAL ID cards on January 2.
To obtain a REAL ID, you will need an original or certified copy of your birth certificate or other proof of identity, proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence in the United States, and proof of your Social Security numbers.
Although the Vermont REAL ID FAQ page states that, “Obtaining a REAL ID marked card is your choice,” it also states that, “the federal agency responsible for security of the airport, federal facility or nuclear power plant will determine whether to permit access/entrance or subject you to additional screening as prescribed by that agency. No federal agencies have yet issued any guidance on how they will screen applications after the individual compliance dates. The Vermont DMV will update this information as additional information becomes available.”
It also states that everyone born after Dec. 1, 1964 will be “required” to have a REAL ID by Dec. 1, 2014. Anyone born before, will have until Dec. 1, 2017.
The federal REAL ID Act is designed to promote security by requiring states to meet certain physical and procedural security standards for production and issuance of driver’s licenses and ID cards. It is also supposed to provide certain documentation standards, including authentication and verification standards for proof of identity, date of birth, Social Security number, residence, and lawful status or presence.
Because Vermont already produces cards that meet REAL ID security standards, there will be almost no material difference. The only significant difference will be a star verification mark on the front of the card in the upper, right-hand corner.
The new REAL ID cards have raised concern over privacy issues. The governor of Montana told the Department of Homeland Security to “go to hell.” He went on to call the REAL ID card a “harebrained scheme.”
Some see the REAL ID card as a de facto national identity card that will increase government tracking of innocent citizens.
