NMA Florida Alert: Real ID Drivers Licenses Now Part of Facial Recognition System
The drivers license, once simply an authorization to drive, has become a crucial tool for law enforcement in Florida and the country as a whole.
Now images from Florida drivers licenses have been integrated into a multi-jurisdictional facial recognition database used by law enforcement agencies throughout Florida. (See this Liberty Underground article from March 12th.)
The Real ID Act of 2005 laid out a scheme for the coordination of state drivers licenses with the Department of Homeland Security. The current deadline for states to be in compliance is 2011, and Florida is one of the first states to do so.
The Real ID Act mandates that every state “subject each person applying for a driver’s license or identification card to mandatory facial image capture.” These facial image caputures are required to be compatible with facial recognition software.
The NMA spotlighted these issues surrounding drivers licenses in our "Driving Freedoms" cover article from November/December of 2010. (You can find the article, and other Driving Freedoms newsletters here.)
Our position on drivers licenses is that their only legitimate purpose is to certify that the owner of a license has proven that he/she is capable of operating a motor vehicle on public roads in a safe and responsible manner.
Should motorists be required to submit to photographs to be used in facial recognition programs for national anti-crime efforts of all sorts? Should their social security numbers be linked with their DL's? Should drivers licenses be a part of the Homeland Security system? Should a drivers license be required at all...?
Some states, such as Maine and North Carolina, are seeking to opt out of the Real ID system. See the story on Maine here and the NC bill here.) New Hampshire gives motorists the opportunity to avoid complete submission to the DL security system, allowing them to decline to have their SS number or computerized image retained by the transportation department. (See New Hampshire statute 263:40 )
Technically, Florida is merely complying with federal mandates by linking your DL with Homeland Security. But we felt you should know what is being done with your personal information -- and that there are other options. We will keep you apprised of developing stories on the subject, and of future legislative and popular efforts to resist the misguided use of drivers license information and leveraging of the license privilege.
In the meantime, you can always contact your US Senators and your state representatives to express your view.
