# "Real" ID act passed **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 17, 2005, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-id-act-passed/304296 "2005-05-17T20:23:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-id-act-passed/304296/1 "2005-05-17T20:23:01Z")
[Disclaimer: I’m at work right now, so I can’t get access to the links I had to cite, but I’ll add them to this thread once I’m home again and can retrieve them from my favourites list] Does anyone know anything about this “Real” ID act that was passed sometime in the last week or so, allowing the creation of a national ID system in the US within the next three or so years? The information I have says it was passed because it was stapled to the back of an act for security of troops in Iraq and/or funding for victims of the asia tsunamis, and no-one had the cojones to argue against any of those other acts just to stop this one going through. More information I read also states that the bill was passed in part because it was put to the senate after many people had left for the weekend, and didn’t even see it to vote on it. Anyway, my point. On the idea of a National ID - I’m not for it, I like my (relative) anonymity. But I can see how a government would support one, and run in the correct manner it can be useful for security. But I don’t agree with the underhanded way of getting something passed that they appeared to know most people would object to. It makes it seem like there’s some ulterior motive that they’re trying to hide, and quite frankly that’s more than a bit scary. Thoughts? Anyone heard anything more about this? ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-id-act-passed/304296/2 "2005-05-17T20:48:06Z")
Was it passed only because it was publish on the back of the "Resolution that killing "? Yes. It it totally useless to the purpose it is intended for? Yes. > **[Real-ID Passes U.S. Senate 100-0 - Slashdot](https://yro.slashdot.org/story/05/05/11/0119205/real-id-passes-us-senate-100-0)** > > jeffkjo1 writes "The U.S. Senate has passed the $82 billion Iraq Supplemental Spending Bill (approved by the House last week), which includes the Real ID act driver's license reform (previously reported here.) The National Governors Association has... ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-id-act-passed/304296/3 "2005-05-17T20:52:16Z")
An earlier thread on the topic: > **[Republicans pushing a mandatory stealth National ID card?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=315171)** > > Are Congressional Republicans (with the support of the White House) trying to covertly foster a national ID on the nation? From the Naples Daily News (subscription required): For the record, the bill is HR 418, the “Real ID” act, and it was first... ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-id-act-passed/304296/4 "2005-05-17T21:03:38Z")
Fairy 'nuff, I tried to search, but couldn’t find it 😃 I’ll check that thread to see what’s going there. Cheers. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-id-act-passed/304296/5 "2005-05-17T21:12:13Z")
No worries. Guests can’t search. Welcome to the SDMB! ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-id-act-passed/304296/6 "2005-05-18T00:27:57Z")
My thoughts on it have been pretty well presented by the American Immigration Lawyers Association: (pdf file) [www.aila.org/fileViewer.aspx?docid=17886](http://www.aila.org/fileViewer.aspx?docid=17886) Basically, I think it’s idiotic and will do little, if anything, to deter or catch actual terrorists. The resources would be far better expended doing actual intelligence work, and it’s stupid to have state bureaucrats enforce complex federal laws that they don’t understand. Eva Luna, U.S. Immigration Paralegal ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-id-act-passed/304296/7 "2005-05-18T02:10:40Z")
I expect that it will not catch terrorists, will not get unlicensed/uninsured drivers etc off the roads and will not have any effect on any illegal immigration. I expect it will be a bureaucratic mess and an enforcement nightmare. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-id-act-passed/304296/8 "2005-05-18T06:34:38Z")
…but will be a boon to identity thieves, and bring the nation one step closer to 24/7 surveilance of the citizenry. Hoo-rah. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-id-act-passed/304296/9 "2005-05-18T09:04:50Z")
My main reason for bringing it up is given the utterly pathetic lap-dog stance John Howard has taken with the US of late, how long is it before they try something like that over here? On one level, it does seem like a good idea, with a standardised form of ID around the country. But then there’s all the secrecy, and the ‘You MUST do this by this time’ which is a bit offputting. I’m still tending towards slightly eeked out by this.