The RealID Act, HR 1268 and HR 418 completely infringes on State's Rights. I would like to know why you are in support of this Act, and are currently implementing this Act into our system. How can you stand by and watch your local state DMV be called ingnorant, stupid, and incapable of creating an ID system that would easily identify people who drive? The whole purpose of a Driver's License is to identify to law enforcement agencies that you are eligible to drive. I would like to know why you have agreed to allow a private organization force you into a private project. I would like to know why North Carolina's DMV is not allowed to make it's own decisions about what may or may not be on a North Carolina Driver's License. You have not stood against HR 1268 and HR 418, and extended the power of your position to stand up to the federal government. The fourth checks and balances on the federal government are the states. You are mandating a state program to be run the way the federal government wants it run. Is your office solely significant in token presence only? Should we just dissolve the Office of the Governor? You are allowing the federal government to tell you how to run your State DMV. Should we just hand over all state run organizations to the federal government? If the United States Government wants a specific identification document for all its citizens, then have them force people to get their passports. I obtained a new license today, because I have changed my address. I was appalled to see on the back of my license a picture of the North American Continent(almost exactly like the Security Partnership and Prosperity of North America Logo), instead of a beautiful hologram of the wonderful state of North Carolina. This hologram that is currently on my license is created and pushed by the American Association of Motor Vehicles, a private organization. This hologram also has another specific identification number on it. My wife has just obtained a new license and her number on the hologram is different. Why do you feel it is necessary to have this organization control you in your decisions on making the creativity of the North Carolina's Driver's License unique to our State? Government should not be controlled by private businesses. By placing this hologram on our license you are allowing a private business make decisions about a government document. This is a piece of gross negligence by your office. North Carolina is a great state, and should be displayed on North Carolina Driver's Licenses in all aspects with no exceptions. A picture hologram with an extra identification number embedded in it, developed by a private enterprise should not be considered. Do you not have faith in the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles? Do you think that there are individuals within the Department of Motor Vehicles who cannot develop an outstanding license with wonderful pictures of North Carolina on it? This hologram relinquishes another right of a state to administer its own citizens. I call on you to remove this hologram from the North Carolina Driver's License. This small hologram is only the first to replace all items special to North Carolina. What shall we remove next? The Hatteras Lighthouse? The Wright Brothers Plane? What are you willing to replace it with? The White House, or The Capitol Building? This simple abuse of powers gone unchecked by the States will only start a cascade of "federally mandated" infringements on State's rights. We are the United States of America, not United America. Our United States Constitution specifically spells out the division of powers. Please do not let that document pass away with North Carolina leading the procession of States who become powerless to the federal government.Thank you for your time.
-------------------Update April 28,2008 ------Response from the Governor's Rep---
April 28, 2008
Dear Mr. Owens,
Governor Easley’s office has requested that I respond to your recent correspondence regarding the Real ID Act of 2005 and the hologram on the back of your North Carolina driver license.
The issuance of a driver license has traditionally been first and foremost proof of the holder’s ability to drive. Since the 1990s, the Division of Motor Vehicles has produced a document in the form of an identification card that is used to prove identity for persons not eligible for a driver license. Since the tragedy of 9/11, the focus of driver licensing nationwide has shifted from highway safety to public safety in recognition that the driver license or identification card in a variety of ways touches bigger issues of public safety.
Because of that growing concern, the North Carolina Legislature and Division of Motor Vehicles have launched a concerted effort to improve the integrity of the driver licensing process and implemented other changes that have made North Carolina’s license one of the most secure in the country.
Effective January 1, 2002, all driver license applicants must provide proof of their social security number prior to issuance of a license. On March 1, 2004, the Social Security On-Line Verification (SSOLV) was implemented statewide. An issuance can not be completed until a favorable response is returned from the Social Security Administration.
The REAL ID Act was passed by Congress and signed into law in May of 2005. The law requires states begin complying with the requirements beginning May 2008.
North Carolina should not have a problem meeting the first phase of the Real ID requirements. One of the most recent changes in North Carolina law will require that beginning in July 2008 driver licenses must be issued from a central location in the state and mailed to customers. Central issuance is meant to add safety measures to the production, manufacturing and issuance of the North Carolina driver license and to assure that it is issued to the individual who requests it. Extensive document review will be incorporated into the waiting period. While customers wait for their new license, they may keep their current license for identification purposes and be issued a 20-day temporary driving certificate.
The hologram on the back of all North Carolina driver licenses issued since December of 2006 is a security feature which is planned to be eventually included on licenses throughout the United States. The hologram was added to the North Carolina license as a common security element, which enhances security, protects against document fraud and aids law enforcement.
Because of differences in licenses among states, motor vehicle officials worked in unison through the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) to establish a common element that identifies licenses as legally issued by an official motor vehicle agency. This common element will assist those who depend on driver licenses to identify people throughout the country at a glance, including those driving on the interstates, checking into airports and for other security efforts.
The security element is a foil-based holographic patch on the back of the license which carries multiple layers of design features both visible and invisible to the human eye, including a variety of 3-D fluorescent images, codes, numbers, and other items.
The many images on the patch include a globe with longitude and latitude lines showing North and Central America, as well as parts of South America, Australia, Africa, and Europe. Other images include an automobile with headlights. “NC” is printed in each of the four corners of the patch, denoting the patch represents North Carolina and no other state, country, or continent. The patch does not contain personal information, radio chips, or fingerprint information.
The multiple images were added to make the patch difficult to copy or counterfeit, while also making it more recognizable to law enforcement and security officers. Since the hologram is a part of the license that is intended to identify it as a legally issued document, attempting to remove or deface it could result in the authenticity of the license being questioned.
If I can assist you in other matters of mutual interest, feel free to let me know.
Laura Main, Manager
Correspondence & Records Units
Driver Services
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