New Hampshire says "F*CK YOU" to Real ID Act Drivers Licenses

[Atman]

To Many It's Live Free Or Drive As State Battles Licensing Rules
April 26, 2006
By KATHARINE WEBSTER, Associated Press

CONCORD, N.H. -- New Hampshire has suddenly become a battleground in the fight over privacy rights vs. homeland security, with state legislators voting against strict new federal standards for issuing driver's licenses.

At issue is the federal Real ID Act, which is intended to keep terrorists from getting fake IDs. It requires states by 2008 to verify documents such as birth certificates, Social Security cards and passports when people apply for driver's licenses. State databases with driver information and photos will also be linked.

Last month, the Republican-controlled New Hampshire House voted overwhelmingly to bar the state from participating in the program. A vote in the GOP-dominated Senate is expected in two weeks. Democratic Gov. John Lynch remains undecided.

The move has won backing from the American Civil Liberties Union as well as conservative privacy advocates and Christian fundamentalists.

"I think New Hampshire will set the dominoes falling in the states," said Barry Steinhardt, director of the Technology and Liberty Program of the ACLU, who testified against Real ID at a recent state Senate hearing alongside a member of the conservative Cato Institute. "Who's going to say, `The emperor has no clothes?' New Hampshire's in a good position to do that."

http://www.courant.com/hc-hampshire0426.artapr26,0,7911376.story

[William769]

1. Only one slight problem with that.

States have the right to take Federal law & make it stricter but they cannot ignore it or make it weaker. Arkansas is a case in point back in the 50's.

[Atman]

4. Read the article...they only lose out on $3 mil in federal aid

And it will be a tremendous inconvenience for some state residents, as soon only "Real ID" DL's will be allowed as ID to board a plane. If they don't have one, they'll need to present a passport instead. That will be a hassle, and I foresee the vindictive fed stalling NH applications. Besides, the new Passports will have similar RFID technology, too.

Face it, this is as much a "statement" as anything else. They are hoping, as the article states, to start the dominoes falling against the Patriot Act. Read the entire article, not just my snip. It is well worth it, and should answer your questions.

[William769]

8. Sorry, I should have read the whole article.

:blush:

[400Years]

5. they already forgo federal funds, from what I understand

I think more states should follow thier lead.

[Armstead]

2. For once those GOP Conservatives got it right

Fuck the notion that we are supposed to welcome Big Brother because a handful of crazy extremists blew up a building 5 years ago.

This is a scam, using fear to sell out our freedom.

Good for those conservatives in NH and elsewhere if they aren't willing to hand over our freedom and privacy.

[DS1]

3. I take back my thought about NH I had this morning

When I saw one of their license plates "Live free or die" and said to myself "Gawd, that's F'n dumb"

[400Years]

6. I think it is a great slogan

[AzDar]

10. It's always made me want to move to New Hampshire, myself.

It's the cooold winters that I'm so skeered of!

[Atman]

11. New Hampshire is just West Virginia, with LOTS more snow.

Before the flame-fest starts, I love VISITING New Hampshire. I have family there, and I used to vacation on Lake Winnipesaukee before we got our own place in the woods of CT. But man, unless you're in the Boston "exurbs" of Nashua and the southern border, it is really like going down to the smokey mountains. You need a pickup truck and a flannel shirt to fit in.

All those stereotypes aside, it is a beautiful state with georgious mountains, great skiing, nice coast, and the highest properety taxes in the world! They don't believe in "taxes" per se, so they fund the whole damned state off property taxes. Youch. But it IS pretty, no denying it.

[Odin2005]

7. The "Live Free or Die" state strikes again!

:yourock:

[Talismom]

9. As my Irish co-worker says, "Good on 'em!" n/t