Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998

Subject: National Identification Card

DOT Issues Regs To States; Implementation of National ID Card Imminent On Wednesday, June 17th, the U.S. Department of Transportation published the proposed "Driver's License/SSN/National Identification Document"|guidelines which all states will be compelled to comply with over the|next two years. The "Notice of Proposed Rule Making" (NPRM) sets out the "standard feature" requirements for driver's license cards and other "identification" documents. States that do not comply will find that |their citizens will not be allowed to participate in routine, life-essential functions after the imposed federal deadline of October 1, 2000. Non-conforming licenses will not be accepted for identification by any |federal agency. Once implemented no one in the U.S. will be able to engage in many basic, fundamental societal activities unless they carry

|with them at all times a conforming government-issued identification card. Not surprisingly, under the proposed rule it will become MANDATORY |that social security numbers must be submitted in order for anyone to receive a state-issued driver's license. Perhaps the most pervasive implication of this new National ID scheme is that in the near future an identification card will be required just to engage in activities we now take for granted. Under the federal "New Hires Database" system and the related "Employment Eligibility Confirmation System" program, EVERYONE will be required to possess an approved identification document in order to get a job and work in the United States. Also, as a condition of the new and upcoming healthcare-provider requirements everyone will have to submit a conforming identification document in order to receive health care. Otherwise, the healthcare provider will forfeit all federal compensation for their services -- Medicaid, Medicare -- and you know they're not about to risk that. Of course other activities such as banking, purchasing insurance, writing a check, obtaining a passport, boarding a commercial airliner --and the list goes on and on -- will all likewise require the new IDs.The proponents of this measure are intent on establishing a universal, nationwide identification system -- and state-issued driver's licenses are the method they have chosen as the "path of least resista nce."Under the "Administrative Procedures Act" federal agencies must announce their intention to promulgate new rules, (as they have now done in this case), and they must provide an opportunity for the general public to comment on their proposal.

Read the Proposed DOT Rules (cut and paste URL into browser): |http://www.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?IPaddress=&dbname=1998_registe