New rules force millions to get new driver's licenses

Daniel González

The Arizona Republic
Jan. 12, 2008 12:00 AM

Arizona will have to adopt new federal rules aimed at making driver's licenses more secure or residents may no longer be able to use their licenses to board airplanes or enter federal buildings.

Homeland Security Director Michael Chertoff announced the new driver's-license rules on Friday as part of the controversial Real ID Act. The rules are intended to create minimum standards in all 50 states that make it harder for terrorists, illegal immigrants and con artists to get driver's licenses in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Hijackers fraudulently obtained driver's licenses to board aircraft and then fly them into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

As of Friday, Gov. Janet Napolitano had not yet had a chance to review the new rules, so it was too early to say whether she planned to comply, said Jeanine L'Ecuyer, the governor's spokeswoman. Several other states have objected to the new security measures because of cost and privacy issues.

Residents of states that choose not to comply with the rules won't be able to use their licenses for air travel or for other federal purposes after May 2008, Chertoff said.