Drive Free or Die

Maine and New Hampshire were among the states leading the opposition to a proposed national drivers’ license program, which they criticized as an unfunded $11 billion mandate on states that could place citizens’ personal information at risk. Maine Republican Congressman Tom Allen called for the repeal of the law known as the Real ID Act, passed in response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. It requires all states to bring their drivers’ licenses under a national standard and link their record-keeping systems. Both states, along with South Carolina, Montana, Washington and Oklahoma passed laws withholding implementation of the program. All states have until May 2008 to comply.