Feds warn Montana over compliance with driver's license law
HELENA — Homeland security officials have warned Montana Gov. Steve Bullock that the state may not get any more time to comply with federal driver's license rules, meaning residents may eventually need a different form of identification to board commercial aircraft.
In response, Bullock wrote Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson a letter Tuesday urging him to suspend implementation of the Real ID Act and accept Montana licenses as secure forms of identification.
"The Obama administration continues to push what I think is a real misguided effort, this Real ID Act," Bullock said in an interview. "I've written Secretary Johnson to say it's time to suspend your efforts and go back to the Congress and get this fixed because Montana is not going to be in compliance."
Montana and several other states oppose requirements in the federal law that include storing images of documents that driver's license applicants present as proof of their identity, such as birth certificates. The state already has been granted two one-year extensions to get in compliance. But a letter sent Sept. 15 by Homeland Security Deputy Assistant Secretary Ted Sobel said states that can't commit to fully complying with the law may not receive any more extensions.
Read more: http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/feds-warn-montana-over-compliance-with-driver-s-license-law/article_662eba5b-4f20-590e-a52b-da66f2ce174f.html
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