Maine Agrees to Comply with REAL ID Act

Faced with having its drivers licenses rejected at airports, the State of Maine on Wednesday agreed to take "significant additional steps" necessary to comply with security levels required by the federal REAL ID Act.

Had Maine failed to agree with the REAL ID compliance demands, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had threatened to order airport security screeners to start conducting pat down searches of all Maine residents attempting to fly without a current U.S. passport.

As a result of its agreement, Maine was allowed to join all other states and U.S. territories in being granted an extension for achieving REAL ID compliance until 2010.

In a key part of its settlement with DHS, Maine's Governor John Baldacci agreed to ask the state legislature to pass a bill requiring its residents to prove their legal status as U.S. citizens when applying for a driver’s license. Maine further agreed to begin taking and retaining photographs of individuals applying for state ID cards, even if no ID is issued.

All states and territories now have until Jan. 1, 2010 to complete security upgrades allowing them to confirm that all applicants for their licenses and ID cards are legal U.S. citizens.

Also See:
REAL ID Act Faces Real Showdown in Maine
DHS Releases Final REAL ID Regulation
States Race to Reject REAL ID Act