Message From the Chairman

2007 was an eventful year for the Coalition with increasing public support for secure drivers’ licenses. Probably the most notable event boosting this support was New York Governor Eliot Spitzer’s decision to propose the weakening of New York’s driver’s licensing procedures in order to meet a campaign promise. His rash proposal made the security of drivers’ licenses front page news in New York, and our vigorous opposition helped bring the issue to national notice.

CSDL officers testified in nine public hearings in New York State. Our staff worked hand in glove with New York state legislators of both parties to explain the technical and legal issues as well as to coordinate strategy. Within six weeks, Governor Spitzer was compelled to abandon his plan and publicly concede defeat.

Mr. Spitzer’s public policy reversal in the face of popular opposition clearly influenced secure driver’s license views among Governors and state legislators. For example, Maryland’s

Governor Martin O’Malley and Michigan’s Governor Jennifer Granholm both reversed earlier positions and now endorse stopping the issuance of drivers’ licenses to illegal aliens in their states. These results demonstrate why CSDL should educate state officials on the homeland security benefits of meeting federal REAL ID standards. Increased public awareness of the undiminished need for protection from foreign terrorists should lead to increased taxpayer support for stronger security for state issued identity documents, such as drivers’ licenses.

I am especially proud of the joint campaign with Drug Free America Foundation to raise awareness about how (1) inadequate physical security of drivers’ licenses facilitates their counterfeiting by criminal syndicates; (2) the easy availability of fake IDs helps Meth lab operators to obtain meth precursor chemicals from pharmacies and convenience stores; and (3) compliance with federal driver’s license security regulations will help curb the Meth epidemic by fixing the current security loopholes.

2008 offers new opportunities to raise public awareness. The Presidential candidates will likely be asked for their positions regarding driver’s license security and public debates in the general campaign will inevitably highlight driver’s license security. The renewed public discussion resulting from DHS’ publication of regulations for state issued driver’s licenses and ID cards will certainly cause our citizens to consider the tradeoffs between better security and cheaper licenses. Many will remember how easily 19 terrorists used state licensing vulnerabilities to elude terrorist watch lists, resulting in death for thousands.

Sincerely,

Donald Kendall, Chairman