Montana takes lead in revolt against Real ID

Montana defied the U.S. government Tuesday and enacted the first state law to reject the 2005 federal Real ID Act, ratcheting up pressure on Congress to amend or repeal national standards for driver’s licenses.

Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D) signed legislation April 17 that bans the Montana Motor Vehicle Department from enforcing the national rules, which set uniform security features for driver’s licenses and require states to verify the identity of all driver’s license applicants.

Schweitzer said the Real ID law is another way for the federal government to stomp on residents’ personal privacy. “Montanans don’t want the federal agents listening to their phone conversations, rifling through their papers, checking on what books they read and monitoring where they go and when. We think they ought to mind their own business,” he said in a written statement.

By Eric Kelderman, Stateline.org Staff Writer

Full Story: http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=199732