License compliance remains a problem

OKLAHOMA lawmakers’ tendency to put off addressing problems is long-established and continues to generate uncertainty on issues that should have been resolved years ago. The state’s struggle to comply with the federal REAL ID law is one example.

Under that federal law, passed in 2005, states are required to keep facial images on file and digital images of identity-source documents for all people issued state identification. Driver’s licenses are required to include a “common machine-readable technology” and each state is required to provide all other states electronic access to its motor vehicle database. The law was enacted to reduce identity theft tactics employed by terrorists, such as the perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks in 2001.

Oklahoma lawmakers responded by passing a state law in 2007 that forbid the state from meeting provisions of the federal law.

But, eventually, citizens in states that fail to comply with the federal law won’t be able to use state-issued driver’s licenses when visiting military bases and federal buildings or boarding commercial flights at airports. While federal officials have eased timelines for implementation, it has been clear for years that the federal law isn’t going away. Yet Oklahoma lawmakers didn’t vote to comply with REAL ID until 2017, which meant the state had to apply for an extension from the federal government.

Now Gov. Mary Fallin has been forced to ask the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to expand the state’s REAL ID extension until Oct. 10, 2019, because officials don’t think Oklahoma will be able to issue REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses until April 30, 2020.

If federal officials opt not to grant the extension, Oklahomans wishing to fly commercially will need to carry passports instead of a driver’s licenses as their form of identification after Oct. 10 of this year.

“Without an extension, the state will suffer adverse economic consequences and jeopardize the regular daily activities of many of our citizens,” Fallin wrote in her letter to James W. McCament, Homeland Security’s deputy undersecretary for strategy, policy and plans. “Oklahoma is actively working towards compliance, but will need additional time to complete the implementation of the new system.”

Oklahoma is in full compliance with just 30 of the 43 requirements in the federal law.

While it’s likely federal officials will grant an extension, it’s ridiculous that Oklahomans have been put in a position where their lives and the state economy could be disrupted due to the apathy of our legislators. According to Homeland Security, the majority of states are now fully compliant with the REAL ID Act.

The old joke in Oklahoma used to be “thank God for Mississippi,” because Mississippi was often the only state ranking lower than ours on many metrics. But on REAL ID, Mississippi is compliant while Oklahoma remains a laggard. And, with the exception of Missouri, every state bordering Oklahoma is listed as REAL ID compliant by Homeland Security.

Lawmakers patted themselves on the back last year when they finally voted to comply with this law. Fallin’s request for yet another extension shows that self praise was unwarranted.