(Washington, D.C.) – Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today delivered more than 5,200 petitions to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff urging DHS not to require a computer chip in drivers’ licenses to comply with the Real ID Act. 

“Congress’s intent was to build on existing technology, not to add to the states’ burden of compliance by requiring a chip,” CAGW President Tom Schatz said.  “Installing radio frequency identification (RFID) chips or similar technology into every driver’s license will be an expensive, invasive, and less secure way to update identification documents.”

The Real ID Act, passed in May 2005, required DHS to establish minimum federal standards for authenticating drivers and securing driver’s licenses.  The new system places a heavy implementation and cost burden on state and local governments, especially departments of motor vehicles, taxpayers, and drivers.  DHS will soon set forth specific guidelines for states to implement the new federal requirements, and the RFID chip is one of the main technologies being considered to protect the embedded information.

Currently, 49 states use either magnetic stripes or 2-D technology to protect individuals’ licenses, and have had minimal identity theft problems.  This form of technology is inexpensive, easily produced, and many states already use a storage system to keep the information secure. 

CAGW’s October 2005 report, Real ID: Big Brother Could Cost Big Money, revealed many flaws in the RFID technology and its implementation.  The cost of a drivers’ license could rise by 260-800 percent, from $10-25 to at least $90, while the cost to build a new system to verify, track, and store RFID information would be $17.4 billion.

The extensive storage space on RFID chips also poses a threat to personal privacy.  The government could mandate that information other than that contained on current licenses must be stored on the chips, including health records, travel sequencing, relatives’ information, and more.  In addition, information on RFID chips can be remotely accessed by unauthorized persons. 

“The response we’ve received from taxpayers on this issue is a clear message to Secretary Chertoff that the public demands the most cost-effective and least intrusive way of implementing the Real ID Act.  We will continue to track this issue and hold DHS accountable for its decision,” Schatz said.

Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, mismanagement, and abuse in government.