New Card Holder Anti-Fraud Measures May Affect Reinstatement
For years, if you went to the Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), you have been able to get everything accomplished and leave the facility with a freshly printed driver’s license or state ID. However, Secretary of State Jesse White just announced that as of July, this will no longer be the case. Due to a federal mandate, states must take precautions to protect against identification fraud. These changes will also affect license reinstatement process because to reinstate your license you need to reapply for the license.
Federal Mandate
The mandate that Illinois is following was passed by Congress in 2005 as a direct result of the 9/11 Commission’s push for higher standards to prevent duplication of identification cards. Therefore, the Department of Homeland Security enacted what is known as “Real ID Act." For states that do not meet these standards, if they were to visit a federal facility, their state issued ID would not be an acceptable form of admittance. This will also affect air travel and notices will start to become more and more prevalent in the coming years. For now, the services that remain unaffected are:
- Entering Federal facilities that do not require a person to present identification,
- Voting or registering to vote,
- Applying for or receiving federal benefits,
- Accessing health or life preserving services (including hospitals and health clinics), law enforcement, or constitutionally protected activities (including a defendant’s access to court proceedings), and
- Participating in law enforcement proceedings or investigations.
As of January 22, 2018, if someone has identification from a state that is not Real ID compliant (and that state has not received an extension), then even at the airport they will be asked to show another form of identification to board the flight. Travelers are encouraged to call ahead prior to making travel arrangements to ensure that everything will go smoothly.
Illinois Compliance
Illinois is making great strides in order to ensure that identification holding citizens will meet the qualifications and not encounter any problems in the future. Already, those who have applied for license renewal will be receiving the new updated identifications and licenses. As of the end of July, however, anyone coming into the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will no longer be able to walk out with the permanent driver’s license or state identification card in hand. They will still complete the process as normal, however they will be issued a temporary paper identification card that is good for 45 days from the date of issue. A permanent card should be received within 15 days. This temporary card will still have a photo of identification on it and will be used just as the permanent card. During the 15 following days, an outside company will perform anti-fraud measures, including:
- Creating a permanent card with security features that over the counter printers and other technologies are unable to reproduce or replicate, and
- Running a series of background checks to confirm the identity of the applicant.
With the introduction of the new system of creation, Illinois will become 84 percent compliant with the REAL ID Act and will join 39 other states that have already done so.
If you have had your driver's license suspended or revoked, you may wonder how the new system will affect your reinstatement. If you have any questions or concerns, contact our Addison, IL criminal law attorneys, serving clients in Maywood, Wheaton, Rolling Meadows, Bridgeview, Cook County, and all surrounding Chicagoland areas. Call us today at 630-834-9595 for your free initial consultation.
Sources:
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Secretary-of-State-New--License-State-ID-Cards-379819951.html
http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/drivers/drivers_license/central_issuance/home.html
https://www.dhs.gov/real-id-public-faqs
