The funding, excluded from a budget agreement released by the Assembly and Senate, would have helped connect California to a national system used by states to check whether a person holds more than one driver’s license or state identification card. The DMV had planned to begin responding to other states’ requests for information on California drivers early next year.

At issue is the State-to-State system and its SPEX platform, operated by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, a nonprofit organization made up of motor vehicle officials from across the country. The system is intended to help states detect duplicate licenses and identification cards.

Immigrant-rights advocates say the proposal could expose sensitive information about more than 1 million California license holders who are not federally authorized to live in the country. California has allowed residents to obtain driver’s licenses regardless of immigration status since 2014 under Assembly Bill 60.

Opponents are particularly concerned that the system records the last five digits of a driver’s Social Security number and uses a placeholder, such as “99999,” for people who do not have one. They argue that such markers could make it easier to identify drivers without Social Security numbers.

Advocates fear that if the information becomes available through the multi-state system, it could eventually reach U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Border Patrol and be used in deportation efforts. DMV officials and the governor’s office have said the data-sharing plan is necessary to comply with the federal Real ID Act of 2005, which sets standards for state identification used at federal facilities, including airports.

In response to the Legislature’s budget move, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security urged people without federal authorization to live in the United States to leave the country.

The state Senate’s budget proposal, released Tuesday, did not include funding for the DMV’s interstate verification program. Lawmakers face a June 15 constitutional deadline to pass a budget, but negotiations with Gov. Gavin Newsom can continue through June 30.

Leaving the $55 million out of the budget does not necessarily kill the DMV plan. The funding could still be restored during negotiations between legislative leaders and the governor’s office, or revived later through a budget trailer bill or another spending measure.

Still, advocates say the decision makes it less likely that the DMV will receive the money by July 1, the date the department had set for beginning data sharing. Jessie Schmitte, state policy manager for Alliance San Diego, a human rights community organization that has been monitoring the proposal, said the issue drew broad concern once more groups learned about it.

Nearly 200 organizations signed a coalition letter opposing the DMV’s data-sharing plan. The proposal also prompted protests earlier this month at a DMV office in San Francisco.

“Many organizations were unaware these conversations were happening until reporting brought the issue to light,” Schmitte said. “If they were serious about protecting Californians and strengthening privacy, they would not be avoiding these conversations.”

The DMV also faces a legal hurdle beyond funding. California law generally bars the department from sharing Social Security numbers collected during the licensing process for most purposes. That means additional legislation would be needed before the state could provide that information to the national nonprofit, a requirement the DMV noted in its own budget request.

The American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators says its database is designed to prevent people from holding licenses or identification cards in multiple states at the same time. The association has said the database cannot be searched in bulk and requires specific information, such as a name and date of birth.

Privacy and immigrant-rights advocates remain worried that local officials in other states could use information from the database to flag suspected undocumented immigrants and pass that information to federal authorities.

A spokesperson for Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas said discussions over DMV funding are continuing. Staff for two other lawmakers did not respond to requests for information about the negotiations.

Newsom’s office referred questions to the Department of Finance. Department spokesperson HD Palmer said discussions “have been underway and continue.”

Andrea Guerrero, founding executive director of Alliance San Diego, said it appears unlikely that the concerns can be resolved before the DMV’s target date.

“It is hard to imagine what kinds of changes could be made when we are standing at the end of the plank,” Guerrero said.

Ed Hasbrouck, a civil liberties advocate with The Identity Project, attended the San Francisco protests and took part in an April call with the governor’s office and the DMV about the data-sharing plan. He said he was encouraged that lawmakers delayed the funding, but warned that once California driver data enters a multi-state database, safeguards will be difficult or impossible to enforce.

Hasbrouck said the state ultimately must choose between maintaining the privacy assurances tied to AB 60 licenses and complying with the Real ID Act in the way the DMV has proposed.

“It has been put off, but it is a decision the state is going to have to make,” he said. “It cannot simply avoid it.”

Original source: CalMatters

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The state will notify everyone who needs to obtain a new REAL ID in January. All fees will be waived, and you may not even need to visit a DMV facility to make the change, the statement assures.

Steve Gordon, CA’s DMV Director, released a statement on the software issue, saying:

“We proactively reviewed our records, identified a legacy system issue from 2006, and are notifying impacted customers with clear guidance on how to maintain a valid California-issued credential,” Gordon stated. “For nearly 99% of REAL ID holders, no action is required. The DMV remains committed to serving all Californians and ensuring REAL ID credentials meet federal standards.”

Only a fraction of California drivers will be notified, approximately 1%, they said. “Approximately 99% of the REAL ID Holders in California do not need to take any action.”

The REAL ID has been required for anyone who wishes to fly in the United States or enter federal buildings, courthouses, and secure areas, including military bases.

The California DMV states it is fully compliant with federal REAL ID requirements and is taking steps to maintain compliance. “This was a limited technical issue involving the expiration date formatting in legacy software,” they said. This issue is unrelated to voting or voter registration, according to the department. It is also unrelated to ineligible people receiving REAL IDs.

“People without legal presence are not eligible for a REAL ID and were not issued one,” the department states. “This has no impact on non-REAL ID licenses.”

How will you be contacted?

The DMV will notify all 325,000 individuals of the actions they must take in the coming weeks to take immediate steps to ensure compliance with federal requirements. The IDs will be expedited, according to the DMV.

“The DMV will not call, text, or email you asking for your personal information or payment to address this issue,” they said. “If you need to verify DMV action, please call 1-800-777-0133.”

Those affected can handle the change online, they said.

“The DMV encourages customers to use its online services and other service channels for tasks such as eligible driver’s license and vehicle registration renewals. Customers can also use the Service Advisor on the DMV website to learn about options to complete DMV tasks,” the news release states.

To sign up for paperless vehicle registration and driver’s license renewal notices, sign in or create a secure online account at dmv.ca.gov to opt in.

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From now until June 27, just one Department of Motor Vehicles office in the Inland Empire will open an hour early every day to help meet the rush of residents scheduling appointments to get the new travel identification card.

The Rancho Cucamonga DMV, located at 8629 Hellman Ave., will open before its usual opening time to help those get those last-minute Real ID appointments in.

California officials are urging residents to get their Real IDs as soon as possible, especially if they plan to travel by air after May 7.

While there’s no penalty for missing the deadline, travelers without a Real ID — or another approved form of ID, like a passport — could face serious delays at airport security or not be able to travel at all.

“Passengers who present a state-issued identification that is not REAL ID compliant and who do not have another acceptable alternative (e.g., passport) can expect to face delays, additional screening and the possibility of not being permitted into the security checkpoint,” according to a recent news release from TSA.

Appointments are filling up fast, so if you haven’t started the process yet, now’s the time. Make an appointment here.

Across the state, 18 DMV offices are opening early to accommodate the rush through late June.

“We’re excited to offer Californians earlier hours this spring and summer,” stated DMV Director Steve Gordon. “These additional appointments will make it easier than ever to obtain a REAL ID.”

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Enforcement for the REAL ID while traveling begins on May 7.

As reports surfaced of long lines winding out of DMV offices across the state, many locations don’t have appointments available until weeks after the deadline, according to the DMV website.

The REAL ID Act of 2005 says travelers in the Golden State and nationwide will need an updated driver’s license, ID card, or provide other documentation before they can board domestic flights, enter nuclear power plants, or access certain federal buildings.

The federal government extended the implementation of the date several times before (the original deadline was 2008). But it appears that it will firmly take effect next month.

“If you have plans to travel after May 7, upgrade to a REAL ID before the enforcement deadline,” said DMV Director Steve Gordon.

However, Gordon says those who possess a valid passport may use that place of the REAL ID until it is time to renew their driver’s license.

This month, the Transportation Security Administration told CBS News that they are seeing around 81 percent compliance at checkpoints — but this only means that people are either showing up with a REAL ID or a passport.

As of January, a little over half of Americans had REAL ID-compliant cards, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

A spokesperson told CBS that there will be a “phased approach” to enforcement but “people may experience travel delays.”

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The deadline for obtaining the Real ID needed to board a domestic flight has been pushed back again, with the Department of Homeland Security citing the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic for the slower-than-expected rollout.

The deadline to have a Real ID had been May 3, 2023, but DHS announced Monday that it was pushed back two years, to May 7, 2025.

“This extension will give states needed time to ensure their residents can obtain a REAL ID-compliant license or identification card,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas said in a news release. “DHS will also use this time to implement innovations to make the process more efficient and accessible. We will continue to ensure that the American public can travel safely.”

People are getting compliant IDs as they renew driver’s licenses, but DHS said the pandemic resulted in backlogs at state driver’s license offices. Because of the backlogs, many state agencies that issue driver’s licenses automatically extended expiration dates on licenses and ID cards, rather than issuing licenses and cards compliant with the Real ID requirement.

After the May 2025 deadline, domestic travelers 18 and older on commercial flights must have a Real ID-compliant driver’s license or state photo ID identification card. Real ID also will be required to enter some federal facilities such as military bases.

The Real ID law was passed by Congress in 2005 on a recommendation from the 9/11 Commission. The new form of ID incorporates anti-counterfeiting technology and uses documentary evidence and record checks to ensure a person is who they claim to be.

Enforcement has been delayed several times since the original 2008 deadline. Most recently, in April 2021, DHS extended the deadline to May 2023, also citing how COVID-19 made it harder for states to issue new licenses.

A DHS spokeswoman said Tuesday that about 52% of state-issued driver’s licenses and ID cards were considered Real ID-compliant. That’s up from 43% in April 2021.

All 50 states, the District of Columbia and four of the five U.S. territories covered by the Real ID Act are issuing Real ID-compliant driver’s licenses and ID cards. DHS said American Samoa is under review for Real ID enforcement.

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“We don’t want Californians to pay the price for not getting a REAL ID during the pandemic,” DMV Director Steve Gordon said in a statement. “While the federal government has extended the enforcement date for a REAL ID, there is no need to procrastinate. If you act now, you can take advantage of this offer and upgrade to a REAL ID for free.”

To get a REAL ID, you must visit a DMV office in person, but the agency recently simplified the process to fall in line with new federal rules.

The DMV no longer requires applicants to provide both a Social Security card and W-2 to prove they have a Social Security number. You only need to provide your Social Security number in addition to proof of identity and two proofs of California residency.

The agency advised people who need a REAL ID to go online and fill out the application and upload their documents. You must then go to a DMV office in person to complete the process at your convenience, including on the same day. No appointment is necessary.

Starting May 3, 2023, a regular California driver’s license or ID card won’t be accepted as a valid form of federal identification. The old cards will still be a valid form of state ID (you can show it to a police officer if you’re pulled over, etc.), but they will not be sufficient at airports or other federal facilities such as courthouses and military bases.

If you have another form of federal identification, like a passport, you can use that instead. People who don’t have passports (or don’t want to carry them) will need a REAL ID to fly, even within the United States. Find more information about the REAL ID at REALID.dmv.ca.gov.

Amy Graff • SFGate

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