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| Abbreviation | CSDL |
|---|---|
| Formation | November, 2001 |
| Type | 501(c)(3) |
| Location | |
| Website | www.secure-license.org |
The Coalition for a Secure Driver's License ® is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan, not-for-profit, crime prevention educational charity. It is 100% funded by individual donor contributions and foundation grants.
Mission
The CSDL slogan, "Working to protect the identity of every American", embodies its commitment to higher standards for both government and private entities that issue identity credentials, especially state agencies that issue driver's licenses and ID cards. CSDL undertakes research projects addressing best practices for DMVs, compliance with federal laws and regulations, identity fraud prevention and related identity management topics. CSDL provides research results and educational programs to the public and to state and federal officials. CSDL is a member of the Document Security Alliance and of the American National Standards Institute.
Founding
CSDL was formed in November 2001, following the 9/11 investigation which revealed that the terrorists had fraudulently obtained over 30 valid IDs and driver's licenses. The 9/11 Commission report stated that "for terrorists, travel documents are as important as weapons". The terrorists used these documents to obtain credit cards, avoid law enforcement, open bank accounts, enroll in flights schools, and eventually board the aircraft used to attack the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. In order to close that loophole, The 9/11 Commission recommended that "the federal government should set standards for the issuance of ... sources of identification, such as driver's licenses." These findings inspired co-founders Henry Buhl and Alan Weeden to take action. "We felt there was a need for someone to organize legislation to tighten up our security."
REAL ID
One of the main goals of the Coalition for a Secure Driver's License was to create national standards based on best practices for driver's license and ID card issuance that states must meet. After that, the goal would be to bring every state into compliance with these standards. Cofounder Henry Buhl describes the reasoning:
"It seemed like we were shooting fish in a barrel because it was so obvious. In our initial efforts, we worked in conjunction with a 9/11 family member, Peter Gadiel, whose son was killed in the World Trade Center bombing, to try to get the 9/11 Commission to include in their report the issue of drivers' licenses, to make that issue a permanent feature of the Commission Report. Following the report, legislation was then authored by Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R) of Wisconsin that became the Real ID Act. The law set forth certain federal requirements for state driver's licenses and ID cards to have before individuals could board a commercial airliner or enter federal buildings or nuclear power plants. This new announcement sets that goal for the year 2017."
In a coordinated effort by the states and the Federal Government to draft the rules and regulations that would improve the reliability and accuracy of state-issued identification documents, the final rule for the REAL ID Act came out in 2008. The 9/11 Commission recommendation urging the federal government to “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver's licenses" in order to inhibit terrorists’ ability to evade detection by using fraudulent identification was finally being acted upon and DHS began implementing REAL ID through a period of phased enforcement. In particular, the date for implementing the prohibition on non compliant state IDs for boarding aircraft is set to occur no sooner than 2016.
Since the law passed in 2005, all but two of the 56 states and territories issuing driver's licenses and ID cards are currently in compliance with the law, thanks in large part to CSDL's efforts in generating legislative support for the law through testimony, editorials, and education. Minnesota and American Samoa are still out of compliance, but Minnesota issues an optional Enhanced Driver's License, which is compliant.
Programs
Fake IDs are NOT worth the Risks
Counterfeit driver’s licenses and ID cards have reached epidemic levels in the United States. A recent study found that over 66% of underage college students use fake IDs – mostly to obtain alcohol, go to bars and clubs, or to enter age-restricted venues illegally. Although the IDs are simple to get and easy to use, the consequences and risks associated with these crimes are far more severe than kids and their parents realize. cSDL educates the public on the consequences of purchasing and using a fake ID. It places posters in college dorm rooms, contributes flyers to college orientation packages, provides literature for law enforcement agencies to distribute, and travels around the country providing training and resources to combat the fake ID epidemic. By discouraging minors from breaking the law by using fake IDs we are able to protect them from being arrested and having a permanent criminal record while also protecting the public from drunk drivers, alcohol related assaults, and alcohol related fatalities.
CSDL published an editorial in USAToday about the fake ID epidemic in April 2015.
Keeping Identities Safe for KIDS
The Keeping Identities Safe for KIDS program was formed because criminals are increasingly using the identity information of children to obtain driver's licenses and IDs in new names because children have no criminal records or credit history, offering a blank slate for criminal activity. Using a fraudulently obtained driver’s license, criminals can establish a line of credit or obtain employment with the child’s identity. CSDL began working with the Boys & Girls Club in Washington State in November 2009 to create the Keeping Identities Safe for KIDS program in order to raise awareness of the need for parents and guardians to take steps to protect their children’s identities from theft and fraud. The program offers a suggested series of actions to be undertaken by parents on behalf of their children and encourages them to obtain Washington State ID cards for their children. In some areas, the program offers reimbursement for parents or guardians obtaining ID cards for their children.
There are two levels of the KIDS program:
Level 1: A local sponsoring organization agrees to advise the community (through flyers, newspaper articles, state licensing agency contacts) that children are at risk from identity thieves and distributes educational brochures that explain why and how in detail. The brochures also explain that obtaining a state issued identity document reduces the risk, and will assist to correct the record should the child still be a victim of ID theft/ fraud.
Level 2 (Optional): Parents are asked to get their child a state issued identity document from the Washington Department of Licensing, with the inducement that during the time period the program is offered, there will be 100% reimbursement of the costs. CSDL will reimburse all parents and guardians with valid vouchers during the program’s duration, usually 3 to 6 months from the distribution of educational brochures/vouchers. The parent must bring the state issued Identification Document (ID) or an Enhanced Identification Document (EID) with the child, to a location where the sponsor can confirm that the child has been recently issued a state ID/EID. Based on a completed request for reimbursement, the parent receives a check in the amount of the state fee for the ID/EID.
State Awards
This state recognition awards program was established by the Board of Directors of CSDL in April 2009 to annually memorialize distinctive achievements of individual state agencies. CSDL’s Board intended that the public be made more aware of driver’s license and ID card improvements which contribute significantly to public safety and to national security. The Board believes that it is important for the motor vehicle agency employees that make the United States a safer place to live be recognized for their collective achievements. The program currently has four award categories.
Document Security: To recognize timely upgrades to the physical attributes of driver’s licenses and identity cards to reduce counterfeiting, criminal alteration, and improve the reliability of card authentication by government and business.
Public Engagement: To acknowledge effective information dissemination to the public regarding processes for establishing identity of applicants. These include public announcements and electronic availability of procedural details pertaining to proof of identity and proof of lawful presence.
Identity Protection. Identity security programs and/or fraud prevention programs which help to safeguard the wellbeing of vulnerable populations, such as the children or the elderly.
Homeland Security: Acknowledges states for their improvements in their identity documents and processes to meet federal standards.
Awards have been given to Nevada, Virginia, Nebraska, Colorado, Indiana, Florida, New Jersey, California, South Dakota, Delaware, Kansas, West Virginia, and New Mexico.
Controversies
Billboards
In December 2005, the Coalition for a Secure Driver's License launched a billboard campaign in North Carolina urging the increase of driver's license issuance standards. The campaign came about after Congress passed the REAL ID act, which called for states to adopt a uniform standard for authenticating the source documents that applicants use to obtain driver's licenses and ID cards.
The billboard's slogan, "Don't License Terrorists" accompanied an image of a terrorist wearing a traditional Arab headdress while holding a driver's license and grenade. The billboard drew national media attention and strong reaction from some groups that believed it was inflaming anti-Arab sentiment.
"The message of the ad says that Arabs are dangerous and violent people and that therefore they should not get driver's licenses and I think it's bigoted. It's racist," said Christine Saah Nazer of the Washington D.C.-based Arab American Institute.
Other groups challenged CSDL's assertion that North Carolina needed to require driver's license applicants to show a valid Social Security card and proof that they were residing in the country legally.
In 2005, according to Ernie Seneca, spokesman for North Carolina's Department of Transportation, "North Carolina has a strong driver's license program and we have taken significant steps to address security and the identification of license holders."
"Melanie Chernoff, deputy director of El Pueblo, an Hispanic advocacy group in Raleigh, said the billboard is unnecessary because license requirements in North Carolina already are strict."
Then CSDL President Amanda Bowman defended the billboard. "I think it's an important message to get out to North Carolinians that they have a driver's license that is vulnerable to getting into the wrong hands."
CSDL also erected a highway billboard in New Mexico urging the state to raise their license security. The billboard, 30 miles east of Albuquerque, featured a mock photograph of one of Mohammed Atta's eight driver's licenses with text reading "Some States Made it Easy, Don't License Terrorists, New Mexico."
References
- "Greenwich coalition stresses need for secure IDs". GreenwichTime. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
- "Greenwich coalition stresses need for secure IDs". GreenwichTime. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
- "REAL ID FAQs for States | Homeland Security". www.dhs.gov. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
- "REAL ID Enforcement in Brief | Homeland Security". www.dhs.gov. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
- "It's fears about REAL ID law that aren't real". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
- "Fake IDs Aren't Worth The Risk". Keeping IDentities Safe. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
- "Fake IDs Aren't Worth The Risk". Keeping IDentities Safe. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
- "Keeping IDentities Safe for KIDS". www.idchildnow. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
- "Awards". Keeping IDentities Safe. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
- ^ Michael Easterbrook. "Billboard takes state to task: Lax driver's license rules aid terrorists, group claims". The News & Observer. Archived from the original on 2005-12-29. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - Leinwand, Donna (2005-12-13). "Billboard's images spark outrage". USA Today.
External links
- Official website
- "Anti-Terror Legislation Expected to Lengthen DMV Lines", The Washington Post
- Coalition for a Secure Driver’s License
- Department of Homeland Security: REAL ID Act