-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: [Politech] Highlights from new bill revamping state drivers licenses [priv] Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2005 20:21:20 -0500 From: Michael G. Thompson <ferret@private> To: Declan McCullagh <declan@private> References: <20050126164750.A11338@private> Declan McCullagh wrote: >I managed to get a copy of the bill and have placed it here: >http://www.politechbot.com/docs/drivers.license.bill.012605.pdf > >A few highlights: > > Lowlights you mean! About 10 years ago, I worked for the IT branch of the Maryland MVA. At one point, they had the fine old idea of selling the entire picture database to a private firm in Massachusetts, which would have essentially done the same thing for the private sector. If I'm not going to allow that to go unprotested, you can betcher ass that giving DHS unfettered access to my diriving record and photo is going to go over like a neutronium balloon. And to those of you who say that DHS is only trying to protect the nation from terrorists, I say to you: How safe do you feel now? There is no proof that this would be a safer thing to do, and there is plenty of proof that it would put a lot of power in the hands of federal employees who have almost no motivation to properly secure and control access. -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: [Politech] New House bill mandates national standard for state drivers licenses [priv] Date: 26 Jan 2005 21:22:14 -0500 From: John R Levine <johnl@private> To: Declan McCullagh <declan@private> References: <20050126161914.A10968@private> > [Note "tough physical security requirements to reduce > counterfeiting..." More biometrics, perhaps? I haven't seen the text > yet, though. --Declan] I don't see how biometrics would help. The issue is fake licenses. Someone making a fake license shouldn't have any trouble putting your correct height, nose hair color, etc. on it. I'd expect those requirements to be more like the ones for money, microprinting, color changing holograms, stuff like that. R's, John -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: [Politech] New House bill mandates national standard for statedrivers licenses [priv] Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2005 15:09:55 -0500 From: Katherine BAUFAY <spacelink@private> To: Declan McCullagh <declan@private> Here you have it... The de facto ID card for all Americans. Oh boy where will the hyperbole end if it ends one day, we all know that the 9-11 terrorists we acting on their own identity so genuine or fake ID is not the point when fighting against terrorism. I'm just curious to see how Americans will react when their government will "ask" for their fingerprints, just like they are doing to foreigners... Kate -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: [Politech] Highlights from new bill revamping state drivers licenses [priv] Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2005 11:17:17 -0400 From: Carl S. Hartzman <carloscc@private> To: Declan McCullagh <declan@private> Hello Declan McCullagh, I read the bill. I am an ordinary literate person not conversant with the nuances of the law. Many of the provisions seem to DENY RECOURSE TO THE COURTS for refugee claimants with regard to the decisions of the triers of their cases. It also seems empower the Secretary of Homeland Defense to disregard law in the conduct of certain of his activities and DENY RECOURSE TO THE COURTS to any of us when he does so. To me, this is indicative of a growing attitude in the U.S. that government should be "above the law", that it alright to deny due process, that constitutional "rights" should be subordinate today to the fight against terrorism and tomorrow to who knows what. I find this at least as disturbing as the prospect of a national ID and its accompanying database. I find the two things together intolerable, an internal threat to the nation as great as any external threat. CSH -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: [Politech] Highlights from new bill revamping state drivers licenses [priv] Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2005 21:06:30 +1300 From: Steve Withers <swithers@private> To: Declan McCullagh <declan@private> References: <20050126164750.A11338@private> On Thu, 2005-01-27 at 11:47, Declan McCullagh wrote: > * This bill requires "a common machine-readable technology, with > defined minimum data elements" and the presentation of a Social > Security Number before a license can be issued. What a shame they do not display the same determination in favor of consistency where the conduct of elections is concerned. With the Bush administration, improving the 'security state' comes first......voting and democracy are of lesser importance. Their own actions prove this to be the case. _______________________________________________ Politech mailing list Archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ Moderated by Declan McCullagh (http://www.mccullagh.org/)
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