Statement from Senator Croci Regarding New York's Extension to Comply with Federal "REAL ID" Act

PRESS RELEASE

Thursday, October 15, 2015

For Immediate Release

October 15, 2015

STATEMENT FROM SENATOR CROCI REGARDING NEW YORK’S  EXTENSION TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL “REAL ID” ACT

Senator Croci Responds to New York’s Extension to Become Compliant with Law Passed After 9/11

Hauppauge, NY – New York State Senator Thomas Croci (R – Sayville) recently condemned the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles for their lack of compliance with the federal law passed after recommendations from the 9/11 Commission Report, known as the REAL ID Act. In addition, Senator Croci recently sponsored state legislation (S5842) that would require NYS DMV to reissue driver’s licenses that comply with the law at no cost. New York DMV only recently submitted a request to the federal government requesting an extension to comply with REAL ID.

“The federal Real ID Act, which was passed by Congress and signed into law in 2005, is a coordinated effort by the states and federal government, intended to improve reliability and accuracy of state-issued identification documents, which serve to inhibit a terrorist’s ability to evade detection by using fraudulent identification.  The standards established by the federal Real ID Act resulted from a Congressional study investigating the various factors which led to the horrific tragedy that occurred on September 11, 2001.  In addition to developing tamper proof technologies within the identification card itself, states were directed to initiate a process whereby the documentation submitted by an individual applying for a state issued driver’s license could be verified as authentic.  The purpose of the verification requirement is to ensure that terrorists are not issued identification cards based on the proffering of forged or otherwise fake documentation. 

Until October 2015, New York State was one of only four states that were deemed non-compliant with this federal homeland security law.  After ten years of non-compliance, and only after public outcry over the impending enforcement deadlines, DMV finally submitted a compliance waiver to the federal Department of Homeland Security.  While the waiver was approved, DMV was only given one year to bring our state in to compliance.  In addition to the security threat that further delay in compliance presents, failure to take swift action by the October 2016 deadline could again result in New Yorkers being denied admittance to federal facilities and military bases, and could even inhibit our ability to board an aircraft if Real ID becomes fully enforced. 

It is important to note that our DMV is, and has always been, empowered via current statutory authority, to fully implement this federal law.  Unfortunately, until applying for the recent waiver, they consciously chose not to comply, disregarding homeland security concerns and leaving New Yorkers wondering if our IDs would be accepted by the federal government.  DMV should not be making unilateral decisions regarding which federal laws it chooses to follow, and which federal laws it chooses not to follow.  Especially when their unilateral decision impacts our security as a state and the ability of our citizens to travel or enter federally regulated facilities,” stated Senator Croci.

The federal extension for New York to comply with this law is October 2016.

All media inquiries should be directed to Senator Croci’s Communications Specialist, Christine Geed at (631) 398-8044 (call or text) or via email at geed@nysenate.gov.  Inquiries for additional information should be directed to Senator Croci’s Press Secretary, Jennifer Freeman Romero at (631) 513-5657 or via email at jfreeman@nysenate.gov

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