By Desiree Taylor
A lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey has led to a court order that temporarily put the brakes on the state’s attempt to implement new federal standards to obtain and renew drivers’ licenses. The program, called TRU-ID, which was supposed to go into effect today, was created in response to the federal Real ID Act of 2005. The act seeks to establish a national ID card that will be required to board airplanes and enter federal buildings.
The lawsuit asserts that the Motor Vehicle Commission, or MVC, violated a New Jersey law that requires public notice and citizen review of any new rule or regulation. ACLU-NJ Executive Director Deborah Jacobs says, “The state is trying to slip this under the radar without allowing the public the opportunity to see how much TRU-ID will cost in terms of our rights, privacy and our wallets.”
Other opponents expressed similar concerns at a press conference held at the ACLU-NJ office in Newark. Maria Juega, of the Latin American Legal Defense Fund says TRU-ID will further marginalize the homeless, poor, immigrants and other vulnerable groups because it will be difficult for them to obtain some of the required documents. Critics also oppose a requirement under TRU-ID and Real ID systems that calls for citizens to turn over copies of their personal documents to the government, which will be maintained in a government database. But the court order prohibits MVC from making copies of Social Security cards, birth certificates, passports or other identification documents.
In a statement issued today, MVC officials expressed disappointment, saying, “the ACLU’s last minute move to block implementation of new federal identification requirements … adversely impacts over three million drivers and ID holders who are up against a December 2014 enforcement deadline.”
The ACLU of New Jersey says 25 states have opted out of Real ID, with 15 of them passing legislation making it illegal for their state governments to participate. The court order temporarily blocking implementation of the state’s TRU-ID program is expected to remain in place until at least Aug. 3. That’s when the ACLU of New Jersey and the MVC are scheduled to appear in court to present oral arguments.
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