Governor Rejects Federal ID Mandate

Gov. Mark Sanford signed a bill Wednesday in Greenville to keep South Carolina from participating in a new requirement that U.S. citizens obtain a federally approved ID card.

The REAL ID Act, passed by Congress in 2005, requires states to follow new verification procedures when issuing driver’s licenses or identification cards.

The act also calls for the information in each state’s motor vehicle database to be made available to all other states.

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Sanford said South Carolina is one of 32 states that have passed or are in the process of passing legislation refusing to participate in the act, which he estimated would cost South Carolina $40 million to implement the first year and $11 million each subsequent year.

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“This bill is about simply saying, ‘If you want it, federal government, you can pay for it,’” Sanford said. “From the standpoint of civil liberties, what it really would amount to is a national driver’s license.”

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