License standards

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano Wednesday sounded a warning for airport travelers. If you're frustrated with the screening, questioning and delays now, it's just going to get worse next year if you don't have a Real ID driver's license.

And you most likely won't.

Current law requires states to implement Real ID requirements by Dec. 31, but Secretary Napolitano said that "no state will have issued a Real ID compliant identification document" by the deadline. However, Real ID will be the only acceptable identification on entering a federal building or boarding a plane.

Without it, passengers will face "additional screening by (the Transportation Security Administration) — and one can only contemplate the inconvenience in airline travel that could occur if everyone has to undergo additional screening because they don't have a Real ID-compliant driver's license," Secretary Napolitano told the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee.

It could be time consuming given the demand on screeners who now check 2 million passengers daily at 450 airports.

Among the 18 requirements to meet Real ID standards, states have to verify Social Security numbers and legal status with national databases and check birth certificates with the issuing agency, which can be costly. However, the technology to validate the Real ID licenses doesn't exist.

Faced with the expense and complexity, states have balked at the plan.

Secretary Napolitano has proposed modifying Real ID with Pass ID, which would eliminate the need to check birth certificates and cut in half the estimated $4 billion cost of Real ID.

Congress should move on her proposal to facilitate issuing new licenses and avoid the snarl certain to result under current regulations.