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State Law Prohibits Real ID Compliance, Governor Says

Sanford: I Must Uphold Law

POSTED: 8:45 am EDT March 31, 2008
UPDATED: 5:10 pm EDT March 31, 2008

Gov. Mark Sanford said Monday that state law prevents the state from complying with any form of Real ID.

Sanford said he is asking the federal government to not treat the citizens of South Carolina any differently from other states that have laws on their books preventing the implementation of a national ID card program.

In a letter to the Department of Homeland Security, Sanford pointed out the state’s laws. He asked the federal government to not inconvenience South Carolinians who fly or enter federal buildings. He said the state’s driver’s licenses are already some of the most secure in the country.

“At the end of the day, I’m duty-bound to uphold the laws of our state, which right now say we can’t comply with Real ID,” Sanford said.

Sanford said the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles has already met roughly 90 percent of the benchmarks laid out by the federal government has laid out.

Sanford said compliance with Real ID would cost the state $116 million over 10 years and mean wait times of up to two hours at the DMV.

Last year, legilators passed a law prohibiting the compliance of any national ID program. Sanford cites that law in his argument to Homeland Secruity.

“We think the state legislature did the right thing last year when it said no to Real ID,” Sanford said.

Sanford said he will continue working with Homeland Security to keep this law from negatively impacting South Carolina.

States had until Mar. 31 to file for an extension to ask for more time to comply with the new ID law. If South Carolina, does not follow the new law, citizens will be required to show a passport to fly or enter federal buildings starting May 11.

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