Chertoff visits state to endorse security-enhanced driver's IDs

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff visited Seattle recently to help Gov. Christine Gregoire kick off a pilot program that will allow Washington state residents to use a security-enhanced driver's license, rather than a passport, to travel to and from Canada. Chertoff predicted the new licenses will help meet the department's dual goals of enhancing security and reducing wait-times at the border. "This new license not only makes it easier to move across the border, but it will make it easier to secure [individuals'] privacy," Chertoff said. The enhanced licenses, which are expected to be available in January, will cost $40, versus $97 for a passport. They will contain technology required by the federal government to facilitate rapid identification checks at border crossings, similar to chips already embedded in U.S. passports. They could also enable cross-checks with criminal databases and other information sets. If successful, the pilot program could be expanded to other border states as an alternative way to meet the requirements of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which would require anyone crossing the U.S. border to have a passport beginning in June 2009. "I'm quite sure other states that want to use the same technology and the same approach will be welcome to do so," he said. After the event, Chertoff said concerns that such enhanced licenses could lead to invasions of privacy are misguided.