State officials throughout the U.S. are speaking out against the standards set by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for secure drivers licenses and identification cards. In comments to DHS’s proposed rule the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators and the California Department of Motor Vehicles both commented, that, under guidelines set in the 2005 Real ID Act, the process for counterfeiting licenses would be easier, as counterfeiters would only have to focus on mimicking one standard license, as opposed to 50.

In addition, California’s DMV voiced concern about the fact that the Real ID would require states to provide other states with access to their databases. This shared database of more than 240 million licenses would, in effect, create an enticing target for hackers and other criminals.

The Real ID Act was approved by Congress two years ago, as part of President Bush’s war supplemental and tsunami relief bill. The goal of the act is to improve security by requiring use of an approved identification to fly on commercial airlines and to enter federal facilities and nuclear power plants.

Since it was first passed, the act has received criticism from multiple sources. Over 3,000 comments have been received about the Real ID proposed rules, and many states, including Maine, Idaho and Montana, have rejected provisions of the act.