Washington state to put RFID chips in drivers license

[liberal N proud]

High-tech driver's licenses could ease border crossing
SEATTLE, Washington (AP) -- High-security driver's licenses aimed at letting U.S. citizens return from Canada without a passport could be adopted elsewhere if Washington state's experiment works, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Friday.

The pilot project, signed into law by Gov. Chris Gregoire and formally approved by Chertoff on Friday, calls for Washington to begin issuing new "enhanced" driver's licenses in January.

They will look much like conventional driver's licenses, but will include proof of citizenship and other information that can be easily scanned at the border.

Radio frequency ID chips and other advanced security features also would make the enhanced licenses less vulnerable to forgery. At about $40, they also would be less expensive than a $97 passport.

Chertoff's endorsement of the pilot project comes as border states prepare for new federal security requirements mandating a passport for travelers -- including U.S. citizens -- who enter the country by sea or land from elsewhere in the Western Hemisphere.

That requirement is expected to take effect between early 2008 and mid-2009. A similar rule for air travelers already is in force.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TRAVEL/03/24/border.crossing.ap/index.html

[ORDagnabbit]

1. use a hammer or rare earth magnet. n/t

[youngdem]

3. Yup.

They also sell little lead lined sleeves for such things.

[meldroc]

9. Hammer works, or wrapping it in foil, or stick it in the microwave.

I'm in a position to know about such things, as I work for a company that makes RFID readers.

A hammer's probably the best bet - if you feel any RFID tag, you'll feel a bump where the RFID chip is embedded - it's about the size of a pinhead. Whack it with a hammer to destroy it.

You can also wrap it in aluminum foil or aluminized mylar to block the signal. Wrap it up tight, make sure there aren't any gaps, so the foil creates a Faraday cage.

Also, if you microwave the tag, the energy from the microwaves will turn into a huge amount of electricity in the antenna due to induction - stick a CD in the microwave to see this effect at work, and enjoy the lightshow. The high voltages will fry the RFID chip, but it will likely scorch the driver's license it's embedded in (and set it on fire, and stink up your microwave,) and you might not want some cop to see that...

[snappyturtle]

2. The cost of a passport is a small price to pay . IMHO n/t

[ORDagnabbit]

4. "Those Who Sacrifice Liberty For Security Deserve Neither"

mister benjamin franklin....

[snappyturtle]

5. Agreed. n/t

[regnaD kciN]

8. Passports already have the same chips in them...

...so it seems to be a wash either way.

I would look into the sleeves that can block anyone from reading them, though.

[southerncrone]

6. Washington state, please don't allow this to happen.

It will set a precedent that many other RED states will flock to like a chicken on a June bug! (Old Southern saying)

These RFID chips are nothing more than spy devices. It's bad enough they can use our cell phones to spy on us now!

Please fight this Washington State, PLEEEEZ!


:mad:

[regnaD kciN]

11. Please note that these driver's licenses are OPTIONAL...

This is only for people who cross the border a lot and want to avoid having to bother with carrying a passport. You have to pay extra for them and bring all sorts of proof of citizenship to the DMV when applying. People who don't request these will get garden-variety, un-RFID licenses that will require you to take a passport with you when you leave the country.

I suspect the only Washingtonians who will go for these licenses will be those who have regular business trips to Vancouver or avid outdoorspeople who want to hike or ski in the Canadian mountains.

[southerncrone]

12. Thank goodness.

And thank you for explaining it. Guess I'm just paranoid because of all the spying on average Americans done by our current govt!
:yoiks:

[PuppyBismark]

7. So Much for Privacy

This has the potential to be one of the biggest invasions of privacy government has ever put forward. RFID chips in our licenses will allow the government to deploy readers all over the country and track our every movement.

Is this really what we want? At least we can turn off our cell phone, one cannot turn off an RFID chip, it is a passive device that needs no power.

This needs our attention Now!

:puke: :puke: :puke:

[Skidmore]

10. Doesn't Bill Gates own this state?