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BY TUX TURKEL
MaineToday Media, Inc. 03/27/2008

MaineToday Media, Inc.

Maine travelers may dodge the threat of being unable to use their driver's licenses for security identification at airports this spring.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Wednesday that a letter sent a day earlier by Gov. John Baldacci, outlining steps the state is taking to upgrade its driver's license, represents "a good faith effort" to comply with the intent of the federal Real ID law.

The department is likely to decide within the next few days how to respond, according to Laura Keehner. It's "encouraged" by Baldacci's letter, she added.

"Whether the states call it Real ID or not, we want to make sure they're moving ahead with the intent of the law," Keehner said.

If the department accepts Maine's procedures as meeting the basic requirements of Real ID, that decision could defuse a pending showdown that threatens to disrupt tourism and business travel for Mainers after May 11.

Real ID is an anti-terrorism law designed to tighten driver's license standards. After May 11, the department plans to impose new air travel restrictions on residents of states that either haven't moved to comply with the law or haven't asked for extensions.

Real ID is an anti-terrorism law designed to tighten driver's license standards. After May 11, the department plans to impose new air travel restrictions on residents of states that either haven't moved to comply with the law or haven't asked for extensions.

The restrictions could mean that Mainers would need passports or military cards for valid identifications to board an aircraft, as well as to enter federal buildings.

Maine has privacy concerns about Real ID and how the federal government would use the information. It passed a law last year prohibiting the state from complying with the mandate.

States have until Monday to seek an extension from Homeland Security. Baldacci's letter didn't specifically ask the agency to waive the deadline. But it did ask the federal government not to penalize Maine travelers. And it outlined specific steps Maine is taking to make its driver's license more secure. These include digital photo retention, tamper-proof features and tougher proof of residency requirements.

In listing those steps, Baldacci followed the advice of Kathleen Kraninger, a top official at Homeland Security. In a clarification letter to Baldacci earlier this month, Kraninger said the agency was working with states that had laws limiting their ability to enact Real ID. She encouraged Maine to send a letter outlining what actions had already been taken and are being planned.

Baldacci also followed the lead of Montana, which has a state law that prohibits compliance with Real ID. Montana wrote a similar letter earlier this month to Homeland Security, and it received an extension last week, until December 2009. "We're hoping to be treated like Montana," said David Farmer, a spokesman for Baldacci. "We're not looking for a showdown."

Farmer said late Wednesday that the governor had received a call from Homeland Security. The agency said it was reviewing Maine's letter and could make a decision within a day.

A statement issued Tuesday by U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, went further in interpreting the intent: "As Maine continues to work diligently to improve identification security," Snowe wrote, "I urge Secretary (Michael) Chertoff to grant the governor's request for Maine IDs to continue to be accepted for federal purposes, following the May 11 implementation of the Real ID program."

Baldacci's letter has already eased the concerns of Jeff Monroe, Portland's transportation director.

Monroe feared the chaos of setting up a second security screening line at the Portland Jetport, which is about the start a major expansion.

"I feel better about it," he said on Wednesday. "It means Maine travelers probably won't have to deal with this issue in May. This will give us more time."

The latest developments also sounded encouraging to Steven Hewins, a vice president at AAA Northern New England in Portland. He had been hearing from businesses worried about how their employees would cope with potential new security measures for business travel.

"I'll be less concerned when I see a waiver or extension given," Hewins said. "Just as long as Maine travelers don't get pulled out of line after May 11."

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