Novelist, Casper Parks - Feeling the Pulse of Society.

United States: Phased roll-out of The REAL ID Act passed into law, 2005.

Source Department of Homeland Security.
Phase 3 of Real ID Act: 2015
Semi-restricted areas (i.e., areas available to the general public but subject to ID-based access control) for most Federal facilities.

Starting in 2016 travel is semi-restricted without a Real ID. 2016: Airlines are slated restricted travel. Railway and bus are not mentioned. I am not current on Real ID style of laws in other nations.

What does this mean for us? It is another step toward tracking citizens, who is going where and when.

Remember drug testing laws was only for those driving buses, operating trains and flying commercial planes? Within a short span, drug test became widespread for work place.

A number of states now test people receiving government aid / welfare. Excuse: Why should taxpayers support drug addicts?

At the federal level, there was a call to test those collecting their Social Security retirement. For now, that call for testing has dropped off the radar. Social Security Retirement / Disability and Social Security Supplement are not the same thing. Social Security retirement and disability are not a hand-outs, people paid into it. Social Security Supplement are for those who have not paid into it, and or have not worked long enough to collect. However, those in government are having difficulty defining a difference between the two.

Direct Deposit of funds was another casual roll-out for the public.

When direct deposit first began, it was voluntary. Many with strong religious beliefs objected and excused from it. Employers were not allowed to discriminate against people refusing it. Over time, that changed. Direct Deposit became a condition for employment and receiving Social Security.

Ongoing result of Direct Deposit, people are using bank issued debt cards when shopping and creating electronic records. What type of food and products we buy are recorded. How often do we opt to use the card instead of going to an the bank or ATM and pull out cash? There are laws in place, if someone pulls out a large sum of cash the bank must report it to the feds.

Since 911, buying and using a prepaid card requires card issuers to have social security number and date of birth on file for users. It is difficult to buy anything online without creating a trail. Bitcoins are an option but confusing for most people, and how long until that falls under a new law?

Real ID is another part of a Surveillance / Police State. It allows government to restrict and track travel of citizens. It is centralizing information at the federal and state level.

When it came to drug testing and direct deposit, those of us raising Red Flags were ignored or brushed under the rug. Drug testing done as a excuse for public safety, and Direct Deposit started as voluntary. Why raise drug testing and direct deposit with the Real ID Act? Each step taken was toward a total Surveillance / Police State.

Are biochip implants looming along the horizon? A number of states have passed laws forbidding employers from requiring a biochip implant as a condition of employment. Forced implanted biochips may not occur for years, if ever... For now, implanted biochips are casual introductions to the public.

What if using banks, debt cards and so-on become part of the Real ID Act? You cannot work, draw Social Security, buy or sell without a Real ID... It could happen...

Laws are often changed or added in the dead of night, phased-in over time without public realizing it. It becomes, "What you object? Oh, that's been the law for years."

Intelligence Authorization Act updated in late 2014, dead of night with changes giving NSA broader surveillance powers, and allows NSA to turn over data to local law enforcement - no warrant required.

Real ID Act was one of those, "phased-in" laws. Government leaders promising in 2005, "Restricted air travel doesn't happen until 2016. We have over ten years to debate and change the law if needed."

For 2015: Anyone raising the issue of Real ID and restricted travel will get a clipped response, "That issue was debated years ago." Do not expect travel restrictions to change, it is set to become law for 2016 under the guise of public safety.

For additional informational sources regarding - Real ID read sources below:

Source Department of Homeland Security.

April 21, 2014
Phase 1:
Restricted areas (i.e., areas accessible by agency personnel, contractors, and their guests) for DHS headquarters in Washington.

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July 21, 2014
Phase 2:
Restricted areas for all Federal facilities & nuclear power plants.

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January 19, 2015 -
Phase 3:
Semi-restricted areas (i.e., areas available to the general public but subject to ID-based access control) for most Federal facilities.

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No sooner than 2016
Phase 4:
Boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft. A driver’s license or identification card from a noncompliant state may only be used in conjunction with a second form of ID for boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft.

Source, Department of Transportation - DMV explains: REAL ID (effective January 14, 2013)

About REAL ID

Congress passed the REAL ID Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-13, 119 Stat. 231) in an effort to strengthen the security, authentication and issuance standards for state driver licenses and ID cards.

What it means for you

At some point within the next five years, it is expected that federal agencies will only accept for official federal purposes* a driver license or ID issued in compliance with the REAL ID Act.

To assure that Wisconsin driver license and ID holders can continue to use their licenses and IDs for federal official purposes.

*Federal official purposes are defined as:

boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft
accessing federal facilities that require identification to enter
entering nuclear power plants

You decide whether or not you need one – Wisconsin offers a choice

Wisconsin is issuing both REAL ID-compliant and non-compliant driver licenses and ID cards.
The cards will look similar.
The cost for either card is the same.

Which should you choose?

At some point within the next five years, it is expected that federal agencies will only accept for official federal purposes* a driver license or ID issued in compliance with the REAL ID Act, so that decision is based on whether you plan to use your driver license or ID card as identification for federal official purposes (see above).

If you have a valid U.S. passport or another acceptable form of federal identification, you can use that for identification, rather than a REAL ID-compliant driver license or ID card. A list of Transportation Safety Administration approved documents is available at: www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/acceptable-ids.

If you do not apply for a REAL ID-compliant card and change your mind, you can still apply for one at a later time.

There is no reason to rush out to get a REAL ID-compliant card

The law is being phased in over several years. Most people will be able to wait until their driver license or ID card is up for renewal before applying for a REAL ID-compliant card.

Wisconsin REAL ID-compliant and non-compliant driver licenses and ID cards will look similar

They will be made of the same materials; offer the same security features designed to prevent tampering, counterfeiting or duplication; contain the same information; and have the same general appearance.

The only significant difference is a star verification mark on the front of the card in the upper, right-hand corner of the REAL ID-compliant card.