AUGUSTA, Maine—Maine is receiving a $1 million federal grant to bring the state closer to compliance with the Real ID anti-terrorism law.
The Maine Civil Liberties Union says the Department of Homeland Security grant can be used for facial recognition technology and other driver's license security measures to bring the state into compliance with Real ID. But the MCLU points out that Maine is barred by state law from compliance with the 2007 law.
A separate law passed this year bolsters Maine driver's license security. Passage of the law removed the threat that state residents would be put through extra security when boarding planes or entering federal facilities. The MCLU supports efforts to repeal that law through a ballot initiative.
Gov. John Baldacci supports the license law, which he says is not Real ID. Baldacci says the state can receive the federal grant without being Real ID compliant.
