States vow a fight over new licenses

WASHINGTON -- States are threatening to challenge in court and even disobey new orders from Congress to start issuing more uniform driver's licenses and verify the citizenship or legal status of people getting them.

There is concern among some states that they'll get stuck with a large tab to pay for implementing the new rules and that getting a driver's license will become a bigger headache for law-abiding residents.

The new license requirements were part of the $82 billion war spending bill that received final congressional approval yesterday. President Bush has promised to sign the measure.

''Governors are looking at all their options. If more than half of the governors agree we're not going down without a fight on this, Congress will have to consider changing this unfunded federal mandate," said Governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, vice chairman of the National Governors Association. A Huckabee aide said the options include court action.

States fear the new rules may force applicants to make more than one trip to motor vehicle departments, once to provide documents such as birth certificates that states must verify and a second time to pick up the license, state officials said.

''We'd like to work with people to implement the needed reform and will be very disappointed if these groups thwart these important rules," said Jeff Lungren, spokesman for Wisconsin Republican Representative James Sensenbrenner, who wrote the new requirements.

Sensenbrenner said last week that waiting a little longer in line is ''a small price to pay" to prevent future terrorism.

Massachusetts officials are among those who apparently agree.

''Massachusetts is very unique in that we actually really like this bill and do not plan on fighting this in court," said Amie O'Hearn, spokeswoman for the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

The state has the most secure license in North America, officials say, and O'Hearn said any move to strengthen security would be viewed as a good thing.

The legislation, however, got mixed reviews from other state leaders in the region yesterday.

Bonnie L. Rutledge, commissioner of Vermont's Department of Motor Vehicles, said it is too early to say whether Vermont would challenge the mandates, but she said the federal government would have to absorb some of the costs for the process.

Before last July in Vermont, photos were not required for new drivers, she said. The new regulations would make photos mandatory for those who haven't already obtained licenses.

Rutledge said she is concerned about a requirement to verify documentation with the agency that issued the document. ''Right now, if you come in here with what appears to be an original, we accept it on face value," she said.

Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap said his state ''is kind of in the middle of the curve."

At the very least, he said, residents can be certain they will see longer lines at an institution widely known for causing headaches.

''We know that it is going to have a very serious impact on our customer service," he said. ''That's just going to get worse."

All but one of the 19 hijackers in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks had some form of US identification, some of it fraudulent, the Sept. 11 Commission found. The commission recommended the federal government set standards for birth certificates and other identification documents, including driver's licenses.

Some states already have been increasing their license requirements, but their work may not be enough.

Maine's motor vehicle department is upgrading its computer system. But the upgrade doesn't include computer coding to comply with at least one of the new rules: ensure driver's licenses issued to temporary legal residents expire when the resident's authorized time in the United States is up.

Virginia's motor vehicle department estimated it would have to spend $237 million to comply with the bill passed by the House if it maintains its current level of customer service.

Some changes to the final legislation could alter the estimate, a spokeswoman said.

The bill allows the Homeland Security secretary to offer grants to help states to comply, but does not provide money.

States will have three years after the president signs the bill to comply. Otherwise, residents won't be able to board planes or enter federally protected buildings.

Globe correspondent Scott Goldstein contributed to this report.