Nevada beats the chip, drops Real ID mandate

Real ID Licenses Will Now Be Optional

c/o KXNT news radio

High-security drivers licenses will soon be an option for Nevada drivers. That's the word from Department of Motor Vehicles Director Edgar Roberts, who told a Legislative panel Monday the controversial "Real ID" program will no longer be mandatory. In January, Governor Jim Gibbons made the program mandatory in Nevada by executive order. But the high-security licenses have caused long lines at DMV offices, and sparked criticism from opponents who say the program intrudes into personal lives. Lawmakers could endorse Roberts' plan by the end of the month. Nevada has spent about two million dollars to implement the "Real ID" program, and so far, 46-thousand drivers have opted for the high-security cards.