The Dayton Daily News has a comprehensive look at the new Ohio driver's licenses that will arrive in January 2013 and be mandatory by 2017 (though for federal purposes, they'll be the only valid ID accepted as of 2014 for most people.)
Yes, Ohio just got new driver's license designs just a few years ago — who doesn't love salmon? — but the new ones will be forced on the Buckeye state because of the Real ID Act of 2005, an outgrowth of the 9/11 commission. A litany of states have already passed legislation saying Real ID is a load of hooey and they have no intentions of complying. Ohio is not one of those states.
So, we get the new license, which the Dayton Daily News sums up in the first paragraph of its report: "New Ohio driver’s licenses and identification cards debuting in January 2013 likely will cost more, require additional documentation and take longer to get."
Sweet. Make the BMV more superfuntime awesome, please.
Among the highlights: You won't get the ID immediately; it will be mailed to you. In the meantime, your current ID will be hole-punched and used on a temporary basis. Oh, and it will cost more, though Ohio doesn't know how much more as of this time.
There's more, all of which you should read, at the DDN link, including a Republican from Texas saying that America is setting itself up for another terrorist attack if Real ID doesn't go forward. Superfuntime indeed.
