New Jersey Tightens Up State ID Starting May 7

New Jersey's upgraded driver's license to debut May 7 (MyCentralJersey.com)

The federal law intended to tighten security and crack down on ID fraud was passed by Congress in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in which hijackers gathered driver’s licenses and state identification cards from five states to help them carry out their plot.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says the standardized licenses will start being phased in as a requirement for people boarding commercial flights or entering federal buildings by the end of 2014.

Aside from computer upgrades, New Jersey has spent roughly $8.8 million on facial recognition systems and other technology to move to the new standard, with federal grants covering some of the costs, said Raymond Martinez, chief administrator of the state Motor Vehicle Commission. Homeland Security has awarded $175 million through 150 separate grants to the states.