Federal mandate comes at inopportune time

We should probably feel safer now that the Nevada Board of Examiners has agreed to spend $29.2 million to comply with the federal Real ID Act.

But we're too busy computing all of the things the state could have done with that money, like building highways or funding schools, for example.

The money will pay for drivers licenses that will be more difficult to counterfeit. We're supportive of the federal government's efforts, but if it's that important they should have funded the cost of the program rather than leaving it up to cash-strapped states to deal with.

What's worse is the new system will mean Nevada drivers will have to find birth certificates and other documents and show up in person to renew their license.

And when we hear the licenses will be made in a "secure, central location" instead of at the DMV office, what we are actually hearing is that we'll be waiting longer and spending more.

In 2007, Nevada officials voted to fund Real ID at minimal levels in hopes they could convince Congress to either scale back the requirements or pay for implementation. Apparently, based on the announcement of the $29.2 million contract, they were unsuccessful.

And it couldn't have come at a worse time.

• This editorial represents the view of the Nevada Appeal Editorial Board.