Top security experts agree that the Real ID Act will not protect New York from terrorism:
I have studied identification and identity cards carefully, and I want you to know that a national ID is neither a protection from terrorism nor a response to the attacks of September 11, 2001. A national ID would satisfy the federal government's demand for control -- not Americans' genuine need for security and law enforcement.
Jim Harper
Director of Information Policy Studies, CATO Institute;
Member, Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Real ID is another lousy security trade-off. It'll cost the United States at least $11 billion and we won't get much security in return... For the price, we're not getting anywhere near the security we should.
Bruce Schneier, CTO of BT Counterpane, the world's largest network data security firm.

Our security depends on people -- whether documented or undocumented--having the means to identify themselves and to cooperate with the police and other authorities... Our ability to locate terrorists is enhanced if law-enforcement officials in turn can find the people they are looking for -- and driver's license databases are a useful tool for this purpose.
Lt. Col. Margaret Stock, U.S. Army Reserve; Law Professor, U.S. Military Academy, West Point
Click here to read Lt. Col. Margaret Stock's letter to Gov. Spitzer.