Officials from around the United States will be gathering next week with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators in Washington to discuss the future of government-issued ID cards.

The issuing of driver’s licenses and state IDs has been under the microscope since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks when the hijackers used fake identities and licenses obtained in Florida to gain admittance to the airplanes.

Debate has centered on how to tighten guidelines for obtaining ID cards and what should be on the cards, without sacrificing civil rights.

Michigan State Police spokesman Michael Prince said the issue will not be settled easily.

“We’re going to step back and look at processes that have been acceptable in the past and we’re going to have to make some kind of determination to see what kind of measures need to be put in place to maintain a free society,” he said.

Henry Silverman, president of the Lansing branch of the Michigan American Civil Liberties Union, said people should be wary of any measures that will restrict privacy.

“We have to be careful and make sure these proposals do not erode our rights,” Silverman said.

“The creation of all these new things never lessen the intrusion of the government into privacy.”

He said the government has created documents in the past with citizens approval and then went against its promises to protect freedoms.

“They promised us that when we created a Social Security card, that it wouldn’t be used as an ID card,” Silverman said.

Nick Szawara, a criminal justice junior, said he does not think new policies will impede on civil rights.

“I’d rather have more checkpoints - there has to be a little give and take,” Szawara said. “We had to put our foot down and show our teeth so people can’t take advantage of us.”

Elizabeth Boyd, spokeswoman for the state, said government officials are working on a plan that will not restrict privacy.

“While we are looking at the driver’s license differently then we did on Sept. 10, we are still concerned about privacy issues,” Boyd said.

“As we look at the recommendations, we are going to be very sensitive to anything that boarders on invasion of privacy.”

She said Michigan officials will be participating in the meetings next week with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators.

Jason King, spokesman for the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, said it does not support a national ID, but will report recommendations to Congress to alter the process of obtaining a driver’s license.

But it is important that people know the association was working on changing the process before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, he said.

He said he thinks the association has support in Congress, which is key and the process could gradually change over the next five to seven years.

“Now there’s a heightened awareness for what the license has become - the ID of choice,” King said.