Karl Geppert v. Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration

The Social Security Act of 1935, as amended, authorized the issuance of social security numbers to applicants for federal benefits, but did not require U.S. citizens to obtain such numbers. The REAL ID Act of 2005 similarly does not require U.S. citizens to obtain social security numbers. Despite this, the Maryland Court of Appeals, interpreting the requirements of State driver’s license statutes implementing the REAL ID Act, determined that a U.S. citizen must obtain a social security number in order to qualify for a driver’s license in Maryland. Question: Where no federal law requires a citizen of the United States to obtain a social security number, may a State legislature, or its courts in applying the State law, require a citizen to obtain such federal number in order to receive a State privilege?