Opponents of a new state law designed to improve driver's license security will be collecting voter signatures throughout Maine on the the Fourth of July.

Leaders of the petition drive say the law violates privacy rights and leaves citizens vulnerable to bureaucratic error, abuse of power and identity theft, said Shenna Bellows, executive director of the Maine Civil Liberties Union.

Organizers have until July 17 to submit 55,087 voter signatures to get a referendum question to repeal the law on the Nov. 4 ballot.

The Legislature passed a law in April to begin upgrading security of Maine driver's licenses.

In June, Maine received a $1 million federal grant to start the process, which includes implementing facial recognition technology, Bellows said.

Gov. John Baldacci agreed to seek driver's license changes after the federal government threatened to stop accepting Maine licenses when its residents wanted to board a plane or enter a federal building.

The Legislature agreed to tighten procedures for issuing licenses, in part by requiring that applicants prove they are in the country legally.

The law also requires the state Bureau of Motor Vehicles to make sure only Maine residents receive licenses and that applicants cannot receive multiple licenses.

Maine has until Dec. 15 to make the changes. Congress required the changes following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in an effort to make driver's licenses less susceptible to fraud.