The Homeland Security Department today announced a temporary reprieve for states to meet tougher federal driver’s license requirements, forestalling a Senate effort to delay implementation of the rules.

The department extended until Dec. 31, 2009, a May 11, 2008, deadline stipulated in a 2005 law known as the Real ID Act (PL 109-13). Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said states could “seek justifiable extensions” by showing they are working toward compliance.

Chertoff also said states could use up to 20 percent of their fiscal 2007 homeland security grant funding to comply with the law. State driver’s licenses will only be valid for federal identification purposes if they comply with the law.

As a result of the department’s action, Sen. Susan Collins , R-Maine, who negotiated the issue privately with the administration, withdrew her amendment to broad homeland security legislation (S 4) to delay implementation of the new license requirements.

“By accepting our recommendations to delay implementation, the Department of Homeland Security is giving states more time to devise a way to make driver’s licenses more secure without unduly burdening state governments and without threatening privacy and civil liberties,” Collins said in a statement.