REAL ID Act - update

Passed by Congress in 2005, the REAL ID Act enacted the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the Federal Government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver's licenses.” The Act established minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards and prohibits Federal agencies from accepting for official purposes licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet these standards. This would include TSA at airport security checkpoints.

The REAL ID Act was originally proposed to become effective January 22, 2018. However, 23 States have not yet met the requirements of the REAL ID Act and subsequently have filed for – and received – an extension by the Department of Homeland Security.

Travelers who live in a State that has been granted an extension can continue to use their existing driver’s license to transit TSA airport security up until October 10, 2018 at which point these travelers will either need a compliant REAL ID or an alternate, approved form of ID to transit airport security.

States which have received an extension include:

WA, CA, OR, AK, ID, MT, ND, OK, MN, MO, LA, IL, MI, KY, SC, VA, PA, NY, NJ, RI, MA, NH, ME

Cain will continue to provide updates on REAL ID as the new October 10 deadline approaches.