Real ID — 9 states are failing


Nine states are failing their citizens’ need for Real ID


Real ID

ID Requirements Are Changing to Fly Commerically


Recommended by the 9/11 Commission and enacted by Congress in 2005 during the Bush Administration, the Real ID Act established the minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards in order to raise the essential security of federal facilities and air travel.
Forty-one states have met the Real ID standards or are well on their way to doing so. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), however, has declared that nine states have not met the standards and aren’t satisfactorily progressing toward meeting them.
By the end of the month, residents of Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Washington will have to use alternative, Real ID compliant identification to enter some federal facilities, and after January, 2018, to proceed through Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security checkpoints at airports across the nation.
Real ID-compliant identification such as a U.S. passport or passport c ard aren’t inexpensive. (A full list of acceptable IDs is found at TSA’s website.) A first time U.S. passport costs a minimum of $135 for an adult (16 years old and older). A first time U.S. passport card for an adult costs a minimum of $55.
While a Passport Card is sufficient identification for domestic air travel, you can’t use it to fly internationally, even to Canada or Mexico. In my opinion, if you eventually need to obtain an alternative Real ID compliant identification and have any intention of ever traveling internationally, get a passport, not a passport card.

  • Kentucky — Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Vehicle Regulation, John-Mark Hack, said, “It’s disappointing that the federal government is basically turning a blind eye to recent progress we’ve made in improving our systems.” Mr. Hack failed to mention that Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin vetoed Kentucky’s plan to bring the state into compliance with Real ID.
  • Maine — State officials and some Maine citizens expressed concerns about the Real ID law’s requirement to maintain a database of personal information about ID holders accessible to federal officials. This resulted in a state law banning Maine’s compliance with Real Id.
  • Minnesota — In 2009, the Minnesota legislature banned its state from complying with Real ID or even discussing it. Last year the legislature lifted the ban, but haven’t been able to agree on new legislation to bring Minnesota into compliance with Real ID. Some Minnesota legislators want to wait to see what the Trump Administration plans to do about Real ID. At this time the legislature seems to be at an impasse.
  • Missouri — The is another state which passed a law to ban the state from complying with Real ID. Legislation has been proposed to allow the state to produce both a Real ID compliant driver’s license and an ordinary license. Each Missouri citizen would be allowed to choose which license they want. Whether the legislation will become law is unknown.
  • Montana — This is another state which banned compliance with Real ID. Governor Steve Bullock insists their driver’s licenses are secure even though they don’t comply with Real ID. He’s called on President-elect Trump to repeal the Real ID law. That may be futile, considering the President-elect’s positions on E-verify and national security.
  • Oklahoma — Oklahoma joined the list of states refusing to comply with Real ID by passing legislation in 2007. They said they were concerned about privacy issues. Since then, numerous efforts to overturn the legislation have failed.
  • Pennsylvania — Pennsylvania also passed legislation to ban compliance with Real ID based on privacy issues. There are legislators in Pennsylvania who continue to oppose Real ID compliance despite the problems non-compliance imposes on Pennsylvanians. It seems unlikely the legislature will repeal the ban.
  • South Carolina — In 2007, South Carolina passed a law banning Real ID compliance. Current governor Nikki Haley, then a member of the South Carolina House, voted in favor of the law. Late last year, governor Haley indicated she would continue to follow the ban, but President-elect Trump has picked her to be the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
  • Washington — While Washington driver’s licenses aren’t in compliance with Real ID, Washington offers an enhanced driver’s license which is compliant, at an additional cost, but at this time less than 9 percent of Washington licenses and ID cards are the enhanced version. It’s been reported that the state’s legislature will take up Real ID again this year. In Washington, a first-time enhanced driver’s license costs $143, which is more than a passport costs.

Even if these states agree to become Real ID compliant this year, they will have to hope DHS quickly grants them a new extension, as it seems impossible, at this point, that they could get Real ID compliant licenses and other IDs in the hands of all the residents who need them by the end of the year.
If you need to purchase an alternative Real ID compliant identification to enter federal facilities or fly, remember you can’t obtain a U.S. passport or passport card or another compliant ID overnight. Allow enough time to obtain it before you must have it.
If your state is failing your identification needs, contact your governor and state legislators.

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