Maryland Residents Without REAL ID To Face New Fee

Maryland air travelers who haven’t yet gotten their REAL IDs will be charged a $45 fee beginning in February, according to an announcement Monday from the Transportation Security Administration.

The updated ID has been required since May, but passengers without it have so far been allowed to clear security with additional screening and a warning. The Department of Homeland Security says 94 percent of passengers are already compliant and that the new fee is intended to encourage travelers to obtain the ID.

To get a REAL ID in Maryland, residents must schedule an appointment at a Maryland MVA branch by using the online appointment scheduler here.

Marylanders must bring the following documents with them to their appointment:

1. Proof of age and identity (i.e. birth certificate, U.S. passport, permanent resident card, etc.)
2. Proof of social security (i.e. social security card, W-2 form, pay stub less than three months old, etc.)
3. Two forms of proof of Maryland residency (i.e. vehicle registration card, bank account statement, utility bill, etc.)

If residents are unsure about their REAL ID status or what they will need to provide when they come in for an appointment, they can sign up for a myMVA account.

“We’ve made it easy for customers to assess whether they are compliant, or not, through a myMVA account," officials said. "By setting up their own myMVA account, Marylanders can see their REAL ID status, as well as other relevant driver and vehicle information.”

REAL ID is a federally compliant state-issued license or identification card that meets enhanced requirements mandated in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. It was supposed to be rolled out in 2008, but the implementation had been repeatedly delayed.

Beginning Feb. 1, travelers 18 and older flying domestically without a REAL ID and who don’t have another accepted form of ID on them, such as a passport, will pay the non-refundable fee to verify their identity through TSA’s alternative "Confirm.ID" system.

TSA officials said that paying the fee does not guarantee verification, and travelers whose identities cannot be verified may be turned away. If approved, however, the verification covers a 10-day travel period.

The fee can be paid online before arriving at the airport. Travelers can also pay online at the airport before entering the security line, but officials said the process takes up to 30 minutes.
The TSA initially proposed an $18 charge for passengers without a REAL ID, but officials said Monday they raised it after realizing the alternative identification program would cost more than anticipated.

Other acceptable forms of ID include military IDs, permanent resident cards and photo IDs from federally recognized tribal nations. TSA also accepts digital IDs through platforms such as Apple Wallet, Google Wallet and Samsung Wallet at more than 250 airports in the U.S.

Reporting by The Associated Press.