MD Urges REAL ID Compliance Ahead Of May 7 Deadline

MARYLAND — State officials are reminding Marylanders about the importance of obtaining a REAL ID ahead of the upcoming implementation of the Federal REAL ID Act, which will take effect in eight weeks.

Effective May 7, Maryland residents who are 18 and older must show a REAL ID, a passport or other federally approved identification to board domestic flights or certain federal buildings.

The anti-terrorism law requiring the “gold star ID,” as it’s sometimes called, passed in 2005 in response to the Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and aims to heighten national security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards.

The law was originally supposed to take effect in 2008 but has been delayed multiple times.

A final rule published on Jan. 13 doesn’t change the May 7 deadline but does allow for a two-year phased-in enforcement. That pushes full enforcement to May 2027.

In a statement released Tuesday, state Department of Transportation officials said that 99 percent of Maryland residents are REAL ID compliant, one of the top rates in the country.

“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.”

To get a REAL ID in Maryland, residents must bring their documents in person to a Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration branch.

Required documents in Maryland include:

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. Proof of Maryland residency (i.e. vehicle registration card, bank account statement, utility bill, etc.)

If a large number of travelers arrive at an airport security checkpoint with noncompliant driver’s licenses for ID cards, it could clog screening lines, “potentially resulting in missed flights,” the published final rule stated.

“Additionally, long lines, confusion, and frustrated travelers at the checkpoint may greatly increase security risks both to passengers and TSA personnel by drawing the resources and attention of TSA personnel away from other passengers, including those known to pose an elevated risk,” according to the rule.

The TSA has not yet unveiled its plan for phased enforcement.

More information and details about how to obtain a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or identification card in Maryland can be found here.