Politics & Government
Real ID Act: Is Your State Compliant?
Domestic air travelers with IDs from states that don't meet federal requirements or have not been given an extension will be affected.
Starting in January 2018, travelers with driver's licenses that are not compliant with new federal standards established by the 2005 REAL ID Act will not be able to travel by air within the U.S. unless they show an alternate form of ID.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, starting on Jan. 22, travelers with driver's licenses from states that are not REAL ID compliant or have not been granted an extension will need to show an alternative form of acceptable identification for domestic air travel. Passengers with IDs from a state that is compliant or has been granted an extension will still be able to use their driver's licenses or identification cards.
Visitors seeking access to military bases and almost all federal facilities must also present state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards that are REAL ID compliant or have been granted an extension.
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According to DHS, the following states are already REAL ID compliant:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- DC
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- Ohio
- S. Dakota
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Vermont
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
The DHS has granted the following states an extension until Oct. 2018 to meet federal standards and make their state-issued IDs compliant:
Find out what's happening in Across Americafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Alaska
- American Samoa
- California
- Guam
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- N. Marianas
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- N. Carolina
- N. Dakota
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- S. Carolina
- Texas
- Virgin Islands
- Virginia
- Washington
- New York
- Michigan
- Louisiana
The T.S.A. lists at least 14 other forms of identification that are REAL ID compliant and can be used for domestic air travel on its website.
The REAL ID Act adopted the 9/11 Commission's recommendation that the federal government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver's licenses.” By October 2020, all air travelers will have to present a REAL-ID compliant license or another acceptable form of identification.
Photo: Kansas Department of Revenue via AP
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