Do You Have A Real ID???

A person will have to present a Real ID to board an airplane.

Do You Have A Real ID???

Congress passed the “Real ID Act” into law in 2005 following a recommendation from the 9/11 Commission on setting minimum national security standards for state drivers' licenses and ID cards. The enforcement of those requirements has been repeatedly delayed. Real ID's require state applicants to submit paperwork to prove who they are and their established residence in the U.S. Some states have made considerable progress in meeting this key recommendation of the 9/11 Commission.

If you live here in Texas and have had your drivers' license renewed in the past few years, you have had to also have a social security card, birth certificate, or some other “paperwork” proving your residence in the United States before you could get your license renewed. Once renewed, your drivers' license will have a white star in a gold circle in the upper right hand corner of the license that proves you have a “Real ID”.

Some states have applied for and been granted extensions, however, there are going to be no more extensions because the law goes into effect Oct. 1, 2020.

What does this mean? Well, it means that a person will have to present a Real ID to board an air line, enter any Federal facility, or enter a nuclear power plant. They can use an alternative acceptable document such as a passport. The Transportation Security Administration does not require children under 18 to provide identification when traveling with a companion within the United States. The companion however will need to have the Real ID.

The TSA transportation safety manager reported that “we want the public to make sure they're aware.....it's just another layer of security”. They are trying to let everyone know about what is going to happen in October, 2020 so that they can avoid the rush at he drivers' license offices around the United States. He said that “we don't want somebody to get in a situation where they come to the airport ready to fly on vacation and then suddenly they can't get through security”.

Even a travel agent couldn't help out in that situation!!!

So, I'm just trying to help TSA out by reminding our listeners that Texas had plenty of foresight in establishing this process already, but there might be folks out there whose licenses expire in 2021 or 2022, and they think they are covered. They are not, unless their drivers' license has the white star in a gold circle in the upper right hand corner of the card, so even though it is not expiration time, for them it is to be able to be Real ID compliant. If your license is from another state, it would be worth your time to contact the Driver's License Division of that state to find out if they are compliant with that law.

I'm sure that there will be other notices and reminders before October, 2020, but remember you heard it here first!!!

The experienced travel agents at The Travel Factory stand ready to help you plan that 2020 vacation, so give us a call today at 698-1421 or better still, stop by our office at the Plaza at Park Central, 4150 Southwest Drive, and we'll give you some good advice and make out like we're traveling with you!! You can travel with confidence when you allow us to help you plan your trip.