Deadline for Actual ID-Compliant Driver’s Licenses at Nation’s Airports But Once more Postponed

Safety checkpoint at T4 at JFK

The deadline for vacationers to current Actual ID-compliant driver’s licenses on the nation’s safety checkpoints, initially scheduled to be in 2008 and postponed a number of instances, has been pushed off to the spring of 2025.

Actual ID establishes minimal requirements and safety enhancements for state-issued driver’s licenses.

“This extension will give states wanted time to make sure their residents can get hold of a REAL ID-compliant license or identification card,” mentioned Secretary of Homeland Safety Alejandro N. Mayorkas in a press release.

The rationale for the postponement was mentioned to be delays because of the lingering results of the coronavirus pandemic. When it was final postponed, the rationale was that the necessity for social distancing was incompatible with 1000’s of individuals lined as much as get Actual ID-compliant licenses across the nation in time to satisfy the deadline.

Driver’s licenses which can be Actual ID compliant sport a five-point star within the high proper nook. Getting one requires a visit to the native division of motor automobiles or different company that points licenses in your state with documentation that features proof of id equivalent to a present license, beginning certificates, or passport; proof of date of beginning; proof of U.S. citizenship; and two proofs of residence equivalent to utility payments or financial institution statements.

The rationale for Actual ID got here from the truth that a few of the terrorists who hijacked the 4 planes on September 11, 2001, used fraudulently obtained driver’s licenses to traverse airport safety checkpoints, however the plan raised issues for privateness in addition to the price of implementation.  Consequently, the deadline for enforcement was pushed again repeatedly from 2008 to 2009 to 2011 to 2013 then to October 2020 earlier than the present postponement.

(Photograph: Accura Media Group)