AAA Central Penn is reminding Central Pennsylvania travelers to get a REAL ID, as the deadline for U.S. residents to have a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card is less than three weeks away.
Starting May 7, U.S. residents will need a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or ID to board domestic flights, unless they can present a valid U.S. passport, U.S. passport card or state-issued enhanced driver's license that also serves as proof of U.S. citizenship.
Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005, enacting the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the Federal Government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver's licenses and identification cards.” The Act establishes minimum security standards for licenses and prohibits federal agencies from accepting noncompliant driver’s licenses and identification cards for certain official purposes including boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft.
All 50 states including Pennsylvania, as well as the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories, are REAL ID compliant and are issuing REAL ID compliant driver’s licenses and IDs.
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, secure driver's licenses and identification documents are a vital component of the country’s national security framework. Anyone 18 years and older who plans to fly domestically or visit certain Federal facilities will need a REAL ID or another acceptable form of identification.
To check if a driver’s license or ID is REAL ID-compliant, license or cardholders can look for a star at the top of their card. For more information about how to obtain a REAL ID, visit the Pennsylvania’s REAL ID webpage at https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dmv/driver-services/real-id.html.
