If you are a frequent flyer there is a good chance that you have been in an airport or two in the last month. If this is the case then there is also a good chance that you have seen some kind of sign or heard TSA agents talking about new changes. You might have just brushed this off because airports are always making changes to hinder passengers right or heighten security, right? Well, this is one change that you might want to pay close attention to because it is a chance that will constitute what is and what is not seen as an acceptable means of identification. TSA will soon be requiring all passengers to carry Real ID-compliant identification cards for domestic air travel.
What Is Real ID?
Real ID is a theory that came about after the horrible events of 9/11. The government passed what is known as the Real ID Act is 2005. This Act enlisted minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and ID cards. With this Act in place, federal agencies were no longer able to accept licenses and IDs from states that weren’t compliant with the Act. The whole theory behind this Act was to help eliminate airline terrorism by increasing the requirements for obtaining an airline ticket.
How Are New ID Cards Different?
You are probably thinking, “So, the Act was enlisted in 2005 how is this going to affect me now?” Well, what you need to know is that the government will be issuing new ID cards. These new cards will be built with state-of-the-art technology that will make it almost impossible for anyone to replicate. Another major difference that should be noted is that it will be much harder to acquire one of these newer IDs. Federal issuing agencies will require additional backup documents and information that not all states currently collect. Obtaining one of these IDs will not be as simple as going to s1288 and creating an online account. You will more than likely be subjected to strenuous and lengthy background checks.
Why Is This So Important Now?
You are probably also wondering why the government didn’t start requiring these new IDs when the first enlisted the Act. Well, the truth of the matter is that government legislation can be tricky. Just because a bill is passed it doesn’t mean that it won’t take years to enact. Certain parties have to develop and agree on regulations and governing rules. Once these are agreed on they will then have to come up with a way to implement them. It has been almost 15 years in the making, but the government has almost finally gotten all the kinds out and is ready to act.
How Do You Know If You Are Compliant?
Most state-issued ID cards will have a gold and black star on the front of the card located in the upper right-hand corner. There are a few exempt states, but the best method of confirmation is to check with your local DMV.
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