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The efforts of clearing TSA security is going to get more difficult for residents of 9 of the 50 states. This is due to changes in arising from the REAL ID act; as of January the 22nd, 2018; all state-issued identification must be compliant with the REAL ID act rules.
Currently, the list of identification acceptable by TSA is significant and ranges from a US passport or driver’s license to a US Merchant Mariners Credential. Although the vast majority of US travelers on domestic routes will use their driving license. Here is the full list from the TSA.
What is REAL ID?
Passed by Congress in 2005, the REAL ID Act enacted the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the Federal Government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver's licenses.” The Act established minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards and prohibits Federal agencies from accepting for official purposes licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet these standards. States have made considerable progress in meeting this key recommendation of the 9/11 Commission and every state has a more secure driver’s license today than before the passage of the Act. More on the REAL ID act.
This is where the problem arises since the REAL ID act requires states to comply with certain security measures regarding their State Issued Identification. The states that do not comply include Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Washington. Therefore, residents of these states will no longer be able to use their ID to clear TSA security checkpoints.
Although the changes do not come into effect for almost a year, the TSA has started placing posters in the majority of US airports to remind travelers that their ID may be no longer valid for travel in the long run, and that if they still have State ID issued by any of the non-compliant states, they will need to produce alternative ID to be able to clear TSA checkpoints.
Hopefully within the next year, states will take steps to become compliant with the REAL ID act, and save their residents the hassle of having to carry supplementary ID when traveling domestic. In the meantime, as and when a state’s status changes and becomes compliant with the act, TSA will be updating its posters around the country.
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Do you expect the remaining 9 states to eventually become compliant? Are there incentives for the states to become compliant?
At this point, we really don’t know. I suspect we’ll see some last-minute stay granted.
I feel sorry for residents of those non-compliant states. How hard is it to change IDs, really?
ugh! Just another requirement. Then you have the rfid blocking bags, etc. people are using because they have to worry about someone getting their info that way. Sheesh. I don’t live in one of these states, thank goodness, and don’t have to worry. But to have to carry around you passport even domestically would be annoying!
Those nine states have had the same time since 2005 as all the others.
Anyone renewing their passport can also add the pocket ID card, would get around this if in a state not complying.
Glad I don’t live in one of these states.
Just a matter of time before everyone is forced to carry a National I.D. card.
Haven’t got a chance to use my passport for many years. Now in one year, I will need to bring it with me for every flight trip. Ridiculous…
What is wrong with those 9 states? What’s so hard about implementing the Real ID requirements? Just copy what the compliant states do.
Thank you for this information. I have a relative living in one of those nine states and will forward this on.
We had this problem in my state. Luckily, it’s been addressed and the license is still good to go through TSA. I feel for you folks that have this issue!
I feel lucky that I am not in one of those states. Nothing for me to worry about for now.
the states need to get their act together and comply with the rules so that their residents do not suffer
I’m glad this doesn’t affect me!
I still take my passport at all times whenever I am flying since its usually internationally but this could get annoying for domestic business travelers.
Like said before, this is probably just the start of things to come. Expect more security measures and potential delays and additional documentation in the future.
who is TSA protecting, US citizens with valid IDs from being able to travel (somewhat) easily?
it looks like all those who live in the 9 states are being punished, not a very smart move.
I wonder if a Global Entry card will work. That’s certainly easier to carry around than my passport. I really hope Minnesota figures something out before it comes to that though.
Yes, it will work.
The future seems to hold more and more security hoops we need to jump through whenever or wherever we travel to.
That seems crazy that there are states issuing non compliant ID. Hopefully this spurs them into action before the deadline.
Will be interesting to to see if enough of these states comply so that TSA will really start enforcing these rules. They have continued issuing extensions in the past, but this administration doesn’t seem likely to do that based on their current actions.
Another stupid move as expected by the TSA.
Hopefully I won’t forget to bring my passport with me when flying on domestic flights…
Thankfully I’m not in one of the affected states but I have friends who are. One friend isn’t a big international traveler but travels a lot. domestically for business and doesn’t have a passport.
NV luckily has Real ID standards built into their new IDs so I’ll be able to use it after the deadline but it is definitely surprising that other states haven’t met the guidelines yet on behalf of their residents. Even if it is just security theatre, people are still so oblivious that people from all over the 50 states will probably have old IDs that won’t work under the new rules and they’ll have no idea why. “Huh, my ID isn’t legit, what?”
I would be so annoyed if I lived in one of these states. It shouldn’t be hard to make your licenses federally compliant.
So good to have this info available this early as we all know how time flies. Having just moved into a state that is not on the list it’s not germaine immediately to me, but I have friends in several of the states listed and I appreciate this post so I c an forward the info to them. Thx.
If we’re going to give up freedoms for security (or at least the sense of security), then this is just another step that most of us on this blog knew was coming. Will be interesting to see if the states finally react, or if they play politics over it.
I’m in one of these states. I guess I’ll need a passport to fly internally in the USA. What a mess. Travel all around is getting harder and harder, I hope it doesn’t negatively impact the travel business.
The security theatre continues…
I wish we didn’t have to worry about this issue. Thank you AwardWallet for keeping us in the loop with this information.