Getting Real about the REAL ID Act
One of my responsibilities as a state senator is to communicate accurate information to my constituents and to help address the concerns of the residents of my district. Lately there has been a lot of misinformation, worry and questioning as a result of the 2016 REAL ID Act rollover that occurred at the beginning of this month. I’d like to use this week’s column to outline some of the important facts you need to know moving forward, especially if you are a resident of Texas County or a frequent visitor to Fort Leonard Wood.
Let me start by giving a little bit of background information about the REAL ID Act. When the act was passed in 2005 in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, it required state driver’s licenses to meet certain minimum standards, and some state legislatures were worried the federal government would use the new policies to invade American citizens’ personal information and privacy. However, many states chose not to comply with the act, and the Missouri Legislature passed a law banning compliance with the act in 2009 to protect the citizens of the Show Me state.
Due to Missouri’s noncompliance, as of Jan. 10, 2016 our state-issued licenses are no longer considered a valid form of identification for accessing certain military bases and some federal facilities. This issue is where the large amount of misinformation and public concern stems from. I want to make the following very clear: You will be able to board a plane with your current Missouri license at least until January 2018; you will be able to enter Fort Leonard Wood and Whiteman Air Force Base with a current Missouri license and a second form of identification (U.S. passports, Social Security cards, certified birth certificates, etc.); and you will be able to enter the state’s federal courthouses at this time with your current state-issued ID.
As of Jan. 22, 2018, Missouri-issued driver’s licenses will no longer be accepted to board a plane for a domestic flight, though this date might be pushed back. Some alternatives to a Missouri driver’s license that are compliant with the REAL ID Act include: U.S. passports, U.S. passport cards, U.S. military IDs and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) trusted traveler cards, which can be obtained for as low as $50 for a five-year membership.
Additionally, the U.S. Marshall’s offices have said they will not change their identification and security procedures for federal courthouses in the state until they receive more guidance from the DHS. For the complete list of ID types that will work as second forms at Fort Leonard Wood, visit wood.army.mil. The takeaway here is to not panic about your driver’s license being noncompliant. You can still board domestic flights with it for another two years, you can still enter federal courthouses and you can still travel through Fort Leonard Wood with a valid second form of ID.
Missouri lawmakers have already introduced several bills this session addressing the REAL ID issue. Please remember, the Capitol always has, and will continue to have, your right to personal liberty and privacy as one of its number one concerns.
As always, I appreciate it when groups from around Missouri and from our community back home come to visit me at the Capitol. If you would like to arrange a time to come and visit me in Jefferson City, or if you ever have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact my Capitol office at (573) 751-1882.