REAL ID Updates
Like most of you, I have never spent a lot time thinking about renewing my driver’s license. Each of us knows we will have to renew in the next couple of months or maybe even a few years, but until then, we’re not going to worry about it. However, this is an issue each of us needs to think about, because the next time you visit the DMV, you’ll have an important choice to make: whether or not to get a REAL ID.
Passed by Congress in 2005, the federal REAL ID Act seeks to strengthen minimum security standards for state-issued licenses and IDs following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks as a fraud prevention and anti-terrorism measure. Over the years, states have been working to comply with these new federal standards. For instance, Missouri began offering REAL IDs on March 25, 2019.
Now, the key word is offering. Just because you can get one, doesn’t mean you have to get one. Under state law, Missourians are allowed to choose whether to get a REAL ID or a standard ID. In fact, you must notify the person assisting you that you want to receive one, otherwise you will receive the standard, noncompliant driver’s license or ID card. The choice is yours to make. A valid driver’s license of either type will allow you to drive, but one may complicate other travel plans you may have in mind.
Beginning Oct. 1, 2020, you will need a REAL ID compliant form of identification (such as a REAL ID license or a passport) to board federally-regulated domestic flights and to access federal facilities, such as military bases or federal courthouses. Until that deadline, a standard, noncompliant Missouri license or ID will continue to be accepted with one exception. The U.S. Department of Defense will no longer be accepting licenses and ID cards marked as being noncompliant with REAL ID at installations across the country, including Missouri. If you plan to visit a military base, you should contact the base in advance to obtain information regarding identification requirements.
As you can see, there are several things to consider before getting your next license. Ultimately, the choice is yours to make, and the key to making the right choice is being informed. To learn more about REAL ID, please visit https://dor.mo.gov/drivers/real-id-information/.
Please feel free to contact my office at (573) 751-2076. For information about my committee assignments or sponsored legislation, please visit my official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Bernskoetter.