KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) — Starting May 7, new identification rules will be enforced for domestic flights within the U.S. There has been an orchestrated effort by various groups opposing these changes.
Department of Homeland Security
, the
Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
, and many state licensing authorities to get people
“REAL ID Ready”
To soar and gain entry into specific government facilities.
Still, with fewer than 24 hours until the implementation started, KCTV5 discovered numerous individuals at Kansas City International Airport who hadn’t updated their state-issued IDs to ensure they were REAL ID compliant.
Ashley Mellott was flying back to Sacramento following a business trip in Kansas City. She joked with her colleagues that she didn’t have a REAL ID so she might be in trouble if their flight was delayed. Her reason for putting it off was plain old procrastination mixed with a little bit of hassle aversion.
I recently received a new ID in January. However, it isn’t the REAL ID,” she explained. “I believe you need to visit in person for it. As far as I remember, I opted for the mail-in renewal process.
To convert to a REAL ID requires a trip to the DMV with paperwork proving identity, lawful status, Social Security Number, and state residency. A lot of people heeding the messaging flooded area DMVs, leading to long lines.
But, Mellott was prepared with a backup plan. She brought her passport, which is also an acceptable form of ID for air travel.
FACT CHECK:
What You Do and Don’t Need REAL ID For
That’s what Matthew McGaugh and Korey Childs packed for their Disney Cruise. They intend to continue using those items for some time. Holding onto their valid passports, they have all the time they need.
“I am currently traveling within the country using my passport. However, since my 40th birthday is approaching in September, that’s when I intend to obtain a REAL ID,” explained Childs. “For now though, I can use my passport for travel, so I have full freedom to visit wherever necessary.”
A passport is not the sole document
a substitute for a Real-ID compliant state identification card
It was something Arya Pratt discovered when she arrived at KCI a week before her business trip to personally inquire from a TSA representative about the requirements needed to be eligible for TSA Pre-Check.
Basically, if you possess your tribal ID – I am a member of the Cherokee nation – having this card allows you to proceed without needing TSA Pre-Check; instead, you can use the standard check-in process and still manage to board your flight,” she discovered. “It’s essential to inquire to receive accurate information.
The TSA states that even if you have only a standard issue state driver’s license, you will be able to board by going through additional security screening and identity verification, but the TSA also notes that and the
list of alternative valid IDs
may be altered without notification.
The
REAL ID Act
was enacted by Congress two decades ago, but its implementation has been repeatedly postponed as states gradually began issuing REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses.
The transformation resulted from a suggestion made by the 9/11 Commission, which recommended that the federal government create standards for state-issued identification cards. This was intended to set basic safety requirements for driver’s licenses and ID cards needed to board commercial airplanes, gain entry into specific federal buildings, and visit nuclear power plants.
KCTV5 has created a
Fact Check page
To assist you with navigation if needed, as well as the requirements for obtaining one.
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