With the
United States Government
ultimately establishing a strict deadline for mandating
To be able to fly within the country, REAL IDs must be obtained.
it has some travelers worried it could create chaos at airports around the country.
Users on Reddit
voiced their worry about individuals traveling without a REAL ID
might lead to significant postponements during
Check-ins and security screenings at airports — suggesting that airports might come to a standstill
“If they do not reverse their decision to implement Real ID enforcement by Wednesday the 7th, airport operations will likely cease entirely due to system failure. This applies regardless of whether your identification meets Real ID standards or not. The entire process could stall because even just a few individuals without compliant IDs can cause delays when checking in and undergoing security screening. As these travelers contest the issue and seek refunds for their flights, chaos may ensue. Therefore, avoid flying through at least next week unless absolutely necessary,” stated one user.
SubReddit R/TSA.
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The implementation date is scheduled for this Wednesday, and according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), individuals who travel without a REAL ID from that day onward might encounter significant delays at airports.
As of this Wednesday, according to the TSA, passengers are required to possess either a REAL ID, a valid Passport, a U.S. passport card, or DHS trusted traveler cards for travel purposes. Standard driver’s licenses or state IDs won’t be considered acceptable anymore.
“People aged 18 years or older arriving at the airport without a valid REAL ID or another accepted identification will experience delays at security checkpoints as these passengers will undergo extra identity checks. It’s advised to reach the airport at least three hours before your flight departs,” stated TSA representative Dan Velez.
While certain commenters within the discussion argued that hold-ups would not be due to travelers lacking valid identification, but rather because the TSA was unclear about its own regulations.
“One commenter noted that much of the misunderstanding would likely stem from the TSA being unaware of their own regulations regarding permissible identification. They stated that only Real ID compliant documents will be accepted,” they said.
Nevertheless, the TSA maintains that the sole identifications likely to pose problems will be regular driver’s licenses and state identification cards. The administration states that forms of ID like U.S. Military IDs or any other DoD issued ID will continue to be acceptable.
What does REAL ID stand for?
It’s a federally compliant state-issued license or identification card that the DHS says is a more secure form of identification. Besides needing a REAL ID to fly domestically, you will also need one to access certain federal buildings and facilities.
When the REAL ID Act was signed into law in 2005, it enacted a recommendation from the 9/11 Commission that the government set security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and IDs.
“REAL ID is a coordinated effort by the federal government to improve the reliability and accuracy of driver’s licenses and identification cards,” John Essig, the Transportation Security Administration’s Security Director for airports in the New York City region said in a press release on April 3. “The improvements are intended to inhibit terrorists’ ability to evade detection by using fraudulent identification.”
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