Illinois driver’s license deemed not secure enough for feds

Residents of Missouri, Illinois, and perhaps several other states may find it more hard to enter federal facilities or board an airplane because their state forms of identification are no longer compliant with the 2005 Real ID law.

Soon, residents of IL and at least five other states may need more than just their driver’s license to get through the airport security line.

The Department of Homeland Security denied a request for a waiver for implementing REAL ID, a security-enhanced license that will soon be required for air travel and entry into some federal buildings. IL previously was granted two one-year extensions.

The REAL ID Act requires state officials to verify birth certificates through the Electronic Verification of Vital Events system in order to meet federal security and anti-terrorism guidelines. The law was passed after the 2001 terrorist attacks.

Those concerns are legitimate, although we must note that some of the GOP lawmakers in Missouri who most fiercely oppose the Real ID Act are also determined to require photo identification and proof of citizenship as a requirement for voting. He hopes legislators will agree to a special session where they could lift a 2009 ban on planning for the Real ID conversion. But Minnesota lawmakers, who were concerned by what many saw as federal overreach, blocked implementation of the standards in 2009. Nineteen others states recently received an extension of their compliance exemptions, most running until October 16.

Sometime in 2016, going through security at airports will be listed among those official purposes. That would allow Minnesotans to opt for a federally approved state license or the standard, non-compliant license. “DHS is in the process of scheduling plans for Real ID enforcement at airports and will ensure that the traveling public has ample notice, at least 120 days, before any changes are made that might affect their travel”.

Keeping IDentities Safe supports implementation of Real ID, Meehan said, but he said the communication and rollout have been flawed.

Numerous identification requirements of the Real ID Act make sense and are already required or in the works by states. The best advice right now to avoid any headache, is to get a passport if possible. If you would like to discuss another topic, look for a relevant article.

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