Flying domestically? You will need a REAL ID (or valid passport) after Wednesday

• By Glynis Board/WESA

The deadline for REAL ID enforcement is May 7.

REAL ID, which is identified by a little star on driver’s licenses, will be required to enter some federal buildings or fly domestically.

“There’s anywhere between two and a half to three million passengers that travel through TSA checkpoints on a daily basis,” said Jerry Spero, federal security director for Pennsylvania and Delaware for the Transportation Security Administration. “Could you imagine if even a small percentage of those travelers show up without a REAL ID on that day? It could really be chaos and interfere with everybody’s travel plans.”

The Transportation Security Administration said it will implement a phased enforcement rollout on that date, so it isn’t clear if Americans without a REAL ID will be turned away from flying yet.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation says only about a third of Pennsylvanians have a REAL ID, compared to 99% or 100% in several other states. Nationally, the rate is at about 60%. Pennsylvania didn’t start issuing them until 2019, even though Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005.

A REAL ID costs a one-time $30 fee plus renewal fees, and the license will be extended for four years.

To get a REAL ID right away, residents need to get some documents together and go to any PennDOT REAL ID Center; alternatively, they can go to a regular PennDOT Driver License Center to receive the ID in the mail within 15 days. Pennsylvanians can also visit PennDOT’s REAL ID website to get pre-verified online and receive a REAL ID in the mail.

Residents must provide proof of identity, proof of a valid Social Security Number, two forms of proof of a current, valid Pennsylvania address and proof of all legal name changes.

Acceptable documents to prove identity, social security number, and/or Pennsylvania address include:

• U.S. birth certificate
• valid passport
• Social Security card
• W-2
• pay stub
• PA driver’s license or ID
• vehicle registration
• court order
• marriage certificate

“Most people think it’s a giant hassle to go to the PennDOT driver’s license center,” said Mike Carroll, secretary of Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. “It’s really not. If you plan ahead, bring the documentation that is outlined when you look at the website, you can be in and out of there seamlessly.”

For detailed information about the process and to apply to be pre-verified and get a REAL ID in the mail, visit PennDOT’s REAL ID website.