By James FitzPatrick
Contributing Writer
Starting on May 7, a standard driver’s license will no longer be sufficient ID for travelers boarding a flight in the United States. Passengers will be required to carry a new form of ID to comply with strict new rules designed to thwart would-be terrorists.
The law requires everyone over age 18 to carry identification that complies with the Real ID Act of 2005. Under the federal law, traditional state-issued driver’s licenses will no longer be accepted by the TSA for people getting on airplanes, entering sensitive government buildings or nuclear power plants.
The rule, which applies to air travelers in all 50 states, five US territories and the District of Columbia, requires that standard licenses be updated to a card that is harder to counterfeit, is backed by more forms of identification and uses facial recognition technology.
In New Jersey, REAL ID looks like a standard driver’s license or ID, but includes a star in the upper right-hand corner. By contrast, a standard license or ID lacks the star and in the future will display the words, “NOT FOR REAL ID PURPOSES.”
How to get one
A REAL ID license can only be obtained by an in-person appointment at the New Jersey Motor Vehicles Commission, not online. Only REAL ID renewals can be done online or through the mail. Also, undocumented drivers in New Jersey using the Standard Basic license/ID are not eligible for the upgrade.
If or when you decide to get a REAL ID, it’s essential that you plan ahead for your appointment. Completing the application requires proper documentation, which could take some time to track down. You need two proofs of residential address, proof of Social Security number, and six points of identification. The website below will guide you through what you need to prove that you are who you say you are.
https://www.nj.gov/mvc/realid/
You don’t have to get a REAL ID license. If a driver’s license is all you need, you can keep your old license and fly or enter government buildings using a passport, federal government or military issued ID. In all cases international travel will still require a passport.
The big push
The looming May 7 activation date has REAL ID demand rising. To meet it, the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission is offering extra opportunities for people to get their driver’s license upgraded via a “REAL ID Thursdays” program starting March 20. NJMVC is hoping to create space for about 4,500 REAL ID appointments.
If Thursdays are inconvenient for you, NJMVC will also be hosting mobile unit events (announced on Facebook) on Saturdays starting April 5. You can book your Thursday or Saturday appointment dates on the website starting March 14.
On those days you can make renewal/upgrade appointments for licenses expiring within three months, and REAL ID upgrade-only appointments for licenses expiring after three months.
“Over the last few months, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in demand for REAL ID from our customers, and we’ve repeatedly added and reallocated appointments to better meet that demand,” said Latrecia Littles-Floyd, acting NJMVC chief administrator in a March 4 press release. “The new initiative today (REAL ID Thursdays) will expand access, further helping to service more customers who need or want to get a REAL ID.”
ACY stepping up
Atlantic City International Airport, which last year processed more than 1 million passengers via Spirit Airlines, American Airlines and Sun Country, has been promoting public awareness about the changeover.
“The Atlantic City International Airport has been advertising throughout the airport terminal for the past three years, as well as doing social media posts about the need for REAL ID once a month during that same time period,” said Kim Testa, airport spokeswoman. “Airport management urges passengers to get a REAL ID for their future travel plans.”
Twenty years in the making
The Real ID Act of 2005 is a byproduct of the 9/11 Commission Report issued in 2004. One of its conclusions was that the inconsistency of state-issued driver’s licenses poses a security risk that can be exploited by terrorists.
“The Real ID Act is about giving us the tools to prevent another 9/11 by ensuring that those who pose a threat cannot move undetected through our society,” said former Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner from Wisconsin, Republican lawmaker who sponsored the bill in the House of Representatives. “Eighteen of the nineteen 9/11 hijackers used driver’s licenses or other types of state identification cards to gain access to the airplanes.”
REAL ID is vital, TSA says
“Identity verification is foundational to security,” said David Pekoske, TSA administrator in January. “I urge those who use a driver’s license or state-issued identity card as their primary form of identification to access federal facilities or board commercial passenger aircraft, to ensure these credentials are REAL ID-compliant.”
Long process
Originally expected to take effect in 2008, the logistical challenges of the new ID system were difficult, and many states resisted implementation over cost and privacy concerns. Add COVID delays and it took longer than expected for states to come into compliance with the federal mandate. The complex ramp-up of the system, which integrates driver’s license databases nationwide, has been a major undertaking.
How much?
Exactly how much the whole program costs is hard to determine given all of the moving parts and up and down cost estimates over time. Real ID compliance deadlines have been repeatedly extended since the law’s enactment in 2005. Cost estimates have varied widely over the years with the latest about $23 billion over a decade.
The program is considered to be an unfunded federal mandate with states and users picking up most of the tab. States bear the largest share, ranging from $10.7 billion to $14.6 billion, depending on which government agency is talking. Individuals will contribute approximately $7.8 billion in fees and compliance costs. In contrast, the federal government is expected to spend only $90 million to $110 million – less than 1% of the total cost.
As of this writing, we have been unable to confirm cost figures for the state of New Jersey, although some reports have indicated that the NJMVC has hired up to 300 employees to implement REAL ID.
One thing that is certain is that your REAL ID license will cost more than an old school one. In New Jersey a REAL ID Ready license will set you back $35 vs. a driving-only license which costs $24.
