Travelers, Do You Have Your REAL ID?

If you travel around the country with your driver's license, it's time to make sure your ID is up to date. The REAL ID law goes into effect on October 1st, 2020, which means you only have one year to make sure your ID complies.

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The REAL ID law was passed by Congress in 2005. It requires the enhancement of U.S. driver's licenses with a star at the top. In most states, to get the star added to the lisence the DMV requires presenting a birth certificate, Social Security card, and two forms of address verification.

Most of the country is not ready for the law to come into effect. According to the U.S. Travel Association, 75% of Americans currently do not have the REAL ID.

"If you don't have one of the compliant IDs, either a REAL ID or one of the alternatives, like a passport, you're actually going to be turned away at the checkpoint and you're not going to be allowed to board your flight," Erik Hansen, the BP U.S. Travel Association told NPR News.

When the law goes into effect next year, 78,000 people could potentially be turned away by the TSA. Passports and military IDs will continue to be accepted, but many are still expecting October 1st, 2020 will be a disastrous day to travel.

"Most people don't have a passport. And most people are not in the military or veterans, so it's going to be that driver's license nine times out of 10," Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) told NPR News.

If you do a lot of traveling be sure not to procrastinate and get your ID changed so it complies with the new law.