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Airports across the nation are gearing up for chaos as the Real ID deadline creeps closer.
Congress passed the Real ID law in 2005, in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The goal was to create a single national identification standard for all US territories. This law requires all airline passengers to present a Real ID-compliant driver’s license or ID card at TSA checkpoints before boarding their flights. But now, with the Oct. 1 deadline looming, airports are pleading with the White House to extend the due date.
According to BBC, The White House has declined to comment on the demand for a delay. However, the Department of Homeland Security is considering options to speed up the verification process.
The organization that represents the nation’s airports, the Airports Council International-North America, warned that thousands of passengers could be denied boarding due to not being Real ID-compliant and left stranded in airports.
Kevin Burke, who serves as ACI-NA President and CEO, spoke with NBC News and revealed that “this is a crisis waiting to happen.” He continued, “If the government doesn’t make a definitive statement now that they’re going to extend this, then we’re going to have a real crisis on our hands come Oct. 1.”
The Real ID licenses require more proof of identification than most regular licenses in use now. The new IDs are marked with a star at the top. Passengers traveling without the specialized ID will be required to present a passport, military ID, or Global Entry card in order to pass through security, something that many do not have.
According to NBC News, states have already begun to issue 95 million Real IDs. While that number sounds profound, it only represents 34 percent of the total needing to be updated. This means that two-thirds of the country have just seven months to get them if they are looking to use their driver’s license to fly. These new rules apply to both international and domestic flights.
To obtain the Real ID, citizens must present four pieces of identification. This can include a passport or a birth certificate, a Social Security card, or a tax return and two documents that provide proof of residence such as a mortgage receipt and utility bill.
While many state motor vehicle offices have increased staff to handle the demand, they are becoming overwhelmed with the effort.
Sue Fulton, who is the chief administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, spoke to the severity of the situation.
“Demand outstrips the number of available Real ID appointments.”
Tom Fuller, a spokesman for the state transportation department, also says that employees are going as fast as they can.
“If we worked 24/7, we’d have to do seven a minute to get the number of licenses out by October. But there’s no way that we could do seven a minute.”⠀⠀
States such as Oregon and Washington are now suggesting that citizens apply for passports, as the process will prove to be much faster.
DMV customers are also voicing their concerns over the chaos that has already ensued in the packed offices. One Manhattan resident, Kaiya Arroyo, who was waiting in line at a Manhattan DMV office, said on Tuesday, “It’s packed in there. The line is out the door. People are very upset, frustrated.”
