My hat is off to PA State Representative Jamie Flick for sending out a flier to his constituents reminding them that by May 7th of this year, we will need a passport or Real ID to board a plane, enter a military base, or a federal facility that requires identification at the door. Until now, a driver’s license would meet almost every ID requirement in the United States. And, of course, a driver’s license still works for driving on the highways, voting, entering hospitals, going into a federal courthouse, etc. But it won’t get you on a domestic air flight or into a US military base. For that, you will need a Real ID card.
This requirement has traveled a long, long road before implementation. After a lot of bending and breaking back and forth, Congress finally came up with the Real ID Act of 2005. It was fueled by the September 11, 2001 attacks, but even after that event, many of the states and territories had serious opposition against a national identification card.
Originally, Real IDs were specified to begin on May 11, 2008. That was a dream. Almost from day one, after the act was confirmed, it began to be modified and delayed for years with various amendments. It even was challenged as a violation of the Tenth Amendment of the US Constitution. And when it seemed to finally be on somewhat solid ground, COVID popped its ugly head up in 2020, producing more delays. In 2021, there was some fuss over accepting electronic versions of identification documents. Real ID was becoming like Charlie Brown trying to kick the football, and Lucy was always pulling it away at the last second. Finally, on December 5, 2022, Congress extended the deadline for the last time, making May 7, 2025 the implementation day.
Thus, in ten weeks, if we want to get on an airplane or visit a military base or a federal facility requiring identification, we better have an active US passport or a Real ID. If you do not have one yet and do not have an active passport, then you need to get the appropriate documents and go to the Drivers License Center at 1782 E. Third Street, Williamsport.
The documents that they are required are a proof of identity (birth certificate), proof of social security number (your SS card or a W-2 or SSA-1099 form), two proofs of your current, physical Pennsylvania address (driver’s license, tax records, W-2 forms, lease agreements or mortgage documents), and proof of all legal name changes (certified marriage certificates or other legal changes of name). If you want to know more about Real ID, like everything else these days, there is a website for more information: PennDOT.pa.gov/REALID.
Get Ready, get set, get REAL ID.
