In an replace that ought to shock actually nobody, the REAL ID deadline has simply been prolonged… once more.
REAL ID deadline prolonged by 24 months
The Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) has introduced that it’s extending the REAL ID enforcement date by 24 months. With this, we’ll see the deadline prolonged from Could 3, 2023, to Could 7, 2025.
As soon as this new regulation is applied, federal businesses, together with the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA), will likely be prohibited from accepting driver’s licenses and identification playing cards that don’t meet these federal requirements.
For context, the REAL ID Act was handed by Congress in 2005, following a 9/11 Fee suggestion. It’s meant to determine minimal safety requirements, together with incorporating anti-counterfeiting know-how, stopping insider fraud, and utilizing documentary proof and document checks to make sure an individual is who they declare to be.
All 50 US states, the District of Columbia, and 4 of 5 US territories lined by the REAL ID Act, are issuing REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and identification playing cards.
Why is the REAL ID deadline being prolonged once more?
Because the DHS explains, this extension is important to handle the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on the power for folks to acquire a REAL ID driver’s license or identification card. REAL ID progress has been hindered by the state driver’s licensing businesses having to work by means of backlogs created by the pandemic.
Many businesses robotically prolonged the expiration dates of driver’s licenses and different identification playing cards, and shifted operations to appointment solely.
Secretary of Homeland Safety, Alejandro N. Mayorkas, describes this:
“DHS continues to work carefully with U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories to fulfill REAL ID necessities. This extension will give states wanted time to make sure their residents can get hold of a REAL ID-compliant license or identification card. DHS will even use this time to implement improvements to make the method extra environment friendly and accessible. We’ll proceed to make sure that the American public can journey safely.”
For what it’s price, the REAL ID necessities had been initially imagined to be applied as of 2008. The preliminary delays had been as a result of many assertion governments refused to enact these necessities. States began persistently changing into compliant in 2012, and enforcement started in 2014 for sure federal services.
It’s type of unbelievable to suppose how typically this has now been delayed. I imply, if nothing else, consider how a lot cash has been spent on airport signage associated to approaching REAL ID deadlines. Now all of these indicators should get replaced as soon as once more.
Backside line
The REAL ID deadline has been prolonged by an extra 24 months, by means of Could 2025. If that is in truth enacted in 2025, it will likely be 20 years after the REAL ID Act was first handed.
I really feel like we’ve spent the previous decade being warned by airways and the TSA how this deadline is looming, but it seemingly by no means really occurs. I’m positive there will likely be one other excuse in two years for why this will’t be applied.
What do you make of the REAL ID deadline being prolonged once more?
