Public Radio for the Piedmont and High Country
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

NCDOT marks six month countdown to REAL ID implementation

The North Carolina Department of Transportation is reminding drivers that the implementation of REAL ID enforcement begins in less than six months. 

 REAL IDs are meant to be an alternative to other federally approved IDs, such as passports.

Implementation of REAL ID enforcement had been delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic and is now set to begin May 3, 2023.

The North Carolina REAL ID driver’s license looks much like a regular license, but it includes a star at the top. Having one is optional, but it’s recommended for those who frequently travel by air or visit federal facilities, including courthouses, military bases, and prisons.

Obtaining the ID can only be done in person at a driver's license office.

North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Wayne Goodwin recommends being prepared for that visit.

"It is important to remember that when you make an appointment that you bring all your required documents with you because the driver's license examiner will need to scan those in for permanent storage, as required by federal law," says Goodwin.

A full list of documentation required to obtain a REAL ID is available on the NCDMV website. No tests are required, and the cost is the same as renewing your regular license.

Neal Charnoff joined 88.5 WFDD as Morning Edition host in 2014. Raised in the Catskill region of upstate New York, he graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1983. Armed with a liberal arts degree, Neal was fully equipped to be a waiter. So he prolonged his arrested development bouncing around New York and L.A. until discovering that people enjoyed listening to his voice on the radio. After a few years doing overnight shifts at a local rock station, Neal spent most of his career at Vermont Public Radio. He began as host of a nightly jazz program, where he was proud to interview many of his idols, including Dave Brubeck and Sonny Rollins. Neal graduated to the news department, where he was the local host for NPR's All Things Considered for 14 years. In addition to news interviews and features, he originated and produced the Weekly Conversation On The Arts, as well as VPR Backstage, which profiled theater productions around the state. He contributed several stories to NPR, including coverage of a devastating ice storm. Neal now sees the value of that liberal arts degree, and approaches life with the knowledge that all subjects and all art forms are connected to each other. Neal and his wife Judy are enjoying exploring North Carolina and points south. They would both be happy to never experience a Vermont winter again.

Support quality journalism, like the story above,
with your gift right now.

Donate