The real story behind the REAL ID Act

Wednesday marks the first day that U.S. commercial airline travelers must be REAL ID ready. The enforcement date comes 20 years after being signed into law.

Following the September 11th terrorist attacks where hijackers were able to obtain driver’s licenses — some fraudulently — the 9/11 Commission recommended that there be more security in the process of issuing them. Lawmakers called for imposing stricter federal standards on how states went about it, and for a coordinated effort between DHS and Department of Transportation officials. The REAL ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005.

Wingate University Political Science Professor Magdalena Krajewska says it soon became clear that the initial 2008 enforcement date for all this was unrealistic. Then came push back from state officials over cost concerns, and federal overreach.

"Many people feared that this was a national identification card," says Krajewska. "And many people did not like the idea of a national ID card. And then in practical terms after all the initial delays when the deadline for enforcement was finally set for 2020, the pandemic hit."

Krajewska says many people mistakenly believe that May 7 is the last day to apply for the REAL ID driver’s licenses, causing long lines at local DMV offices across the country.

"And that is simply not the case at all," she says. "DMVs will continue to issue them going forward. May 7th is the deadline when it comes to the start of the enforcement of the act at TSA checkpoints around the country."

Krajewska adds people hoping to travel this week without a REAL ID may do so using alternative forms of identification listed on both the TSA and DHS websites.