BISMARCK — On May 7, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will no longer accept state-issued identifications that are not REAL ID compliant at TSA security checkpoints. All airline passengers 18 years and older, including TSA PreCheck® members, must present REAL ID-compliant identification or another acceptable ID, such as a passport, at TSA security checkpoints starting May 7.
Passengers who present a state-issued identification that is not REAL ID compliant and who do not have another acceptable alternative (i.e., a passport) can expect to face delays, additional screening, and the possibility of not being permitted into the security checkpoint.
Currently, 81 percent of travelers at TSA checkpoints nationwide present an acceptable identification including a state-issued REAL ID. TSA expects the number of passengers obtaining REAL IDs to steadily increase even after the deadline and compliance will continue with additional screening measures for those without a REAL ID until it is no longer considered a security vulnerability.
If their driver’s license is not REAL ID-compliant, travelers will need another form of approved identification, such as a passport, to board their flight or enter a secure federal facility or military base. The North Dakota REAL ID driver’s license and identification card have a small star in the corner to indicate they meet federal regulations that establish minimum security standards.
“REAL ID is a coordinated effort by the federal government to improve the reliability and accuracy of driver licenses and identification cards,” TSA North Dakota Federal Security Director David Durgan said. “The improvements are intended to inhibit terrorists’ ability to evade detection by using fraudulent identification.”
North Dakota residents have the option to upgrade to a REAL ID or an enhanced ID or they can stick with an older standard driver’s license. However, a standard credential—without the star—will not be valid to board a domestic flight or to access secure federal facilities, including military bases and some federal offices.
To get the REAL ID compliant license, North Dakota residents will need to visit their local North Dakota Department of Transportation Driver License site in person and bring certain documents to prove U.S. citizenship and North Dakota residency. For more information and details about how to obtain a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card in North Dakota, please visit http://www.dot.nd.gov/driver/real-id-information.