BOISE, ID – Starting today, Transportation Security Administration officials will not accept state-issued driver’s licenses or ID cards that are not REAL ID compliant.
Under the new REAL ID enforcement rules, all airline passengers 18 and older will need REAL ID-compliant identification or another federally accepted ID at airport security checkpoints. The requirement applies to all passengers 18 and over for all flights, including short domestic flights, transportation officials said.
In Idaho, the Idaho Star Card meets the REAL ID enhanced security requirements, Idaho Transportation Department officials said.
Standard Idaho driver’s licenses that are not an Idaho Star Card do not meet the TSA REAL ID requirements, although those are still valid for driving purposes.
What other forms of ID are federally recognized to get on flights?
It is not mandatory for Idahoans to obtain a STAR Card, but Idahoans will need a STAR Card or some other federally accepted form of identification at airport security checkpoints starting today.
If Idaho air travelers did not obtain an Idaho Star Card yet, they can present another federally-accepted form of identification, including a U.S. passport, military ID or an photo ID issued by a federally recognized Native American Tribe, said Britt Rosenthal, a public information officer for the Idaho Transportation Department.
“Some people are upset because they think it’s a mandate (to obtain a REAL ID), but it’s not a mandate,” Rosenthal said in a phone interview Thursday. “There are lots of ways to meet the federal ID requirement, including a U.S. passport.”
According to the Idaho Transportation Department, other acceptable forms of ID include:
U.S. passportU.S. passport cardDepartment of Homeland Security trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependentsPermanent resident cardBorder crossing cardAn acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Native American Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs).HSPD-12 PIV cardForeign government-issued passportCanadian provincial driver’s license or First Nation and Northern Affairs Canada cardTransportation worker identification credentialU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)U.S. Merchant Mariner CredentialVeteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
What’s the worst case scenario for air travelers who don’t have a Star Card or other federally accepted form of ID? Transportation officials say travelers could miss their flight or be subjected to a lengthy enhanced screening and identification process.
What is a REAL ID and why would travelers get one?
In 2005, Congress passed the REAL ID act in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the 9/11 Commission report. The REAL ID Act requires certain enhanced security features for drivers licenses to be accepted at airport security checkpoints and certain federal buildings.
“The Real ID requirement bolsters safety by making fraudulent IDs harder to forge, thwarting criminals and terrorists,” said Adam Stahl, a TSA senior official, in a written statement issued April 11. “TSA will implement REAL ID effectively and efficiently, continuing to ensure the safety and security of passengers while also working to minimize operational disruptions at airports.”
Idaho Star Cards feature enhanced security features, including holograms and ghost images that are difficult to forge.
“Really what it’s about is enhanced security, and there are some really cool security features baked straight into the card,” Rosenthal said. “It’s not about policing people or making things harder for people.”
To obtain an Idaho Star Card, Idahoans need to provide multiple documents to prove their identity, their Social Security number and their Idaho residency. Acceptable documents include a birth certificate, Social Security card and two proofs of Idaho residency, such as a mortgage statement or lease agreement and a utility bill.
Requirements to obtain an Idaho Star Card are very specific, and the Idaho Transportation Department has posted a list online and offers a free online “Add the Star tool” that walks Idahoans through a checklist of documents they need to get a Star Card.
Rosenthal said Idahoans who are obtaining a Star Card can save themselves time and avoid disappointment by reviewing the Star Card required documents before their appointment at the Division of Motor Vehicles. “We acknowledge that getting a Star Card is a more in-depth process than getting a passport and that it is more difficult for women,” Rosenthal said. “To mitigate that stress we have added tools like the Add the Star tool interactive checklist that shows what documents are needed in or to give as much information to the public and make it as accessible as possible.”
REAL ID Enforcement begins today, but Idaho STAR Cards will remain available
Although TSA officials begin enforcing REAL ID requirements today, there is no deadline to obtain a STAR Card.
Idaho Transportation Department officials will continue to offer new Star Cards even after enforcement begins.
“It’s not a deadline, it’s an enforcement date,” Rosenthal said. “Anyone can get a Star Card at any time. So if you are not planning to travel any time soon, you don’t have to sweat it – you can take your time.”
Many Idaho Division of Motor Vehicle county offices are available by appointment only, and appointments may not be available for a couple of weeks due to a surge in demand associated with the upcoming REAL ID enforcement date, Rosenthal said.
To help meet demand, the Idaho Transportation Department began offering a temporary, walk-up Star Card station on April 24 at its campus located at 11331 W. Chinden Blvd., Building 8, in Garden City. Appointments are not required and service is available from 8 a.m to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. At the temporary Star Card station, officials will only accept new Star Card applications and only accept credit and debit card payments – no cash or checks. No other DMV services are available at the temporary Star Card station.
This story first appeared on Idaho Capital Sun.
